Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a minor strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
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 years and years in legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a rare contrast.
