At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? It's time to take a moment to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, 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 "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a notable strike against it. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The developers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
