Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a notable annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. 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 motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to channel a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
