ARMS

 Switch
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 843 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 550 out of 843
  2. Mixed: 129 out of 843
  3. Negative: 164 out of 843
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  1. EpicLadySponge
    Jun 16, 2017
    8
    If you actually give titles a chance, then Arms may be the game for you. Nintendo or not, it's still a pretty great title to look forward a fight on the Nintendo Switch system. Unfortunately, this title would probably be forgettable and passed out by other fighting games being or going to be released on the Nintendo Switch system very soon by a couple of years. Even still, it's well worth the fun.
  2. BeckFan
    Jun 16, 2017
    10
    Arms is crazy good fun, and full of depth. I feel like most critics just didn't "get it", or werent very good. Motion controls are the best ive ever used in a game, they are spot on responsive. You can play with a pro controller, but honestly youre cheating yourself a lot on the fun factor if not using the motion controls. Right now theres not a lot of characters, but the ones there areArms is crazy good fun, and full of depth. I feel like most critics just didn't "get it", or werent very good. Motion controls are the best ive ever used in a game, they are spot on responsive. You can play with a pro controller, but honestly youre cheating yourself a lot on the fun factor if not using the motion controls. Right now theres not a lot of characters, but the ones there are varied and play extremely unique to each other, and more will come in the future as free dlc, starting next month.
    Honestly, this is the most fun ive ever had with a fighting game, and will be the first one i actually take to online in ranked matches.
    Give this game the chance it deserves. I find it to best the best new ip from Nintendo in years. It is worth buying a Switch just to play this game.    … Expand
  3. Stlouzilla
    Sep 6, 2017
    8
    The groundbreaking creativity of Arms cannot be overstated. Nintendo has managed to innovate a genre nearly as old as the industry itself in a way that completely separates Arms from most fighting games. Ditching the complex button strings and combos of most fighting games, Arms instead utilizes an equipment system (in the way of your boxing gloves), a strategic control to the curve ofThe groundbreaking creativity of Arms cannot be overstated. Nintendo has managed to innovate a genre nearly as old as the industry itself in a way that completely separates Arms from most fighting games. Ditching the complex button strings and combos of most fighting games, Arms instead utilizes an equipment system (in the way of your boxing gloves), a strategic control to the curve of your punches, and an emphasis on motion and movement to present something entirely unique and fresh. The bold characters and bright, colorful visuals are reminiscent of something like Overwatch and an impressive array of game modes rounds out the package. It's perfect as a casual party game on the go or an intensive competitive online fighter. So far Nintendo has been releasing steady updates for it, and with continued support, Arms could have some real legs for Switch owners.… Expand
  4. jeffduy11
    Nov 15, 2017
    10
    This game is so fun when playing with friends. I wish we could have more options like level up ranks, or special missions. Nintendo, you could do a lot of improvements for this game because their mechanics are really great! ... and the free dlc's :)
    I love this game and I'm giving all my love to ARMS because only nintendo can give us such good games like this, and I hope they could give    This game is so fun when playing with friends. I wish we could have more options like level up ranks, or special missions. Nintendo, you could do a lot of improvements for this game because their mechanics are really great! ... and the free dlc's :)
    I love this game and I'm giving all my love to ARMS because only nintendo can give us such good games like this, and I hope they could give us much more content soon!
    That's why I support this game!    … Expand
  5. joehi1
    Dec 12, 2017
    8
    Arms is a wonderful new Nintendo IP that although, not perfect is a welcome addition to the Nintendo library and the Switch. This 3D boxing fighter game brings a lot of entertainment to the table and can easily be played by two people, with the one joycon configuration. Online play also allows for two people to play together and partner up for two-player tag team games. There's a diverseArms is a wonderful new Nintendo IP that although, not perfect is a welcome addition to the Nintendo library and the Switch. This 3D boxing fighter game brings a lot of entertainment to the table and can easily be played by two people, with the one joycon configuration. Online play also allows for two people to play together and partner up for two-player tag team games. There's a diverse amount of game modes such as Volleyball and Hoops (basketball) and they're quite fun little sports minigames. Then there's target smash which is entertaining because hitting the opposing players, will cause them to lose points. Headlock Scramble is a fun little mode as well that lets you play as the big bad villain Headlock. The problem with the online mode is the three player and the four player free for all matches. They're honestly a mess with the poor tracking system, and usually, the player that's the best at hiding wins. The majority of the online game is fun with a few technical problems, although the single player game is lacking. The GrandPrix mode is essentially a survival mode and it really doesn't add much to the game. It's an easy way to farm coins to get new Arms but that's all it's good for. One of the best things about arms is that each character can unlock the arms of all of the other characters so you can load out your favorite character with your favorite set of arms, and with over 30 different ones to choose from the possibilities are endless. Arms suffers from some problems with the online play being a disaster in free for all matches, and the single-player portion of the game is mediocre at best, but it really does a great job at bringing two players online couch co-op back and for that reason, we ought to really thank Nintendo. While Arms isn't the fighter for everyone it's really worth trying at least once. Once again Nintendo has created a well-made franchise that I hope to see a sequel to.

    Cons:
    Multiple player free for all matches are not fun at all
    Single player is quite boring
    Some balancing problems    … Expand
  6. rodericrinehart
    Aug 7, 2017
    8
    Got this for my daughter, who has put it a decent amount of time (maybe 40 hours already). She has enjoyed it, it seems to be good value, and I see her playing it more in the future. She's had some friends over to play it, and they seemed to really enjoy switching out and playing cooperatively while online.

    I'm not a huge fighter game fan, but I do appreciate what it does, and it is a    Got this for my daughter, who has put it a decent amount of time (maybe 40 hours already). She has enjoyed it, it seems to be good value, and I see her playing it more in the future. She's had some friends over to play it, and they seemed to really enjoy switching out and playing cooperatively while online.

