The Worst Games of 2025, According to Review Aggregator Metacritic
Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? Let's take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all 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
Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that noted the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year packed with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a notable strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
