At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews 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 colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a notable annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
