The Lowest-Rated Video Games of This Year, Per Aggregate Scores
Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of retro Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a dearth of content. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.