The Worst Games of the Year 2025, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

At every turn, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10

The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10

Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10

Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a silly point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. 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 transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, providing a distinct contrast.