Scarlet Nexus

 PlayStation 5
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 308 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 218 out of 308
  2. Mixed: 61 out of 308
  3. Negative: 29 out of 308
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  1. Mvko
    Sep 11, 2023
    10
    For me this was one of the best games I've ever played, the story is very engaging, I personally found the gameplay fun, there are many types of enemies even though They are very similar, I wasn't a fan of anime games but this one really impressed me, so I think it's worth trying
  2. MrEBE
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    This game is a gem !! But it reveals its full potential after 8-10 hours of play!!
    Amazing visuals at 60 fps, amazing gameplay, good plot !
    I place it high in my TOP 50 all-time! Just that ! It's been a long time since I had trouble putting the controller down! I'm going to platinum it, play both characters (2 playthroughs, for both side of the story! ) - It's OBVIOUS. It even has a    This game is a gem !! But it reveals its full potential after 8-10 hours of play!!
    Amazing visuals at 60 fps, amazing gameplay, good plot !
    I place it high in my TOP 50 all-time! Just that !
    It's been a long time since I had trouble putting the controller down!
    I'm going to platinum it, play both characters (2 playthroughs, for both side of the story! ) - It's OBVIOUS.
    It even has a healthy dose of metroidvania (use new skills to access new areas in past levels!)
    Available in PS+ Extra    … Expand
  3. Jaidenbrkl1
    Mar 22, 2023
    9
    Being compared to P5S, it is miles better. A new original story from Bandai Namco that turns out to be a fantastic game.
  4. DSouls_guy
    Mar 15, 2023
    9
    Very cool game, I love the cell shading and the smooth frame rates! I hope there will be a sequel. If you like anime or just great jrpg's then you will enjoy scarlet nexus.
  5. plasma_shake
    Feb 28, 2023
    8
    From God Eater to Code Vein, and now Scarlet Nexus. Though those game may not connect to each other directly, the improvement Namco made is obviously real. Wish their next game could take another step.
  6. Tr0nikus
    Jan 3, 2023
    8
    Only issue I had was not being able to see the clothing and items on your character before buying them. This is a glaring oversight. Otherwise great game, can't wait for the next installment. Perhaps less dialogue and interstitials and more action.
  7. Winged_hussar__
    Aug 29, 2022
    8
    Only after finishing the passage, I can summarize. Management in the game is crooked, but you can get used to it. The music is great, the storyline is just fine. On the whole, I can say: it is impossible to call the game even average, but it is not a masterpiece either.
  8. Radiant_
    Aug 26, 2022
    10
    Easily my favorite game of all time. Combat is an excellent story good. The only complate I have is cutscenes. There are just slideshows. Some characters are also pretty bad, but it doesn't matter to me. I recommend it to everyone who loves JRPGs, crazy rollercoaster stories, and 10/10 combat
  9. onehitok
    Jun 24, 2022
    10
    Anime lovers uniteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
  10. Aashir52970
    May 29, 2022
    8
    A treat for Anime lovers....
    Pro
    1. Combat- Fast paced, addictive and a huge variety of moves at your disposal
    2. Story is well thought out
    3. Runs at fluid 4k 60 on PS5
    4. Psychokinetic and brain field powers are awesome
    5. Monster designs are creepy

    Cons
    1. Since there are two campaigns with lots of overlap, game gets repetitive towards the end
    2. A tad, too much dialogue, for my liking
  11. iMustang
    May 6, 2022
    10
    Scarlet Nexus was easily one of the best new JRPGs I've played in years. For an anime-style hack & slash to get the AAA style treatment is a rare treat and this absolute knockout hit all the right spots for me. Set in a world always at war with an mysterious entity called the Others, you choose one of two different characters at the beginning and see their unique story as the intricateScarlet Nexus was easily one of the best new JRPGs I've played in years. For an anime-style hack & slash to get the AAA style treatment is a rare treat and this absolute knockout hit all the right spots for me. Set in a world always at war with an mysterious entity called the Others, you choose one of two different characters at the beginning and see their unique story as the intricate plot of the world unfolds. Once you've beat the game as one character, you can then NG+ into the other character to see both sides to this wonderful connecting story. This always creates an air of mystery & excitement and keeps a good beat to the story, always wondering what you'll see next for your cast of characters, and wondering what you may learn when you play as the others. The story is definitely one of the biggest highlights of this experience with multiple layers of conflict that somehow find a way to still connect to one another, and gave us an opposing entity that may be one of my new favorite 'villains' I've ever experienced in gaming. The only element stronger than this game's fantastic story is it's wonderful cast of characters who all have unique personalities and individual goals, and with a similar support system to Fire Emblem give you extra Bond Episodes to spend more time with them and appreciate them more. By the end of my journey I ended up loving every party member I had, even if they weren't on my team throughout the game.

