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

At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, User 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 similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious oddity to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.

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 developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.