Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the delightful software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced significant backlash from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a dearth of content. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
