At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a minor strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was notably harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
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*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
