The Worst Games of the Year 2025, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each 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

Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10

Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10

Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a silly point of contention. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling contrast to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.