Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their selections of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller 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 European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year featuring stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a notable strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