    I'm not a huge fighter game fan, but I do appreciate what it does, and it is a fresh take on it. If they support Arms like they did the first Splatoon, it will have serious legs and be a tremendous value for anyone who enjoys the genre.    … Expand
  7. jarvis0284
    Oct 30, 2017
    10
    distinto al esquema de combates tradicional , limpio apartado grafico , juego a 60 fps , gran multiplayer local y online, facil de jugar dificil de dominar , gran apuesta de nintendo algo refrescante y original , controles muy responsivos
  8. Jack5switch
    Dec 18, 2017
    10
    ARMS is the first eSports-game to be released on the Nintendo Switch, and certainly lives up to hype surrounding its release, as it's a never-before-seen take on boxing with tons of replayability thanks to the patches its been getting. These patches have included new characters, new stages, new gamemodes, "party crash" events, and even the first recorded use of achievements in theARMS is the first eSports-game to be released on the Nintendo Switch, and certainly lives up to hype surrounding its release, as it's a never-before-seen take on boxing with tons of replayability thanks to the patches its been getting. These patches have included new characters, new stages, new gamemodes, "party crash" events, and even the first recorded use of achievements in the console's history. The only complaint I have is that ARMS was built from the ground up to take advantage of motion controls, and this puts regular controller users at a minor disadvantage, but this is barely noticeable. ARMS will most certainly take up the most time from the sheer amount of content Nintendo has crammed into it, and you've got to love games like that.… Expand
  9. FrostedCitrus
    Dec 11, 2017
    8
    The game unintentionally encourages getting up close and personal, when the point of the arms is to fight at a distance. So many people do this, AND IT WORKS. I don't see how they could have fixed this. The game is fun, but also frustrating when people get close.
  10. ConsoleArgonaut
    Jul 10, 2018
    7
    I bought arms the day it came out and have had lots of hours of fun with it since then.
    Arms is a fighting game where you have stretchable arms as a gimmick. You can control your character Wii Sports-like with Motion Controlls (punching gestures and tilting of the joycons).
    Note: You can play the game just as well without motion controls and don't have an disadvantage. And that's pretty    I bought arms the day it came out and have had lots of hours of fun with it since then.
    Arms is a fighting game where you have stretchable arms as a gimmick. You can control your character Wii Sports-like with Motion Controlls (punching gestures and tilting of the joycons).
    Note: You can play the game just as well without motion controls and don't have an disadvantage.
    And that's pretty much all you need to know.

    The cast of arms is as colorful as it gets, with everything from a film star to a mechanic girl that build herself a robot to fight in.
    When starting the game you either:
    - Play a tournament mode, which plays out like in any other fighting game
    - Do a quick match with a friend
    - Play one of two mini games
    - Go online and fight against strangers.

    My only problem with the game is the lack of content as seen in the selection of modes available.

    Verdict: If you like simple fun fighting games this game is for you

    Rating:
    Gameplay: 4/5 - Feels great
    Level Design: 3/5 - Nothing mind blowing, but still very good
    Soundtrack: 4/5 - Very catchy. It will stay with you for a while
    Story: 2/5 - Lacking, only small character introductions
    Graphics: 4/5 - Looks great
    Length / Amount of content: 2/5 - Not much content, as seen above
    Replay Value: 5/5 - Great replay value with different difficulty modes, online play and just fun at parties
    Enjoyment: 4/5 - I loved it

    Overall rating: 28/40 => 7/10    … Expand
  11. Acurazo47
    Mar 14, 2018
    8
    Una apuesta muy diferente para el genero de lucha, muy entretenido, si juegas con amigos se da para cosas épicas, es fácil de aprender pero difícil de dominar, todo en el juego es increíble, el single player se presta para unas 15 horas superando todos los modos, pero para ser un juego de pelea le falta contenido, aun así es un juego único en su clase y es muy disfrutable.
  12. jamrt
    Mar 23, 2020
    7
    I find the gameplay fun, but this game's biggest problem is lack of content. This game could have had all of it's post release content in the base game, and it still wouldn't be enough
  13. Doctor-J
    Apr 22, 2018
    10
    DO NOT USE MOTION CONTROLS! Ok, with that out of the way i can say Arms is so much fun, so easy to learn and hard to master, you will lose hours trying to make the right arms combination, the perfect combo dash, punch, dash. Thank you to the people who made this wonder, i wish they were better at selling it, because they are so bad at it, this game is way better than you think it is untilDO NOT USE MOTION CONTROLS! Ok, with that out of the way i can say Arms is so much fun, so easy to learn and hard to master, you will lose hours trying to make the right arms combination, the perfect combo dash, punch, dash. Thank you to the people who made this wonder, i wish they were better at selling it, because they are so bad at it, this game is way better than you think it is until you learn to play it. Give it 2 hours in training mode and you will fall for it! And again, do not use motion controls! They just suck!… Expand
  14. RoboKabutops
    Nov 7, 2022
    10
    I wish my girlfriends arms could extend like they do in this game so she could...
  15. Cougargames
    Nov 1, 2019
    7
    A good fun family/friends game that takes great use of the switches new gimicks. A great choice of a game if you basically have played everything and is looking for something to burn your time and sweat like hell.
  16. The_EpicGamerYT
    Aug 4, 2017
    9
    Arms is a great fighting game for everyone to pick up and play. The motion controls in this game are top-notch, even beating standard button controls in high-level play. The characters in the game are very well-made and varied and have their own unique play style. The ability to get every single arm on every fighter allows for a surprising amount of depth and strategy, which is valued in aArms is a great fighting game for everyone to pick up and play. The motion controls in this game are top-notch, even beating standard button controls in high-level play. The characters in the game are very well-made and varied and have their own unique play style. The ability to get every single arm on every fighter allows for a surprising amount of depth and strategy, which is valued in a fighting game. The online experience is amazing and a number of different modes keeps the gameplay interesting. Arms is a great game for the Nintendo Switch and is worth picking up.… Expand
  17. Peppercat
    Sep 21, 2017
    9
    Maybe my favorite Switch game so far and my favorite fighting game too. Is dynamic, funny, not-too-easy to play, characters are the best part of it and they keep coming! Motion controls are intuitive and run smoothly. But I think it does need more goals to achieve, just like Splatoon does (weapons, clothes, fests) to keep people interested. Otherwise is a great addition to Switch catalog.
  18. ironzombi
    Sep 11, 2017
    9
    This is a unique and deep fighting game, that while lacking some single player content what it does, it does incredibly well.

    If you are a fan of fighting games then I would suggest having a look at Arms, this is a surprisingly technical fighting game, that heavily focuses on the neutral but to be truly successful you will need to master the oki and shield dashing, you are not going to    This is a unique and deep fighting game, that while lacking some single player content what it does, it does incredibly well.

