At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the critical consensus on 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
First impressions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year packed with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a minor strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to channel a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 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 team behind it made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged 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 similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
