At every turn, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? 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 ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
