Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their lists of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores 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 colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the charming software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year featuring stellar racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted 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 critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced significant backlash from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
