The Lowest-Rated Video Games of the Year 2025, Based on Aggregate Scores

Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the confusing punctuation is a minor strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious contrast to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration 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 mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections 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 shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.