At every turn, fans are quick to share their rankings of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a silly strike against it. This compilation of retro platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes 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 transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a lonely contrast.