    If you are a fan of fighting games then I would suggest having a look at Arms, this is a surprisingly technical fighting game, that heavily focuses on the neutral but to be truly successful you will need to master the oki and shield dashing, you are not going to mash to victory here, learning to counter punch, jump and dash correctly is very important then you have the additional strategy that the different Arm types bring to the fight makes Arms one of the more interesting and addictive fighting game I have ever played.

    I would give this game a 10 for what it does but a 9 due to the lack of single player content that seems to drive away players who are maybe not as into fighting games, the meat of this game is in the competitive online fighting.    … Expand
  19. BGShoes
    Aug 2, 2017
    8
    Very stiff learning curve but very rewarding once you figure it out. All game modes are a ton of fun. Lack of characters, game modes and maps bring the score down a bit.
  20. m3nos
    Aug 24, 2017
    10
    an incredible game, definitely a must have for the nintendo switch, there are so many modes, and they're all very fun to play, plus, the characters are just so lovable
  21. fabiorogeryo86
    Oct 3, 2017
    8
    An exciting game with beautiful scenery, good music and excellent controls. The best thing about Arms is that it is a pretty polished, beautiful game. What I liked most about it are the controls, which respond very well. The game does not have many game modes, which can make the player give it up quickly.
  22. NintendoGamer1
    Oct 8, 2017
    8
    With the help of deep game-play and fantastic presentation ARMS is an amazing game that everybody should play. It's content might have been lacking at first but with new characters and stages keeps bringing me back.
  23. OneYoutubeFan
    Nov 26, 2017
    9
    ARMS is one of the best fighting games I've ever played, if not the best. All the characters are well thought out and seem very unique. Every style of control, aside from the sideways joycon, are very fun, and it's actually a surprisingly good local multiplayer game. However, there is a noticable lack of single player content, only having the grand prix, training mode, and computer matchesARMS is one of the best fighting games I've ever played, if not the best. All the characters are well thought out and seem very unique. Every style of control, aside from the sideways joycon, are very fun, and it's actually a surprisingly good local multiplayer game. However, there is a noticable lack of single player content, only having the grand prix, training mode, and computer matches that aren't as fun as real matches. Speaking of the gameplay, it works well. You can punch, block, grab, dash, jump, and, occasionally, rush attack. There's also various different modes of play, such as, volley ball, basketball, fights, Hedlok scramble, 1 on 100, and skillshot. In volleyball, you punch a volleyball and get points. It's surprisingly fun for how simple it is. Basketball is a game where you throw each other to get points. Once again, very good. Fights are the main match type, and the best of the bunch. Hedlok scramble lets you be very overpowered, and definitely very fun. Finally, 1 on 100 is a fight against one hundred computers, and very hard and good. Overall, I think this game, as I've said, is one of the best fighting games of all time, and deserves a spot at EVO. A truly amazing game.… Expand
  24. SanderTM
    Oct 27, 2017
    10
    Arms, the game in which you control extensible arms, one of the best concepts of the year, with charismatic characters, smooth gameplay and of course, great controls, easy one of the best Switch games!
  25. BigTom93
    Jan 25, 2018
    10
    Arms is a phenomenal game. The people who hate on it do little to deter thousands of users from racking up hundreds of hours. I myself have over 120 hours currently and no sign of stopping. The new characters and addition of badges and party crash since launch have proven that Nintendo believes in this title, and it shows. This game just keeps getting better and better. Complaints aboutArms is a phenomenal game. The people who hate on it do little to deter thousands of users from racking up hundreds of hours. I myself have over 120 hours currently and no sign of stopping. The new characters and addition of badges and party crash since launch have proven that Nintendo believes in this title, and it shows. This game just keeps getting better and better. Complaints about motion controls are moot, outside of the tutorial, you never have to use them. Most of the haters of this game, just don't understand the depth of it, the challenge of ranked mode, the fun of party match with your friends. If you own a Switch, you should give Arms a try. Especially if you can find it on sale, which is starting to be a possibility.

    Not everyone has to like every game. Personally, I think Pokken isn't all that, but lots of people love it, and I can see the appeal. It's just not for me. Arms, similarly, will not be some people's cup of tea. But it is a very, very good game. Everyone whom I've recommended it to in real life, has loved it.    … Expand
  26. reviewinggamer
    Dec 22, 2017
    8
    Arms is a game where you beat up others. The graphics are great but the controls for the thumb grips feel a bit off. Online multiplayer is a blast to play, and i give it an 8/10
  27. ObiTheGreat132
    Dec 21, 2017
    9
    ARMS is my favorite switch and fighting game by far. The amazing soundtrack, the graphics, and the animation are spots on. The team at Nintendo made this the best it can be.

    The tutorial teaches you everything you need to know. They do not hide anything that you need to no to play the game. The only bad thing about the game is that when I want to block, it sometimes punches or makes    ARMS is my favorite switch and fighting game by far. The amazing soundtrack, the graphics, and the animation are spots on. The team at Nintendo made this the best it can be.

    The tutorial teaches you everything you need to know. They do not hide anything that you need to no to play the game.

    The only bad thing about the game is that when I want to block, it sometimes punches or makes you move backward, which could make you lose a round or match.

    All the characters are balanced making a far game every time (the only exception is Min Min and Ribbon Girl).

    The starting arms of each character are perfect. They give different strategies for each player.

    The 1 v 100 is very unique. I like how they come out is rounds with different arms. This is one of the funniest game modes in any game I have played. It's also fun trying to beat your friends times, I'm having a party tonight where all my friends will come inside to try to beat each others times for the 1 v 100.

    The basketball game mode is mediocre. you just grab the opponent. there is a 90% chance your grab will go in the basket. There is very minimal strategy in the game mode and is very easy to win against bots.

    The volleyball game mode is not the best but is good. It is very skill based, but beginners can still win at it.

