The Worst Video Games of the Year 2025, According to Aggregate Scores

At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that praised the polished software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a curious oddity to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighter faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.

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*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.