The Worst Video Games of 2025, According to Metacritic

Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was advised to be left unplayed.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a minor point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighter faced harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was notably negative, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, 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, User Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged 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 similar style. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.