Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with significant backlash from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes 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 transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
