Across the internet, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital 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 Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a silly strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games features a rude feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
