At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the charming software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a notable annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after a very long time in production delays. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
