Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond 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 featuring high-quality racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered significant backlash from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
