The Lowest-Rated Games of the Year 2025, Based on Metacritic

Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the low achievers? We'll take a moment to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the confusing title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighter faced harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its short length combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that quickly 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 major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.