The Most Disappointing Titles of This Year, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. But what about the flops, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the lowest-rated games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a minor annoyance. This collection of retro mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Ambulance Life

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.