At every turn, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The developers opted to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
