At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the top titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced significant backlash from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The developers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
