Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers opted to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. 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 shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
