Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions 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. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a notable strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with significant backlash from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
