At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
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 complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of retro Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, 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, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
