The Lowest-Rated Video Games of the Year 2025, According to Metacritic

Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a silly point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime 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, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the end product.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling 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 departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.