At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year featuring excellent racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
