The Lowest-Rated Titles of This Year, According to Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the top titles of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible 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 showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to channel a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the end product.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User 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 collection of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct contrast.