At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment 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 the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the charming software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust 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 European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
