The Lowest-Rated Games of the Year 2025, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10

First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10

Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10

To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a silly annoyance. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighter was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.