Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a silly point of contention. This collection of retro mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a dearth of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames 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 profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.
