Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
