Across the internet, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite 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
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a curious contrast to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The publishers opted to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *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 a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
