Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a moment to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented 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 nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
