Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 32
  2. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. Feb 7, 2022
    70
    To my mind, this has "cult classic" written all over it, and players who take the time to master Sifu will make it sing in a way that I can't imagine. It's a big step forward for brawlers in general, which doesn't just ape the '90s beat-'em-up the way that a Mayhem Brawler or Fight'N' Rage does, but actually adds onto it. Sifu has a lot going for it, but its questionably fair difficulty curve and the relative looseness of its controls both make it hard for me to recommend to a general audience.
  2. Feb 6, 2022
    70
    If Sifu is not a perfect copy, it remains a very good game. Demanding but never unfair, don't be fooled by the low number of levels because you'll have to start them several times to master the game perfectly, extending considerably its life span. Sifu remains a difficult game, a kind of beat them up die & retry, even succeed and retry. If you are looking for a game that will resist you, requiring you to master its mechanics, then your expectations will be fulfilled.
  3. Feb 6, 2022
    60
    I have no doubt that a lot of people are going to love that the game is super difficult, especially if you enjoyed Absolver, but I am just not one of those people.
  4. Feb 6, 2022
    60
    The game is not without some salvageable bursts of satisfaction, of which there are plenty to just about counter its middling level design and uneventful narrative alike. It’s for that reason why Sifu is spared from any less graceful a status than that of being inconsistent, rather than wholly underwhelming.
  5. Feb 15, 2022
    55
    There is certainly an audience for Sifu — it’s stylish as hell, and the kind of people who are happy to spend the dozens of hours it takes to master a fighting game character might find the same sort of precision-based pleasures here that the developers’ previous game, Absolver, offered. However, Sifu’s developers set out to make the player feel like they were actually doing the fighting, but instead gave them tools suitable for a one-on-one fighting game and expected them to work against six enemies at once. They don’t.
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  1. If you get good enough at Sifu, you could probably run through the entire game without dying once. It’s the ultimate, get annoyed, put the game down, come back later and make tons of progress, type of game. I will say though, at one point, I was so frustrated with myself I thought I was going to eat my controller. Anyway, it nails so much on its first go that I desperately want this to be the start of a new genre. Sign me up for more. Make a Matrix spinoff if you’re feeling nuts! [RPS Bestest Bests]
  2. Feb 8, 2022
    I do think Sloclap did their best. It’s obvious to see the love for martial arts movies when the game recreates the infamous hallway fight scene from Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy. I also think that despite developers and consultants doing their best, the criticisms facing Sifu are valid. Sifu is neither all good nor all bad. It just is, and it’s our job to listen to the people from the cultures Sifu pays homage.
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 277 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 47 out of 277
  1. Feb 10, 2022
    4
    $39.99 for five levels? The combat has depth and is easily the best part of the game. But it feels incredibly repetitive. After a few runs on$39.99 for five levels? The combat has depth and is easily the best part of the game. But it feels incredibly repetitive. After a few runs on each level, you quickly learn the enemy attack patterns. However, they are not telegraphed all too well. Full Review »
  2. Feb 9, 2022
    6
    It's not bad. If you compared how much they improved from Absolver they also lacked a lot of other aspects. Fun and frustrating fighting game.It's not bad. If you compared how much they improved from Absolver they also lacked a lot of other aspects. Fun and frustrating fighting game.

    Personally the price of $39.99 is questionable for this type of content, looking forward for DLC if any in the future. Not really much to do other than replay to do it better than the previous. Game is also pretty linear with a couple hidden or locked paths.

    Receives a minus because of epic game exclusive, for now.
    Full Review »
  3. Feb 9, 2022
    9
    Best kung-fu game I have ever played. So fun!
    Also one of the rare games that aren't broken on release (which seems to be standard in gaming
    Best kung-fu game I have ever played. So fun!
    Also one of the rare games that aren't broken on release (which seems to be standard in gaming these days).
    Full Review »