Across the internet, fans are quick to share their selections of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the polished software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a minor annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with significant backlash from both critics and fans. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after years and years in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players 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 shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
