The Lowest-Rated Titles of This Year, Based on Aggregate Scores

At every turn, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.