Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a silly point of contention. This collection of retro platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a severe lack of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, 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: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
