Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the top games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a notable strike against it. This compilation of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in production delays. The developers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
