The Most Disappointing Titles of the Year 2025, According to Metacritic

Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Metascore: 54/100, User 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 some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor point of contention. This collection of retro Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based brawler faced widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a dearth of content. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. 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 curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. 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 depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.