Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a minor point of contention. This collection of retro platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a small character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
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, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. 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
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
