Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating title grammar is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment 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 profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
