Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the top games of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a minor point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
