The Worst Video Games of This Year, According to Review Aggregator Metacritic

At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the low achievers? We'll take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10

First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the polished software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10

Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year featuring excellent racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a notable annoyance. This collection of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a dearth of features. User reviews was especially harsh, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, offering a lonely contrast.