The Lowest-Rated Games of the Year 2025, Based on Metacritic

Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10

Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10

Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10

To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. 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 resurrected relic from the past, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.