The Lowest-Rated Games of This Year, Per Metacritic

Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite 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

Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year featuring excellent racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of retro platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was especially harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.