At every turn, gamers are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that praised the delightful 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, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of retro mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and players. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
