Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their selections of the top releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a notable strike against it. This anthology of retro mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, 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 new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the sea of negativity, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
