At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a silly point of contention. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a dearth of features. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
