Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a silly strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original experience 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. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences 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, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
