The Lowest-Rated Titles of This Year, According to Aggregate Scores

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the top titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a minor point of contention. This collection of retro platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter was met with harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.