The Lowest-Rated Games of the Year 2025, Based on Aggregate Scores

Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the confusing punctuation is a silly strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighter was met with significant backlash from both professionals and players. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its short length 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, launched after years and years in development hell. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a rare contrast.