At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? We'll take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a notable strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
