The Worst Video Games of the Year 2025, Based on Metacritic

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate experience 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 development was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.