The Lowest-Rated Video Games of the Year 2025, According to Metacritic

Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the failures? It's time to take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

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

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal 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 virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that quickly 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 satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.