At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating title grammar is a notable point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered significant backlash from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its short length 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 Xbox era, launched after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a rare contrast.
