Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that noted the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a notable annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
