The Worst Games of the Year 2025, Per Metacritic

Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the failures? Let's take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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 expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that highlighted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the confusing title grammar is a silly strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling oddity to the Metascore.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This manga-based brawler faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. Issues included a thin character selection and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.