    Gameplay wise this game is the action genre at its finest. Always feeling rewarding to play even in the basic combat, this game goes a step further by making your main character(s) a psychic user. Throwing around objects and doing big combination attacks always looks as cool as it feels to do it, then goes to the next level when you do combinations with your party members to also use their powers. Teleportation, Duplication, Super Speed and more just give you more ways to enjoy playing this game, which is already enjoyable to do. As you play more you unlock more things you can do with each party member, and expand the detailed skill tree that's one of the best I've ever had in a game. Scarlet Nexus also makes excellent use of knowing when to have animated cutscenes so they can be more impactful, ultimately leading to a constant interest in what's happening.

    Overall this game hit a perfect spot for me. Futuristic and problematic world, but not a dystopian one. A beautiful story of struggle with occasional loss, but never depressing or dramatic. Color choices of red and black and destroyed environments, yet somehow still a bright atmosphere. This game always fills you with hope and a cause to fight for, and even in the simplest settings a world I was happy to be in and explore. I could be happy just walking around the local cities or my hideout, seeing what my party members were up to, and enjoying the charming music. With an amazing soundtrack, incredible story, fantastic characters, and exciting combat, this game was a masterpiece to me from beginning to end. I really hope they continue this new IP with more entries, but even if they do not, I will always love Scarlet Nexus for the amazing journey it already is.    … Expand
  12. Oldman1917
    Apr 8, 2022
    10
    Now this is my favorite JRPG! Many years later, I felt like a teenager in a cool shonen like Naruto or Bleach. Cool story, good gameplay, addictive setting.
  13. Kaprawiec
    Mar 24, 2022
    10
    Wow, what a game! Its got story straight from best anime series, great combat and graphics (both remind me of Nier Automata). One of the best games of recent years, sleeper hit of 2021, my personal GOTY along with Returnal, Halo Infinite, Metroid Dread and Outriders.
  14. luminous15cf
    Feb 25, 2022
    10
    Well, this game was a pleasant surprise for me. The gameplay is fun and the story is not cliche, it has really unique world and characters. I felt that the devs put a lot of love into this game and I loved it.
  15. Francisco_jenri
    Feb 1, 2022
    10
    Un excelente juego con una historia bastante buena, la cual te mantiene constantemente pegado a la pantalla aparte de tener una muy buena jugabilidad.
  16. Kakafria
    Nov 22, 2021
    8
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  17. AxizPowerz
    Nov 5, 2021
    8
    Game was just as fun and interesting as the trailers made it out to be. I got it due to its similarities to Astral Chain which I loved and its just as good and better in some ways. This game has some of the best combat I've ever experienced. Its fluid, satisfying, and every new power you unlock changes how you approach every fight. The character designs were great and so were theGame was just as fun and interesting as the trailers made it out to be. I got it due to its similarities to Astral Chain which I loved and its just as good and better in some ways. This game has some of the best combat I've ever experienced. Its fluid, satisfying, and every new power you unlock changes how you approach every fight. The character designs were great and so were the characters themselves for the most part. Now for the bad. As much as I enjoy the bond episodes the methods of unlocking them feel a bit repetitive and annoying which then detracts from experience of the bond episode. The enemy designs were pretty cool, but most of the enemies are variants of the base version so at times they would feel kinda lame. The side quests (there are around a little over 60 if you do both storylines) are very simple, very mid, and very repetitive. The rewards they offer aren't worth very much and are clearly implemented to take up time. That's the case for most games side quests, but its at its worse in this game and is certainly its biggest shortcoming. Onto the most conflicting part; the story. The story starts off very strong. Starting off setting up the world and the characters and it gets even stronger throughout the rest of the game with the crazy lore details. Unfortunately the last few chapters weren't as enjoyable due to the story getting immensely convoluted. Overall a VERY great hack and slasher with a very solid story with a few very annoying shortcomings that were implemented just to raise play time.… Expand
  18. Nimesin
    Nov 5, 2021
    8
    Really love the combat. The graphics could be a bit better. I don't give it a higher score because story wise, despite being good, has it's flaws. And some of the characters aren't interesting or explored in a better way
  19. skmoyer
    Jul 10, 2021
    10
    GREAT GAME. The action and art is awesome. The story is definitely got the japanese good anime, but if u love that stuff then even better.
  20. Kakashi5891
    Sep 15, 2021
    8
    I Fn loved this game the story was pretty cool a lot of anime tropes but I can dig it, although I do wish that would evolve some in general with all of anime story telling. But where it shines the most is the gameplay the battles are dynamic and fun and the phypunk thing is pretty bad ass. Over all I recommend it I had fun playing it.
  21. alexvstheworld
    Sep 13, 2021
    8
    Pros: Great story, Awesome combat, very nice customization system and designs for weapons and armor. 2 campaigns in the form of 2 main characters that have their own missions to play through, which makes the game interesting seeing the main story events from 2 different parties. Cons: Most cutscenes with dialogue are still shots pretty much, and that's not for everybody.

    The game can    Pros: Great story, Awesome combat, very nice customization system and designs for weapons and armor. 2 campaigns in the form of 2 main characters that have their own missions to play through, which makes the game interesting seeing the main story events from 2 different parties. Cons: Most cutscenes with dialogue are still shots pretty much, and that's not for everybody.

