At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that highlighted the charming software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a minor annoyance. This anthology of retro mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a severe lack of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia 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 effort to recreate a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found value in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
