Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing 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 pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a silly point of contention. This compilation of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
