At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? We'll take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
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 complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a notable point of contention. This collection of retro mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to release the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
