The Lowest-Rated Games of This Year, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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 expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that noted the polished software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year filled with excellent racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a notable point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious oddity to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of content. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its goal to channel a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.