Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a notable strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and players. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was particularly negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
