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

Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a silly point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling oddity to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.