    Overall a great game, ARMS is a revolution in the fighting genre. I hope they add DLC or a squeal to the amazing game    … Expand
  28. IndieCrit
    Mar 30, 2018
    9
    Arms; while it is not perfect, ARMS is a fun party/fighting game. The music was extremely catchy, surprisingly colorful graphics, good controls; but not flawless. Some ARMS are completely broken and the community is toxic. However, the game is still good. Maybe not worth $60.00, though. Maybe 50? Still, it's like Splatoon of the fighting game genre. Also, a surprising amount of variety andArms; while it is not perfect, ARMS is a fun party/fighting game. The music was extremely catchy, surprisingly colorful graphics, good controls; but not flawless. Some ARMS are completely broken and the community is toxic. However, the game is still good. Maybe not worth $60.00, though. Maybe 50? Still, it's like Splatoon of the fighting game genre. Also, a surprising amount of variety and collectibles!
    Do I recommend this game? Yes, I do.    … Expand
  29. yggSSparappRR
    Feb 14, 2018
    10
    A fun, weird little game that surprised me. The characters are fun to use and varied, each with their own style. The online is active and it's a joy to play locally with friends too, so I can recommend if the colourfull atmosphere it has resonates with you. I really hope it becomes another nintendo mainstay series of games, like how it happened to splatoon and xenoblade recently.
  30. jad_giovanni
    Mar 15, 2018
    10
    It is a fighting game a little different from the traditional ones but it works very well. It is quite balanced, it is full of free DLC, multiple characters and possibilities of strategy customization thanks to all the arms that are available. They often make events for the community. Artificial intelligence is pretty good.
  31. ViniOfficial
    Mar 31, 2018
    9
    Arms foi um jogo incrivel, fez o bom uso dos Joy-Cons, sempre quando voce vencê o jogo te faz sorrir e comemorar, mas quando perde, o jogo quer te fazer jogar mais ate a vitoria, com jogabilidade bem fluída e modos variados fazendo o jogo não ser um simples jogo de luta, o seu unico problema é que depois que Splatoon 2 chegou, as pessoa acabaram esquecendo dele, mas isso não significa queArms foi um jogo incrivel, fez o bom uso dos Joy-Cons, sempre quando voce vencê o jogo te faz sorrir e comemorar, mas quando perde, o jogo quer te fazer jogar mais ate a vitoria, com jogabilidade bem fluída e modos variados fazendo o jogo não ser um simples jogo de luta, o seu unico problema é que depois que Splatoon 2 chegou, as pessoa acabaram esquecendo dele, mas isso não significa que o jogo é ruim, muito pelo contrario!… Expand
  32. mrcnx
    May 5, 2018
    8
    As a new genre that nintendo tries it does things pretty damn well fighting is deep and a lot of fun. The thing that's holding me back from rating it hihger is in single player there's not much to do. Otherwise it would be a strong 9
  33. FelipeCPS
    May 30, 2018
    10
    Otimo, jogo, mecanica inovadora, aproveitando o maximo do rumbleHD do Switch, e mesmo se voce nao quiser jogar com o rumble hd, pode jogar, NORMAL com os 2 joycons, graficos bonitos e trilha sonora envolvete, espero que tenha mais atualizações ou uma continuação
  34. Marcelinus
    Nov 7, 2018
    10
    Very underrated, the characters are unique and the mechanics are fun to use.
  35. epiccrossover
    Jan 23, 2019
    8
    ARMS is an ok game. First off, the graphics for this game are exceptional. It's the best graphical fighting game in 2017. Period. Unfortunately, the controls for the Pro Controller is 100% garbage, for that i use this controller mainly. Not a bad game, but could be better.
  36. Denvers
    Mar 29, 2020
    8
    ARMS is possibly the most underrated Nintendo Switch game to this day. With a good selection of characters and exciting gameplay, ARMS is just about for anyone. Playing by yourself is even fun! This game is great for parties and playing with friends. Of course, this game does not have nearly as much content as SSBU, but is definetely worth the money if you like fighting games or party games.
  37. MrVideogame69
    Mar 26, 2020
    9
    ARMS is one of the most unique fighters I've ever seen. My only gripe is that I wish that the gameplay was faster, but other than that the game is phenomenal
  38. Gumzik
    Jun 24, 2017
    8
    Surprising good game. If you like motion games this game is definitely for you especially if you will play vs/with friends. Great for party and you have many arms to choose from for fight
  39. mfairhu1
    Jul 3, 2017
    8
    ARMS is the spiritual heir to what Wii Boxing started all those years ago. As far as motion controller fighting games go, this is a massive improvement in all respects. Flailing and windmilling at the screen are gone in favour of a nuanced tactical battle. Throws, blocking, jumping and counter punching are all possible. The springy coiled arms of each fighter lead to a delay betweenARMS is the spiritual heir to what Wii Boxing started all those years ago. As far as motion controller fighting games go, this is a massive improvement in all respects. Flailing and windmilling at the screen are gone in favour of a nuanced tactical battle. Throws, blocking, jumping and counter punching are all possible. The springy coiled arms of each fighter lead to a delay between throwing and landing a shot - therein lies the tactical element of learning to anticipate your opponent's likely moves. It's also possible to play the game on a pro controller, but to me this takes away the fun.… Expand
  40. Keenanu
    Jul 31, 2017
    7
    I appreciate that Nintendo is introducing a new IP with a totally new type of gameplay, I just wish there was more content or more of a sense of progression. In Splatoon 2 you gain levels, there're a few different game modes and a fully fledged single player campaign, but in Arms, there's a very basic tournament mode and multiplayer. The only thing you end up working towards is unlockingI appreciate that Nintendo is introducing a new IP with a totally new type of gameplay, I just wish there was more content or more of a sense of progression. In Splatoon 2 you gain levels, there're a few different game modes and a fully fledged single player campaign, but in Arms, there's a very basic tournament mode and multiplayer. The only thing you end up working towards is unlocking different sets of arms for all the characters and getting better at the game so that you can make it through the higher difficulties (the CPU opponents get VERY tough on the higher settings).

    I would have also loved to have learned more about the characters. I'm not asking for much, just a little more than 'this is Min Min, she works at a noodle diner'.

