Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the delightful software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a notable strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a small character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
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 production delays. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
