The Worst Video Games of the Year 2025, According to Metacritic

Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a small roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially negative, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more compelling than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.