    The game can get pretty boring during the "Standby Phases" (free time in-between the chapters of the game where you can tackle the tedious and boring side quests). This is due to the boring side quests and the companion system which takes hours to complete (complete meaning fully level up your relationship with your team, which is another tedious process in of itself) and if you're a completionist like me, then you'll get burned out like halfway through your first campaign (I haven't even started the 2nd one yet).

    However, with all that in mind, this game is a solid 8 if you can pace yourself/give yourself the necessary breaks from the game in order to not feel overwhelmed or completely annoyed by the content. I'd say it's worth around $40-$50. unless you're really itching to play this game, then go for retail.    … Expand
  22. Fhaheenk
    Aug 21, 2021
    10
    This is one of the most exciting games I've played. It's USP is clearly the innovative combat and unique story lines. Playing it with a ps5 dualsense is a nice bonus too
  23. MidnightRaven
    Aug 18, 2021
    8
    Scarlet Nexus had a very original story with twists and turns. The monsters are repetitive sadly but overall the game is fun. Combat has a bunch of options and the use of teammates powers makes it interesting. The game would be a 10/10 if it had actual cutscenes and better variety of enemies. Also, phase 12 is annoying repetitive...you'll see if you play. I got the Platinum trophy for thisScarlet Nexus had a very original story with twists and turns. The monsters are repetitive sadly but overall the game is fun. Combat has a bunch of options and the use of teammates powers makes it interesting. The game would be a 10/10 if it had actual cutscenes and better variety of enemies. Also, phase 12 is annoying repetitive...you'll see if you play. I got the Platinum trophy for this game.

    I recommend this game at discount.    … Expand
  24. hkjhkjh
    Aug 8, 2021
    10
    This game is like the love child of the Nier series and the Persona series

    Combat and Story really reminds me of the Nier series and the characters and their interactions reminds me of the Persona series which is obviously a good thing
  25. abowman
    Aug 6, 2021
    8
    For once the average review score is pretty spot on in my opinion.

    - The combat is absolutely amazing and extremely addicting. - Two different story perspectives, each about 25-30 hours long. - Fantastic cosmetic system that involves perfecting combat and collecting unique items. - Your party members will use your some of the gifts you give them throughout the game, adding a nice    For once the average review score is pretty spot on in my opinion.

    - The combat is absolutely amazing and extremely addicting.
    - Two different story perspectives, each about 25-30 hours long.
    - Fantastic cosmetic system that involves perfecting combat and collecting unique items.
    - Your party members will use your some of the gifts you give them throughout the game, adding a nice immersion factor.

    I will say that the game dragged on in a few spots. Each chapter you're essentially forced to do bonding quests to upgrade the SAS effects for each party member. Some of these side bonding quests are very dialogue heavy, not particularly interesting, and can be a bit dull. I would say these bonding quests and dialogue can easily take up 30-40% of the game time, making it a pretty tedious and boring process. Towards the end I found myself skipping through dialogue pretty quickly.

    Overall a very fun game with a very interesting combat system. I would definitely purchase a sequel if one is made in the future.    … Expand
  26. MavisCore
    Aug 5, 2021
    10
    I really love this. My favorite JRPG game now!
    Hope that we will get the second part!
  27. yangfanhong
    Aug 1, 2021
    10
    This is a Japan style action RPG. The story is amazing and the action is outstanding.
  28. Greenling
    Jul 31, 2021
    9
    Well its a very good game. At the beginning ist might have some lengths but trust me when Insay the Story will become very good when deeper in the game. Combat is just spot on and almost perfect. minor flaws in presentation but i dont give a damn.
    Very good game overall
  29. testtestgame
    Jul 31, 2021
    10
    Battles that mix telekinesis with weapons are the most fun.
    I was also moved by the story from the perspective of the two main characters.
  30. Tankes
    Jul 27, 2021
    8
    Combat is incredible! Story is very cliche but its not horrible, base and character development stuff is amazing as well! Worth it on a sale, plus you can probs beat if in a weekend.
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Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
32
#32 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 68
  3. Negative: 0 out of 68
  1. PLAY! Zine
    Sep 9, 2021
    80
    Scarlet Nexus is a fun action RPG-lite that has a complex story and a bunch of unnecessary gaming mechanics that somehow work. If you like games like Astral Chain, you will not go wrong with Scarlet Nexus, especially as it’s being set up as a potential future franchise. The combination of telekinesis and action elements are nothing new, but SN does it beautifully by combining it with other different skills and magics. If you like Anime and brainpunk themes, Scarlet Nexus is for you.
    Read full review
  2. PlaySense
    Aug 5, 2021
    85
    An interesting story with well-developed characters and expert enemy design, that - however - does take a while to really get going. On top of that, not every sidequest is worth your attention. Don't let that stop you, though. Scarlet Nexus is a great game.
    Read full review
  3. PLAY
    Jul 28, 2021
    70
    This psychically gifted title has a killer look and telekinetically wielded right hook. Unfortunately, it fails to read our mind and outstays its welcome. [Issue#4, p.75]
See all critic reviews »