Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their lists of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores 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 colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a silly point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was especially negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. 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 worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
