The Most Disappointing Titles of This Year, According to Aggregate Scores
Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the lowest-rated games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced 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 scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust 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 Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a silly point of contention. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly negative, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
