Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their selections of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor 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? Let's find out.
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered significant backlash from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
Metascore: 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 development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
