Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of content. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an original product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a dull 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, pointing to a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
