Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the best titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a minor strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced harsh criticism from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
