Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the polished software itself. In spite of 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
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
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 nearly two decades in production delays. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, 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 departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
