At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores 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 heavily influenced 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 "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a notable annoyance. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was particularly negative, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
