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

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the top releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. 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

Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the irritating colon usage is a minor strike against it. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.