The Lowest-Rated Games of the Year 2025, According to Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the top titles of 2025. However, what of the flops, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a notable strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, 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 shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.