The Worst Games of the Year 2025, According to Metacritic

Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

The early response 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 harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious anomaly to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighting game faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a dearth of features. User reviews was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a rare contrast.