The Lowest-Rated Titles of 2025, Based on Review Aggregator Metacritic

At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a silly point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighter faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a dearth of content. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the end product.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.