Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that noted the delightful software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration 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 past, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
