The Lowest-Rated Games of the Year 2025, Based on Metacritic

At every turn, fans are quick to share their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10

First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the charming 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

Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year featuring excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10

First things first: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This collection of retro platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered significant backlash from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.