Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a silly strike against it. This compilation of retro platforming games showcases a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
