Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, finally released after years and years in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
