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

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with excellent racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling oddity to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after years and years in development hell. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, 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 makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a major open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.