Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a thin character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
