Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 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 competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that highlighted the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a notable strike against it. This collection of retro platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a dearth of features. User reviews was especially harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime 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 curious artifact from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
