Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
