Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each 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
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that praised the charming software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with significant backlash from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience 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 production delays. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
