At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best games of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong 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 simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Issues included a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
