The Most Disappointing Games of 2025, Per Metacritic

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions 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 somewhat forgiving takes that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of content. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The developers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.