The Lowest-Rated Video Games of 2025, Based on Metacritic

At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the top releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, 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 confusing title grammar is a silly annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop 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 vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.