The Worst Games of This Year, Based on Metacritic

Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, 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 as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10

First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from European developers received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.