These days, many game releases live or die by their Metacritic scores. The aggregated review system typically does a good job painting a broad picture of whether a game is worth your money or time. When you see games scoring in the 80s or 90s, chances are they’re really good and will be widely praised. Things get interesting when a game scores in the 70s and even the 60s range, as enjoying those will depend largely on your personal preferences. But when a game scores in the 30s or 40s, it leaves little doubt that it’s not a good game.
Below, you’ll find a list of the top 10 worst PlayStation 5 games according to their Metascore on Metacritic. We’ll keep this list updated if any game manages to disappoint to a level that it ends up on this list.
10 (tie). Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports: 47 Metascore
Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports may actually not be as bad as the Metascore of 47 indicates, because that’s based on just nine critic reviews. The user score actually comes in at 6.4, but that’s based only on four user reviews. The game has players competing in four classic sporting events—basketball, soccer, golf, and tennis—as one of their favorite Looney Tunes characters. The game was developed by Bamtang and initially released on September 27, 2024. Some of the criticism for the game is brutal, with everyeye.it saying it’s “an unfun game” while Push Square noted “the slow, cumbersome movement undoes the otherwise likeable presentation.”
10 (tie). Hellboy Web of Wyrd: 47 Metascore
Based on 16 critic reviews, Hellboy Web of Wyrd has a 47 Metascore on PlayStation 5. This roguelike action brawler features an original story that was created in collaboration with Dark Horse Comics and Hellboy’s creator, Mike Mignola. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for the game to really shine. User reviews for the PlayStation 5 version are sparse, with just a single user giving it a 3. Some of the game’s criticisms from experts include issues with the combat and “a repetitious formula that can easily put you to sleep.” Ouch. As for the positives, fans of the comics and Hellboy himself may enjoy diving into the story. Hellboy Web of Wyrd was released on October 18, 2023 and was developed by Upstream Arcade.
8. LEGO Brawls: 46 Metascore
It’s strange to see a LEGO game receive such poor reviews, but LEGO Brawls has a Metascore of 46 based on 11 critic reviews. It might actually be worse than that, since five user ratings resulted in a 4.0 user score. Originally released on September 2, 2022, LEGO Brawls is largely disappointing due to its simple gameplay and lack of depth. Popular outlet Push Square said the game “feels like an insult to LEGO fans” with “terrible core gameplay” and an “incredibly grindy unlock system.” LEGO Brawls comes from developer Red Games, and the 2D fighter is essentially a mobile game that has been ported to other platforms.
7. Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash: 44 Metascore
It probably doesn’t help that expectations are always high for a video game adaptation of a popular anime. Unfortunately, they are almost always mediocre games that start off with a similar foundation. Released on February 2, 2024, Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash is no different and is actually worse than most anime games, with a 44 Metascore based on 18 critic reviews. Users align with it too, reporting a score of 4.2 based on 54 user ratings. Developed by BYKING and published by Bandai Namco, which publishes nearly all the anime games, this title is one to forget. If you watch Jujutsu Kaisen, you won’t be surprised to hear the game is an action 3D brawler where players can create a team and attack through tag-team combos. GamingTrend was particularly harsh, calling the game a “soulless cash grab that likely exists only to fleece money from unsuspecting fans of the series.” Oof.
6. Crime Boss: Rockay City: 43 Metascore
On March 28, 2023, the world was blessed with the release of Crime Boss: Rockay City. While the game has a higher Metascore on other platforms, it scored lower on PlayStation 5, earning it the sixth spot with a 43 Metascore. User reviews aren’t very far off either, with a score of 4.6 based on 13 reviews. Developed by InGame Studios and published by 505 Games, Crime Boss: Rockay City has some interesting mechanics, but they’re poorly executed. PlayStation Universe said that if the game had pulled off even one part of its package, it would have been passable. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t do anything right, with PCMag saying it has “severely undercooked gameplay.” It’s a shame too, because the game has a ridiculous cast, including Michael Madsen, Kim Basinger, Danny Trejo, Chuck Norris, Danny Glover, and Vanilla Ice.
