The Lowest-Rated Games of This Year, Based on Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10

The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion 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 most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.