Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found fun in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
