The Most Disappointing Video Games of the Year 2025, Based on Aggregate Scores

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? Let's take a moment to recognize the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon 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 disappointing sim was advised to be left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

First things first: the confusing title grammar is a silly strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighter was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited character selection and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in production delays. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the end product.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of fans found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.