Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite 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 "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a notable point of contention. This compilation of retro mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced significant backlash from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. 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 town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
