At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that praised the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a minor point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
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 a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
