Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year featuring stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a minor point of contention. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. 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 mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
