At every turn, fans are quick to share their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? It's time to take a moment to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a minor strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers opted to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
