At every turn, fans are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. User reviews was notably negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
