Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a minor point of contention. This collection of retro mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
