At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a silly point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it opted to release the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of fans found fun in the experience, offering a rare contrast.
