The Worst Games of This Year, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped 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 "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer 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 studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the irritating punctuation is a minor point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious oddity to the Metascore.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The developers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.