At every turn, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the top titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator 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, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a notable annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
