Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a silly annoyance. This collection of retro mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
