At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite 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
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a severe lack of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a distinct contrast.