    I would say that this game would be worth picking up once the price comes down, just as long as there's still an online player base. Like Smash Bros., the gameplay is easier to pick up than other fighting games as there aren't any combos, but there's definitely depth there and potential for higher level of play. The game runs great at 60 fps and is very much playable in handheld mode.    … Expand
  41. alan666
    Jun 16, 2017
    8
    Very good and deep fighting game. Got it early and loved it. Sometimes, though, I feel like the content could have more variety and that the game is too "silent" sometimes. The game intro is super good, but then it vanished when you start the grand prix...
  42. drgndrums
    Jun 17, 2017
    10
    Beautiful, stylized, and a new IP trying to do something new. It may not have the universal appeal of some of Nintendo's other titles, but for someone like me, this hits all the right notes. It controls surprisingly well with motion control, but works well with physical controls too. Nintendo surprises with a smart, slick lobby system and online works without a hitch. After thinking I didBeautiful, stylized, and a new IP trying to do something new. It may not have the universal appeal of some of Nintendo's other titles, but for someone like me, this hits all the right notes. It controls surprisingly well with motion control, but works well with physical controls too. Nintendo surprises with a smart, slick lobby system and online works without a hitch. After thinking I did quite well in the Testpunch before release, I was surprised at the challenge the AI gives me even at level 4 (out of 7). The AI will force you to hone your reaction time, because it is brutal in it's defense while exploiting any hole in yours. One reviewer here notes that you need to beat the AI at level 4 before accessing online play, and that is true, but only for Ranked mode. Party mode should be accessible right off the bat. The good news is, this should teach players to knock off the silly grab spamming I saw in the Testpunch, which will make for better Ranked games when you first jump in. And as for story, Nintendo let's their incredible design speak for itself, rather than fluffing up the single player modes with unnecessary exposition. The game could certainly use more fighters and weapons, but with promised regular content releases like we saw in Splatoon, this shouldn't be an issue.

    If you miss the 90's arcade days, this one's a no brainer. It's bright and flashy, easy to pick up and play but has plenty of hidden depth. This game reminded me of Power Stone meets something like Tech Romancer/Custom Robo/Virtual On, with the charming and silly design of fighter's from hidden gems like Waku Waku 7, instead of the ridiculous seriousness of more modern fighters.    … Expand
  43. Don_SoLow
    Jun 23, 2017
    10
    Deep and competitive, but also easy enough to pick up and play with some company. The motion controls are some of the best I've played and actual gameplay is simple to pick up, but there's a lot to be mastered. I feel that it's a little lacking in content if you're looking for a more party experience, but with the promise of free DLC in the future, I think it more than makes up for it. AsDeep and competitive, but also easy enough to pick up and play with some company. The motion controls are some of the best I've played and actual gameplay is simple to pick up, but there's a lot to be mastered. I feel that it's a little lacking in content if you're looking for a more party experience, but with the promise of free DLC in the future, I think it more than makes up for it. As for someone like who's looking to really only play competitively, the amount of characters and ARMS gives it more strategy and depth than most fighters now. I'm really enjoying this game and recommend it heavily!… Expand
  44. crotch
    Jun 21, 2017
    10
    This is my jam. Online competition makes it exciting. The control system allows for advanced strategy, which I’ll yet have to master fully. The motion controls invite the player to stand up and be active, which gets me into a good mood. The colorful presentation puts a smile on my face.
  45. tomcrew
    Jun 20, 2017
    9
    This is a very fun game. The online is a mixture of intense one on one endurance matches and volley ball and both modes a re great fun. The lobby system adds the charm as it allows you to view others fighting while you wait (which isn't long). The biggest flaw with this game is its single player its similar to Mario kart in that its is there but its not really that fun and serves a mereThis is a very fun game. The online is a mixture of intense one on one endurance matches and volley ball and both modes a re great fun. The lobby system adds the charm as it allows you to view others fighting while you wait (which isn't long). The biggest flaw with this game is its single player its similar to Mario kart in that its is there but its not really that fun and serves a mere distraction while offline… Expand
  46. NBMTX
    Jun 16, 2017
    9
    I didn't think I'd like this game as much as I do. It's not the most technical or most varied game, but the more close victories (or defeats) I have as I play, the more fun I feel I'm having. Flailing about (or button mashing) definitely isn't going to win the game like Wii Sports boxing. I wish the game was $40-50, but if they do add some more content for "free", then I guess it allI didn't think I'd like this game as much as I do. It's not the most technical or most varied game, but the more close victories (or defeats) I have as I play, the more fun I feel I'm having. Flailing about (or button mashing) definitely isn't going to win the game like Wii Sports boxing. I wish the game was $40-50, but if they do add some more content for "free", then I guess it all works out. At $60 I'd rate it about a 7.5/8... but price aside, I like what Nintendo came up with... although I'd like an uppercut function when in close proximity. I bet that would look supa cool.

    It's also worth mentioning I've only played about four single player grand prix so I'm not really reviewing the online community (I'm sure there will be a number of people who ONLY care about online stuff). The AI makes for a fun time, and I've still only played the lower levels of difficulty so far (1-3). Don't be put off if reviews make this game seem like an online only sort of game.    … Expand
  47. tactoe
    Jun 17, 2017
    10
    Great animated graphics, great fun, comfortable gameplay, the characters are very good, I love it.The online goes great without problems................
  48. knightmonkey
    Jun 16, 2017
    10
    Stunning graphics, incredible motion controls, absolutely brutal over level 4 difficulty when you're new to it!
    Online it's easy to get a match and some people are already sooo good it hurts. This only makes me want to practice practice practice, get better and unlock more arms to learn and fight with. Very addictive, I bet 2 player will be crazy fun. Great workout too! Highly recommended.
  49. StefanGoedhart
    Jun 20, 2017
    10
    ARMS is the first game where motion controls are actually 100% accurate. It's a unique experience to finally play a hardcore fighting game where your muscle memory is connected to movements instead of buttons. However, you still have the option to play this game in a traditional way. The graphics, art and presentation are amazing. 10/10 for me
  50. StarGin
    Jun 20, 2017
    10
    Un gameplay suculento combinado con un concepto que refresca la formula de los juegos de pelea. Excelentes controles. Tanto los sensores de los joy-con, así como el pro controller o el Joy-con Grip.

    El nivel de personalización de los luchadores es muy variado y los modos de juego abundan. La experiencia online simplemente es deliciosa. Fluida y constante. Estupendos servidores y    Un gameplay suculento combinado con un concepto que refresca la formula de los juegos de pelea. Excelentes controles. Tanto los sensores de los joy-con, así como el pro controller o el Joy-con Grip.

    El nivel de personalización de los luchadores es muy variado y los modos de juego abundan.

    La experiencia online simplemente es deliciosa. Fluida y constante. Estupendos servidores y servicio por parte de Nintendo.

    Recomendable para todo el que posea una Nintendo Switch. Un juego imperdible.    … Expand
  51. Un_Creative
    Nov 13, 2017
    8
    Despite it's weaker game mode selection, ARMS delivers a fun and addicting multiplayer experience with surprising depth that is more suitable to an RPG type game, but works much to my surprise in Nintendo's latest IP.

