The Lowest-Rated Titles of This Year, According to Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a silly point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The developers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.