The Lowest-Rated Video Games of 2025, According to Metacritic

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the flops, the failures? It's time to take a moment to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that noted the charming software itself. Regardless of the controversy, 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 received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

First things first: the awkward title grammar is a silly strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighting game faced significant backlash from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing 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 take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.