At every turn, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the charming software itself. In spite 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
Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
