Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo 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 "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
