Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This compilation of retro platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers opted to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. 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
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
