The Worst Games of the Year 2025, Based on Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a moment to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10

The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was advised to be left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10

Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler faced harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost 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 legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, offering a lonely contrast.