Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that highlighted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a silly strike against it. This collection of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an authentic experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its journey was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
