The Most Disappointing Video Games of the Year 2025, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the top games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.