The Lowest-Rated Games of This Year, Based on Aggregate Scores

At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10

The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that praised the polished software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10

First things first: the confusing punctuation is a minor strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious oddity to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighting game faced significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially negative, with some stating a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics 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 unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely contrast.