Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after a very long time in development hell. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal 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 virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
