The Worst Games of 2025, Per Metacritic

At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the irritating title grammar is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. 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 engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.