Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a silly point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics 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
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
