Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a minor point of contention. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. Issues included a thin character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime 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 past, launched after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes 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 transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
