Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their selections of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Critics argued that its attempt to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
