At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor strike against it. This collection of retro platforming games revives a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a dearth of content. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some stating a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in development hell. The developers made the decision to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics 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 not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
