The Worst Games of This Year, Per Metacritic

Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response 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 some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that noted the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a notable point of contention. This anthology of retro mascot platformers features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The publishers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware 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 game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. 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 turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a rare contrast.