The Worst Games of the Year 2025, Based on Aggregate Scores

Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the failures? We'll take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year featuring excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a minor point of contention. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighter faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

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, based on critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.