At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response 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 some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a minor annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games revives a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers 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 largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare contrast.