The Lowest-Rated Video Games of 2025, Based on Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the polished 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 "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of retro platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.