Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off 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, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an authentic experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
