Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 54
  3. Negative: 0 out of 54
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  1. Gaming Nexus
    Jul 1, 2019
    74
    Despite this score appearing low. I freaking love this game. But I would be remiss if I didn't point out the flaws that felt more common than the shard drops in the game's early going. I'm really hopeful for the future of this title, because I don't think Iga would be willing to let this game (Blood)stain his legacy.
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jul 30, 2019
    70
    A nostalgia trip for Castlevania fans, a flawed but enjoyable adventure for others. Prepare to look up a guide every now and then to find your way, though. [Issue#165, p.87]
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  3. Gamer.nl
    Jul 19, 2019
    70
    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night offers fans of Metroidvania games exactly what they've been hoping for. Seldom does a Kickstarter promise actually come true. Bloodstained feels a bit old-school, but mostly in a good way.
  5. TheSixthAxis
    Jun 25, 2019
    70
    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is not the perfect Iga-vania, but it is a worthy entry in the genre. It's clearly Castlevania in all but name and long term fans will find much to enjoy here, but it's lacking in polish and refinement with a few niggles with the controls and too many unwelcome bugs at launch. With a few more patches, Bloodstained should be the game all us fans wanted it to be.
  6. Gamer.no
    Jun 25, 2019
    70
    The long awaited Symphony of the Night revival has fast, tight combat, great environments and some interesting RPG mechanics, but is unnecessarily padded with a convoluted and cliched story. Some trimming and more emphasis on core mechanics would have this game a lot of good.
  7. New Game Network
    Jun 27, 2019
    65
    While it's crammed full of fan-service alongside good core combat and exploration, Ritual of the Night's technical instability and some discomforting design decisions keep it from rivaling its influences. It was clearly made for the fans, so those without an already-established fondness may find it hard to enjoy.
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  1. Kotaku
    Jun 28, 2019
    Bloodstained is tethered to video game relevance by its influential creator’s desire to continue doing what he has done. Clearly, that’s something fans want, and it’s something Igarashi and the team at his studio, ArtPlay, do well. Bloodstained is fun to play. It’s also fun to take in, full of amusing touches like the demon that doesn’t attack you with claws or axes or swords, but by standing in a red dress and playing guitar riffs so sick flames come out to torch you. Or the haunted portraits that assault you, bearing the faces of Kickstarter backers.
  2. The Jimquisition
    Jun 18, 2019
    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has, amazingly, lived completely up to expectations. It's the Castlevania game we knew we needed, but Konami didn't want us to have. Koji Igarashi isn't trying to hide the fact that Bloodstained is a Castlevania game in all but name, and he doesn't have to. It's a heartfelt, authentic, beautiful MetroidVania game and I am so very happy with it.

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PS4 Game of 2019
32
#32 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
16
#16 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 514 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 421 out of 514
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 514
  3. Negative: 50 out of 514
  1. Darth_Dias007
    Jun 18, 2019
    10
    A masterpiece made by a genius who practically reenlightened the style since the Castlevania SOTN, congratulations Iga-san !!! Big game!!!
  2. Sgtpoliteness
    Jun 18, 2019
    4
    It's like sotn and Aria of sorrow without the charm:
    • the 3d really feels bad and poorly done, not to mention the animations, • the room    It's like sotn and Aria of sorrow without the charm:
    • the 3d really feels bad and poorly done, not to mention the animations, • the room layout design is more crash bandicoot with hidden walls than Castlevania • the story is atrocious (to be fair the story to pretty much all of these games are bad, but it doesn't feel on purpose) • the music is like a great value brand version of the prior igavanias I'll likely finish it because there just aren't enough good Metroid Vania games so we kinda have to deal so I think a 4 is fair, worse than average, but not atrocious

    Get it if you, like me, are obsessed with these kinds of Metroid Vania games because it will definitely scratch the itch, but if you're not a fan of them in general I'd definitely recommend like, hollow Knight over this    … Full Review »
  3. blitzkriegfc
    Jun 18, 2019
    9
    It's like putting the best of the past 2D Castlevanias in a cocktail mixer and shake it with a lot of energy. At the very beginning, you canIt's like putting the best of the past 2D Castlevanias in a cocktail mixer and shake it with a lot of energy. At the very beginning, you can be a bit stressed because nobody is talking about Dracula, but after a few minutes, you are totally in love with Miriam and forget about that bloodsuckers.
    Seeing a red moon on the background can only be accompanied by an awesome OST and the game perfectly meets expectations, making you in more needing of killing demons without caring if the shards will transform you in one.
    I'm not giving a full 10, because of glitches, there are a lot of technical glitches, maybe those are acceptable considering the fact that is not a game backgrounded by a big company, but maybe not for a game that was in development by almost 5 years.    … Full Review »
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