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

At every turn, fans are quick to share their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a rare contrast.