    Recommended To:
    - Casual Fighting Genre Players
  52. ljvperalta
    Jul 12, 2017
    7
    ARMS is a fun fighting game for everyone to play. People can play locally with friends or play online.
    You can also choose characters with different abilities and customize their arms with anything you like. The game is almost a perfect fighting game for Nintendo fans. I was actually hyped when the game was released. But soon when I got the game I tried playing Grand Prix to prepare    ARMS is a fun fighting game for everyone to play. People can play locally with friends or play online.
    You can also choose characters with different abilities and customize their arms with anything you like. The game is almost a perfect fighting game for Nintendo fans. I was actually hyped when the game was released. But soon when I got the game I tried playing Grand Prix to prepare myself before going online battles. Grand Prix was actually fine if you want to play ARMS offline, but it kinda felt boring after. Local battles is also fun to play with friends but felt boring after playing for an hour. Online battles were actually amazing since you can fight in different ways like skillshot and more. After playing for a week I kinda got bored and stopped playing with it. Then I started watching others play ARMS, I felt the motivation to play again but somehow felt bored. For me, the game is actually fun to play but it seems like the ARMS is missing something for everyone to fully enjoy it.    … Expand
  53. LuccaSSC
    Dec 6, 2017
    8
    ARMS is a game that, despite looking simple, can become surprisingly profound as it is played. With polished technical and artistic characteristics and an amazingly responsive motion controls mode, it deserves to be played by everyone.
  54. Kaprawiec
    Jun 26, 2017
    10
    This is the best game I played this year. Its also the most fun game I played on swith, Im surprised that both user and critics score is below 8 when it should be higher than Zelda and Mario Kart because it really is this good. And its strange, because I wasn't hypped for this game at the beggining I bought it from curiosity. Anybody should at least try it.
    But then again I invited my    This is the best game I played this year. Its also the most fun game I played on swith, Im surprised that both user and critics score is below 8 when it should be higher than Zelda and Mario Kart because it really is this good. And its strange, because I wasn't hypped for this game at the beggining I bought it from curiosity. Anybody should at least try it.
    But then again I invited my cousin who also wasnt hypped, even more - he hated the idea of the game from the first trailers and after 20 seconds of helding controllers said that the controls are unresponsive and the game is crap and he won't play it anymore (which is not true, controls are responsive he really just didnt even tied to play). Also started bragging that he will not swing his hands to play. I realize that many people has closed minds and yeah there are no universal things in this world that everybody will enjoy.
    Well back to my personal reception of this game - its absolutely perfect. Its the most unique experience and what I look forward to see in games in the near future.
    Nintendo deserves rewards for this game Im total fanboy of arms now hence my 10/10 rating. Gameplay is so much fun, multiplayer is perfect - no lags, instant connection, little waiting time betwen fights. In addition it makes You move which is also good thing (motion control is the way to play this gem).
    I await to further progress this style of gameplay and would love to see realistic fighting game like Fight Night (EA) with movement controls similiar to arms.    … Expand
  55. TheGeekLantern
    Jun 27, 2017
    9
    Un juego grandioso que debe ser compra obligada para todos los usuarios de Switch. Tiene una jugabilidad única y divertida, el Grand Prix tiene una curva de dificultad bastante bien hecha y el online es bastante bueno. Ahora bien, daré la misma recomendación que con SF2: El juego parece simple pero es bastante técnico, por lo que si no te interesa dominar al 100% un juego te van a patearUn juego grandioso que debe ser compra obligada para todos los usuarios de Switch. Tiene una jugabilidad única y divertida, el Grand Prix tiene una curva de dificultad bastante bien hecha y el online es bastante bueno. Ahora bien, daré la misma recomendación que con SF2: El juego parece simple pero es bastante técnico, por lo que si no te interesa dominar al 100% un juego te van a patear el trasero y si tu umbral de frustración es pequeño, aléjate de ARMS, porque no te va a parecer divertido.… Expand
  56. chinogringo
    Jun 27, 2017
    9
    This game is fun , is the kind of fun that you get on nintendo console, its great to be play with friends or online, you can have matches again CP or another player, 1vs1 , 2vs2 , 3vsCP, i would give it a 10 if it had a campaign, but as it right now it keeps the 9. enjoy it!
  57. Voodooseeker
    Jul 16, 2017
    10
    This game is soooo FUN! Do you love fighting games?, check - Do you like awesome gaming with persons around you?, check - do you like great graphics?, check - would you love to bring your game along?, check - ARMS is a new juvell from Nintendo......it's like MarioKart 8 Deluxe, just in the fighting genre......we all love it in the household............. + HEY motioncontrols, LOVE and HAILThis game is soooo FUN! Do you love fighting games?, check - Do you like awesome gaming with persons around you?, check - do you like great graphics?, check - would you love to bring your game along?, check - ARMS is a new juvell from Nintendo......it's like MarioKart 8 Deluxe, just in the fighting genre......we all love it in the household............. + HEY motioncontrols, LOVE and HAIL for the awesome small joy-cons!!!!!!… Expand
  58. CanadianYeti
    Jul 17, 2017
    8
    ARMS is a lot of fun. The presentation is great, and I love the deceptively simple gameplay that prioritizes quick thinking and strategy over mashing buttons. Despite this, the singleplayer campaign is completely bare-bones and the online multiplayer’s got a few kinks that need ironing out.
  59. Jtplaz3
    Jul 18, 2017
    8
    ARMS is a pretty nice game available on Nintendo Switch. The game offers a fun, new, innovative fighting style with its 3rd person point of view, diverse character roster, and very competitive map styles. The characters seem balanced and the mechanics of the overall game make it a fun experience to play on the go with Nintendo Switch. Online play is rather comfortable (With exceptions toARMS is a pretty nice game available on Nintendo Switch. The game offers a fun, new, innovative fighting style with its 3rd person point of view, diverse character roster, and very competitive map styles. The characters seem balanced and the mechanics of the overall game make it a fun experience to play on the go with Nintendo Switch. Online play is rather comfortable (With exceptions to rare disconnects and the occasional lag) but besides that the game is a fun experience with tons of replay-ability and mechanics that will have you on your toes, waiting for your opponent to make their move so that you can make yours.… Expand
  60. Angiovittadog
    Jul 19, 2017
    9
    It's this simple, sometimes you, who has played games for 2 decades like myself, start thinking you've seen everything. Then a game like ARMS pops up out of nowhere with no fanfare and you're reminded that gaming can still surprise you even in the most basic of genres. The controllers are unfortunately tricky to get hang of at first but thankfully a meaty party mode is there so that youIt's this simple, sometimes you, who has played games for 2 decades like myself, start thinking you've seen everything. Then a game like ARMS pops up out of nowhere with no fanfare and you're reminded that gaming can still surprise you even in the most basic of genres. The controllers are unfortunately tricky to get hang of at first but thankfully a meaty party mode is there so that you can have light fun while learning the deeper intricacies of the system.

