Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the flops, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. For many, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a silly point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, finally released after years and years in production delays. The developers opted to release the game as an authentic experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
