The Worst Video Games of 2025, According to Review Aggregator Metacritic

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year packed with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the confusing colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of retro Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic 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

Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.