At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections 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, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small character selection and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