5. Babylon’s Fall: 41 Metascore
Babylon’s Fall suffered quite the fall from grace after its launch on March 3, 2022, considering it came from PlatinumGames, the developers behind one of the best games I’ve ever played, NieR: Automata. Getting a 41 Metascore from 45 critics, Babylon’s Fall fared even worse with users, netting a 2.2 user score from 84 reviews. Very few favorable things were said about the co-op action RPG, which showed that GaaS is not an easy business model to follow. Critics like TheSixthAxis described the game as “dull, repetitive, and ultimately forgettable” and surprisingly said the combat was simple. It’s a shame, really, because some would point to Babylon’s Fall as the start of PlatinumGames’ recent issues, including co-founder Hideki Kamiya leaving the company in 2023. Hopefully, the developer can turn things around since it’s working on the new Ninja Gaiden 4 project.
4. Quantum Error: 40 Metascore
The jokes almost write themselves when a game called Quantum Error receives a 40 Metascore after 16 critic reviews. Users definitely agree with the critics too, as Quantum Error has a 3.4 user score based on 27 reviews. Launched on November 3, 2023, we wouldn’t blame you if you’ve never even heard of Quantum Error. The game is a cosmic-horror FPS from TeamKill Media and centers on the Monad Quantum Research Facility that has been attacked and engulfed in flames. Players take on the role of Captain Jacob Thomas of the Garboa Fire Department, who is joined by partner Shane Costa and a firefighting crew, tasked to save as many lives from the complex as possible. Things take a dark turn, though, but most of us will never find out what that is because chances are, it’s not worth the time. TechRadar Gaming gave Quantum Error its most positive review, saying the game is an “intriguing and solid horror game.” Meanwhile, Gamereactor UK wasn’t as nice, saying it qualifies for the worst game of 2023 category.
3. Flashback 2: 36 Metascore
Flashback 2, released on November 16, 2023, is actually a prequel set eight years before the original Flashback, which was released in 1992. Developed and published by Microids, Flashback 2 is an action-adventure game that puts players in the shoes of Conrad B. Hart, a young agent of the Galactis Bureau of Investigation (GBI). With a Metascore of 36 from 20 critic reviews, it’s fair to wonder if Flashback 2 is just stuck in the past, especially when reviewers like Destructoid have this to say: “I didn’t enjoy much of it, and I barely paid attention to the plot because it didn’t matter. You can’t focus on the plot when the game is so broken.” Once again, users are in agreement here, with a 2.8 user score based on nine reviews. The worst review we could find came from Gamereactor Finland, which simply said “Flashback 2 is a complete failure.”
2. eFootball 2022: 34 Metascore
Konami decided to replace the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series with eFootball 2022 on September 30, 2021, and even though it’s a free-to-play title, it isn’t a very good one. Granted, the game has received numerous updates since its initial release, so it’s probably better than the 34 Metascore it has based on 10 critic reviews, but PlayStation 5 users haven’t given the game much praise. It has a 1.5 user score based on 126 user reviews, which is one of the lowest we’ve ever seen with that many reviews. In case you’re from the U.S., eFootball 2022 is actually a soccer game that somehow does everything worse compared to PES. One critic, BaziCenter, said eFootball 2022 “seems more like a mobile game ported for PS5.”
1. The Lord of the Rings – Gollum: 33 Metascore
Alright, if you’ve been following video games for the last few years, seeing this title as the worst PlayStation 5 game ever shouldn’t come as a surprise. Released on May 25, 2023, The Lord of the Rings – Gollum is so awful that its name is used to represent the lowest score on the Kinda Funny review scale. With 56 critic reviews, the game sits with a 33 Metascore, lowest amongst PlayStation 5 games. Users haven’t shied away from sharing their thoughts either, with 135 user reviews netting a 1.4 user score. Ironically, the game getting such terrible reviews probably resulted in more sales than it deserved from content creators looking to poke fun at it. Developed by Daedalic Entertainment, The Lord of the Rings – Gollum is widely considered one of the worst games ever made. Critic Meristation sums it up nicely: “Bland, boring and glitchy.” It’s honestly a surprise this game made it across the finish line instead of getting canceled.
