The Most Disappointing Games of This Year, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the flops, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year packed with excellent racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the confusing punctuation is a minor strike against it. This anthology of retro mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling contrast to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighter was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a small character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.