The Lowest-Rated Games of This Year, Per Aggregate Scores
Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their lists of the top titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Issues included a thin character selection and a dearth of content. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection 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, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
