Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 54
  2. Negative: 0 out of 54
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  1. 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. 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.
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 514 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 50 out of 514
  1. 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. 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. 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 »