At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the charming software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer 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 pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly annoyance. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games 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 tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
