Across the internet, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments 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? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the charming software itself. Despite the controversy, 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 European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating title grammar is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
