Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? Let's take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The developers made the decision to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
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, based on critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
