At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a minor annoyance. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in production delays. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