    ARMS is the first Switch game that feels like it makes full use of it's feature set and a worthy addition to your collection.    … Expand
  61. LordDecky
    Jul 22, 2017
    7
    Nintendo has done it again. This game is fun to play, and its unlockables are good for replay ability. The motion controls are amazing; they are some of the best I've ever seen. Worth the money. Online is good and fast.
  62. DestroyParadise
    Jun 18, 2017
    10
    I think you guys should give the game a chance. It´s new, fresh and offers new innovations. Nintendo has done a good job. Nintendo is BACK and this game shows us a small taste for the next years. It has been a fight game for a long time, which is really hard on more power.

    It´s crazy, funny and you can´t stop playing it.
  63. mevan
    Jun 17, 2017
    10
    Wow, ARMS surprised me how great it plays! I was not expecting a game this good based on the critic reviews. Once you find "your" character, it plays as smooth and responsive as any fighting game, but in a unique Nintendo way! Highly recommended, 10/10.
  64. spongeswift
    Jun 16, 2017
    8
    ARMS is the fighter that Nintendo fans have been waiting for! ARMS looked pretty boring and gimmicky when it was first shown but they managed to make it awesome! 10 very detailed fighters is very good to see out of Nintendo, they all had good backgrounds and personalities which isn't common for a fighter. But it does feel a little empty, there really isn't enough modes to keep youARMS is the fighter that Nintendo fans have been waiting for! ARMS looked pretty boring and gimmicky when it was first shown but they managed to make it awesome! 10 very detailed fighters is very good to see out of Nintendo, they all had good backgrounds and personalities which isn't common for a fighter. But it does feel a little empty, there really isn't enough modes to keep you contained for months of play but the modes that are in the game are awesome. Grand Prix is the story type mode, you fight 9 of the fighters, then you fight Max Brass a very difficult fighter. Knowing that he's gonna be playable soon excites me! Versus is your run of the mill local multiplayer stuff. Then there's ranked which is a surprisingly fun mode, ARMS strongest mode is easily ranked, it get's fun and competitive and losing doesn't mean you're going to lose a TON of progress only some which is great. And of course party lobbies and friend rooms are always fun. ARMS is overall Nintendo's most fresh and fun fighter. With free updates it's easily worth the 60$.… Expand
  65. MTC001
    Jun 17, 2017
    8
    Great game with a fresh new concept. Don't be fooled by Nintendos ads, you can play this perfectly well on a traditional Controller too, Motion Controls aren't mandatory. The content may look think but to unlock every ARM for your characters you will likely have to spend at least 50 hours with the game and they will be a blast, promise.
  66. AngelLinebeck
    Jun 17, 2017
    10
    Very fun and challenging, has many game options, very strategic, the online is very fast, varied and well-personalized characters, you will also expect free DLC
  67. keibyakko
    Jun 18, 2017
    9
    Los controles funcionan perfecto, es divertido y con muchos modos de juego diferentes y divertidos. La dificultad está muy bien escalonada, es un juego de lucha pero no de aporrear botones, sino de lucha inteligente. Los gráficos y las texturas son coloridos y están muy bien hechos. El modo para conseguir nuevos guantes añade al juego muchas horas de vida y la personalidad de losLos controles funcionan perfecto, es divertido y con muchos modos de juego diferentes y divertidos. La dificultad está muy bien escalonada, es un juego de lucha pero no de aporrear botones, sino de lucha inteligente. Los gráficos y las texturas son coloridos y están muy bien hechos. El modo para conseguir nuevos guantes añade al juego muchas horas de vida y la personalidad de los personajes te dan ganas de probarlos a todos a fondo. El online funciona bien y está muy bien ranqueado. Un muy buen juego, muy divertido, para mí un 9.… Expand
  68. Molerat619
    Jun 18, 2017
    10
    Arms is a game made for people who like pure fun. Alone or ESPECIALLY WITH FRIENDS. Great gameplay. Amazing gameplay. ADDICTIVE GAMEPLAY. Amazing music and quality sound
  69. Owb101
    Jul 21, 2017
    10
    Arms is something new and great fun! Great use of motion controls, excellent game play and challenging as well. It's easy to pick up and has depth to sink your teeth into.
  70. Fireantus
    Jun 21, 2017
    8
    TL;DR - Fun. Whimy. Frustrating. ARMS is a really goodf, fun game, that offers superb audio and visuals delight, extremely quick and adrenaline-pumpin' gameplay and sterling Online Party mode. Yet, it's often Nitendo Hard, it's frustrating to learn and often makes you wanna wail in outrage.

    Problem for me in ARMS comes from me sucking at it big time. I am terrible at this, unable to    TL;DR - Fun. Whimy. Frustrating. ARMS is a really goodf, fun game, that offers superb audio and visuals delight, extremely quick and adrenaline-pumpin' gameplay and sterling Online Party mode. Yet, it's often Nitendo Hard, it's frustrating to learn and often makes you wanna wail in outrage.

    Problem for me in ARMS comes from me sucking at it big time. I am terrible at this, unable to dodge, unable to duke it out, unable to grab... I don't pull this game grade down because I suck, it happens. But I have to say that lack of any proper learning curve is a bit frustrating. Nothing really is explained except basic of controls. It's not inherently bad! I like games that doesn't hold my hand through everything in the game, but still in a technical game like ARMS, where mechanics are the key, I'd love to know things beside the control sheme - like what's the delay between movement options and hits, how to negate grab attempts, what items dropping on the arena do and mostly what each ARM does - because fluff text express it in some way, but I'd rather have hard stats telling me how much damage, how fast and what gimmick an ARM offer to the player.

    Thanks to extremely quick matches and the arena combat it is hard to learn from your own mistakes, because it's hard to see what you did wrong. In a single match I can completely win one round without being hit only to lose two next rounds being completely destroyed, as all hits suddenly miss, all opponent grabs land no matter what I try to do and in the rapid anarchy on the field it is very hard to pinpoint the areas in which I failed and need to practice. This issue grows expotentially for me due to assymetric characters, each having a very different lag between moves, movement lenght and speed and so on, and so on.

