Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a notable annoyance. This collection of retro platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
