The Worst Video Games of the Year 2025, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the top titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighter was met with harsh criticism from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.