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Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong 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 simulation from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering 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 meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
