Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games revives a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
