Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a minor point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length 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, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
