The Lowest-Rated Games of This Year, Based on Aggregate Scores
At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response 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. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a silly strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with significant backlash from both professionals and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost 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 Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing 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 poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
