Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a minor point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an authentic experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
