The 10 Worst Games of 2025 (So Far)

In 2025, we’ve enjoyed a wealth of truly remarkable games, but a handful could have benefited from a bit more refinement, and unfortunately, a few were not quite ready to be released as they stand now.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit that some games released this year haven’t exactly lived up to expectations. They’ve certainly earned a less-than-stellar reputation, but on the bright side, they serve as valuable lessons for their creators and publishers. The rest of us in the gaming community can learn from these missteps, too, making future experiences even better.

Let’s now explore some of the not-so-great games released in 2025, which have found their way into our gaming collections.

10. TRON: Catalyst

In TRON: Catalyst, there was an opportunity to offer a fresh take on the well-known TRON films through its distinctive visual style and top-down gameplay. Unfortunately, Bithell Games missed the mark by playing it conservatively. Consequently, the final product failed to challenge players sufficiently and left many feeling disappointed due to its lackluster delivery.>

It’s important to note that Exo’s adventures and the struggle between the Core and Automata provide a strong foundation for a video game. However, Bithell didn’t effectively utilize this source material in ways that made a significant impact. Consequently, the game appears innovative on the outside but ultimately lacks staying power due to its execution.

The game’s battles don’t push players to their limits, while its storyline and level design are just satisfactory rather than exceptional in exploring intricate themes such as corporate greed, time travel, and dystopian societies. Despite having some supporters, TRON: Catalyst missed the mark for being the ultimate TRON experience for both veterans and newcomers. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t fully capitalize on its source material.

9. Spirit of the North 2

Similar to the title preceding it, Spirit of the North 2 unfortunately squanders an intriguing concept. The developers at Infuse Studio had the potential to expand on the foundation they laid in the initial game by enhancing both its mechanics and narrative. However, their portrayal of a fox and raven teaming up to combat a truly menacing adversary lacked the depth and innovation that was expected.

In most games, players typically encounter problems as the story unfolds; but in Spirit of the North 2 , players are actually the ones causing all the trouble. This innovative narrative approach is impressive at first, but it’s let down by a dull world, overly simple puzzles, and unengaging exploration.

Although the game’s world-creation was generally well-executed, it tends to be easily forgotten following the conclusion of its brief journey. We eagerly anticipate that Infuse will step up their efforts and explore more depth within a world that visually impressed yet seemed disappointingly barren, leaving it vulnerable to the control of the malevolent shaman seeking to corrupt it.

8. Creature Keeper

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, even though Creature Keeper is an indie title made by one person, it still manages to earn its spot on this list due to the squandered opportunities that are evident during gameplay. The game seems to aspire to challenge big names like Pokemon or Palworld, but unfortunately, it falls short in harnessing the potential of having friendly creatures join you in battle.

Instead, the befriending mechanic leans heavily on the number of treats you have in your inventory rather than encouraging genuine connections and camaraderie with these creatures. It’s a shame to see such promise go unrealized.

The uninspiring style evident in its combat and environment creation significantly restricts its ability to captivate, making it merely a temporary diversion compared to other more engaging games available today. Sodland may not be a destination you’d revisit between playing your last exceptional game and the arrival of your next highly anticipated title.

7. Captain Blood

It’s disappointing that a game developed from a captivating pirate novel, which had the potential to be a great entertainer, didn’t live up to expectations when SeaWolf Studio released it. Instead of immersing us in the thrilling adventures of the 1685 Spanish Main as we had hoped, Captain Blood failed to deliver the highs and lows that such a story demands. It seems that this game could have benefited from more time spent refining its swashbuckling elements before it was launched.

The game’s hack-and-slash mechanics didn’t fully exploit a combat system that appeared competent, yet was hampered by awkward handling and a main plot that fell short in unearthing compelling storylines. Regrettably, Captain Blood stands out as the least impressive pirate character we’ve encountered.

6. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

It’s surprising that a giant like Nintendo didn’t seem to take note from their competitor Sony when it comes to giving Switch 2 users an introduction to their sleek new handheld. Unlike the free addition game, Astro Bot for PS5 owners, the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour doesn’t showcase any of the device’s top features in a manner that makes its $10 cost reasonable.

The experience is similar to receiving a tour of a big office from an intern who seems not to be paid, and thus lacks enthusiasm. It’s quite disappointing to see such a lackluster effort coming from a studio known for creating exceptional games, particularly for its native consoles like Nintendo. The company may need to reconsider

5. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

It’s quite unexpected that Aesir Interactive, having produced the outstanding Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, went on to create Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator. Instead of building upon the success of their previous game and introducing fresh elements, they delivered a glitchy and uninspired product that fell short in recreating the pressure-filled atmosphere and emotional weight experienced by a paramedic on duty.

Instead, we struggled hard to transfer our patients into the ambulance as its initial patch hindered its diagnostic functions significantly, leaving us with numerous patients whose distress mirrored our own frustration playing this game’s repetitive mini-games. Frankly, if you truly want to experience such situations, it would be more beneficial to undergo paramedic training in reality instead.

4. Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest

The chapter of this upcoming DLC for one of 2024’s scariest horror games might come as a surprise addition to this list, much like the chilling dangers in the main game. Unfortunately, “Siren’s Rest” does not live up to its thrilling potential of shedding light on the mysterious events that led the Biera D oil rig to plunge into Davy Jones’ locker.

Over a decade separating the DLC and base game, a new character seeking clarity about the doomed oil rig encounters insufficient answers due to a more non-traditional method for uncovering secrets and persistent navigation problems that significantly hindered her search. The abbreviated playtime also played a role in its weakness, making “Siren’s Rest” less impactful than the overall horror experience provided by The Chinese Room last year, which kept us on the edge of our seats.

3. Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror

Behind the Broken Mirror” is not entirely new. It features a protagonist suffering from amnesia who must journey to an eerie location holding memories of her past. The setting is adorned with chilling dolls, menacing clowns, and various terrors obstructing her path. Along her journey, she encounters puzzles to solve and secrets to unravel.

Regrettably, the horror genre staples are overshadowed by a weak storyline, problematic pace, poor synchronization of audio, and restrictive gameplay mechanics that make this game hard to endorse. Sodesco needs to significantly improve their approach to building up the Dollhouse franchise, swiftly.

2. Game of Thrones Kingsroad

Netmarble Neo’s effort to capitalize on the popularity of HBO’s hit adaptation of Westeros could have been commendable, if not for the progression systems that appeared relentless in demanding payments before revealing more aspects of their interpretation of George R.R. Martin’s fictional universe.

Experiencing the charm of the nobles in this land can be quite laborious if you choose the free version, stripping down a Game of Thrones experience filled with an engaging character creator and memorable scenes featuring characters like Jon Snow. It’s a rough adaptation of Westeros that might only be mastered by the Lannisters due to their apparent financial resources.

1. MindsEye

In simpler terms, “Build a Rocket Boy” might have hoped for a less spectacular first gaming appearance, but here we find ourselves discussing “MindsEye,” a visually stunning yet somewhat barren open-world game. The developers filled this world with enemies and NPCs, but unfortunately, they weren’t particularly smart compared to what is considered standard today.

The issues were significantly worsened by a repetitive battle system, an unremarkable primary plot, and a perplexing end-game sequence that remains incomprehensible. The game’s glitches and frame rate drops only added to the mystery, while Build a Rocket Boy’s attempts at damage control have unfortunately consigned their debut project to the lower realms of gaming. At this point, MindsEye‘s most notable trait is that it provides a cautionary example, and a benchmark for what not to do when developing a new game.

How did you feel about these game titles? Do you have suggestions for other games that should be included in the list? Feel free to share your thoughts, especially on those games you found disappointing this year, by leaving a comment below!

2025-07-20 20:12