Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? Let's take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 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 free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of content. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
