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

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This collection of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. Issues included a limited character selection and a severe lack of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some stating a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. 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 resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.