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

Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label 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 GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.