Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? 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 truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a dearth of content. User reviews was especially negative, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in development hell. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
