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

Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Issues included a limited character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics 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 virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.