Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward punctuation is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
