Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their lists of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that noted the charming software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This compilation of retro platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with significant backlash from both critics and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some stating 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
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes 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 departure 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 rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
