Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of 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
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct contrast.
