Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.