At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
