Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
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 expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring excellent racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
