The Worst Video Games of This Year, Per Aggregate Scores

Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the irritating punctuation is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful 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 curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in production delays. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.