The Worst Video Games of This Year, Per Metacritic

Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after years and years in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, 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

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, per critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.