Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? Let's take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year packed with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst 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 industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
