The Lowest-Rated Titles of 2025, According to Metacritic

At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this tech demo 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. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. 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 "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a minor strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections 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 a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.