Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. 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 "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year featuring stellar racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a notable annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
