Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their lists of the top releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both critics and fans. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter 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 makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
