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

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished 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

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This collection of retro platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.