Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was especially negative, 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 quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost 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 nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
