The Worst Titles of the Year 2025, According to Metacritic

At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the confusing colon usage is a notable strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighter encountered significant backlash from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment 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 shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.