The Lowest-Rated Titles of 2025, According to Metacritic

Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was far richer than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, 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

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 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 commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a rare contrast.