The Worst Video Games of the Year 2025, Based on Aggregate Scores
Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top releases of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a notable point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.