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

At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their selections of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the irritating punctuation is a minor point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag 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 years and years in development hell. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.