Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. 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 makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
