Across the internet, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a notable strike against it. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
