Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad 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 tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the polished software itself. In spite of the controversy, 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
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler faced significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
