Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that praised the delightful software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly point of contention. This compilation of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a dearth of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
