Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer 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 European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of retro Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
