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

Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the top releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that noted the charming software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable 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 vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a notable strike against it. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious contrast to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was particularly negative, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after years and years in production delays. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted 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 remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.