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

Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year filled with stellar racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a notable point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.