At every turn, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct contrast.
