Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a notable annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, 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
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
