At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer 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 Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a severe lack of content. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers opted to release the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections 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
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
