The Lowest-Rated Titles of the Year 2025, Based on Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? Let's take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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 feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a notable point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighting game encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The developers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a rare contrast.