Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the charming software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a minor strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
