At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the delightful software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a notable annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. 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 Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
