The Lowest-Rated Video Games of This Year, Per Aggregate Scores

Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments 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? Here is the list.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Metascore: 54/100, User 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 some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a curious oddity to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighting game faced significant backlash from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its short length combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.