Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a minor point of contention. This collection of retro mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after years and years in production delays. The developers opted to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, 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 shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