    But the frustration and steep, confusing learning curve is pretty much the game only flaw. Everything else is spotless and I can see how you can really love this game when you learn the mechanics and technical gameplay of combat. Music is upbeat, fun, energetic. Visuals are splendid! Colorful, bright, with fantastic light effects and very tacticle feeling behind every punch you throw. Characters are nice, whimsy and fun in their own way. Game mods? Solid bunch. Grand Prix offer very back-to-the-roots grand championship tower, where you climb up difficulty and all players in the roster to fight a boss and win. Versus is bread and butter of this game - duking it out with a friend is an absolute, blood rushing, laugh inducing delight. And online party mode? Glorious. Sure, some mini-games are unispired, but it works like a charm. Even waiting in the lobby is fun, and it's so dynamic, so fast, that when you enter the party mode you can just sink yourself into the game for hours just bouncing between random fights with random folks online.    … Expand
  71. o0oXTCo0o
    Jun 21, 2017
    9
    I am loving ARMS. It may seem a little strange at first or maybe not fully fleshed out, but after you spend some time with it it really opens up and becomes a deep immersive game. The Grand Prix, though not particularly exciting after level 4 serves a great purpose.

    The online lobby system is smart and keeps things fresh while you hop in and out of matches. The variety of game modes is    I am loving ARMS. It may seem a little strange at first or maybe not fully fleshed out, but after you spend some time with it it really opens up and becomes a deep immersive game. The Grand Prix, though not particularly exciting after level 4 serves a great purpose.

    The online lobby system is smart and keeps things fresh while you hop in and out of matches. The variety of game modes is admirable, but hoping more will come with the free DLC>.

    Overall 9/10 because The game stands alone rather well, but could totally have used a voiced Biff to commentate ;)    … Expand
  72. G_Fire
    Jun 19, 2017
    8
    Arms feels like it sits in that nebulous region between a Wii style party game and a competitive fighting game, but perhaps this does some harm in its preventing the game from being fully one or the other. The crux of the game is its multiplayer, which is definitely plenty of fun given the variety the game offers even with its bare-bones content at the moment (which hopefully will be fixedArms feels like it sits in that nebulous region between a Wii style party game and a competitive fighting game, but perhaps this does some harm in its preventing the game from being fully one or the other. The crux of the game is its multiplayer, which is definitely plenty of fun given the variety the game offers even with its bare-bones content at the moment (which hopefully will be fixed with later updates), but the single player mode, while challenging and good at helping players hone their skills before competing online, feels very simplistic compared to other modern fighters which offer much more of an actual story and actual character development for their roster of fighters. With Arms, you just get a tiny bit of flavor text and a still image of concept art as your reward. Given the single player's difficulty, it doesn't do much to leave the player his or herself satisfied with their accomplishment (except that maybe they can now access ranked mode upon beating the hidden boss).

    Overall, Arms is a good attempt to breathe a different kind of life into the fighting genre and offers a fun multiplayer experience. Hardcore & seasoned fighting game enthusiasts however might be put off by the more humble character of the game vis a vis titles like Street Fighter, Blazblu or Guilty Gear. But Arms through this humility allows itself to be more accessible to the average player without completely alienating those looking for a challenge. Hopefully with frequent updates and perhaps later sequels down the line, the game's lore and unique mechanical depth can be more fully expanded to make it more of a worthy contender with more established fighting game franchises, while still retaining its charm and more light-hearted approach.    … Expand
  73. svande274
    Jun 29, 2017
    8
    I am a guy who likes a challenge in a game. But Nintendo doesn't know the difference between a challenge, and physically impossible. I really like this game, its fun, creative and great to play with friends. But the one thing I can't stand is how ridiculous the AI are after level 4. Not only are they able to predict every move you make, but the game also drops health right on top of themI am a guy who likes a challenge in a game. But Nintendo doesn't know the difference between a challenge, and physically impossible. I really like this game, its fun, creative and great to play with friends. But the one thing I can't stand is how ridiculous the AI are after level 4. Not only are they able to predict every move you make, but the game also drops health right on top of them making it impossible to K.O them. Not to mention they love to pull the grab move non stop and know exactly when to punch you literally milliseconds after you put your guard down. I myself have gotten to level 6/7 but can't even get past match 1 in it. It is so aggravating that I decided to write a review about it to ramble about how ridiculous it is. I really want to give this game a 0 but only because of the difficulty level. Besides that it is a great game to play with friends, just not by yourself or if your have anger problems.… Expand
  74. Cesarhawk
    Jul 23, 2017
    10
    Una vez más Nintendo nos enseña como crear algo diferente, divertido y adictivo en un género que prácticamente había tocado techo. Un juego de "boxeo" diferente con el que pasarás muchas horas de diversión e incluso te hará sudar con su control de movimiento.
  75. Dusk14
    Jun 17, 2017
    10
    It is a very good game and the things that these game have are so good, for example 1 vs 100. The things that these game gave us and for all the game developers of fighting games is amazing. 10/10
  76. dataDave
    Jun 17, 2017
    10
    Mr. Yabuki brought me here. Just go and watch the ARMS exhibition matches he has with the champ at E3 and it will instantly sell the game to you. We're talking next level fighting game play with this title.
  77. MonkiReviews
    Jul 10, 2017
    8
    The game is very fun. They have many modes to play, from the Grand Prix, online, or even sports! The design of the game is very good, and the music couldn't be better. The motion controls aren't perfect, but are really fun. I could just keep playing, it is a good game.
  78. superfield95
    Jun 17, 2017
    8
    I tend to not to be a fan of the online fighting game genre. But with Arms I may have found my type of fighting game! The game is easy to get into and hard to master. The mini-games are exciting and addicting. The grand prix also allows for a challenge that is not online. The only knock I would have is there seems to be room for 1 or 2 more mini games and some more grand prix surprises. II tend to not to be a fan of the online fighting game genre. But with Arms I may have found my type of fighting game! The game is easy to get into and hard to master. The mini-games are exciting and addicting. The grand prix also allows for a challenge that is not online. The only knock I would have is there seems to be room for 1 or 2 more mini games and some more grand prix surprises. I hope the periodic free DLC can keep players involved for months to come. I would recommend this for anyone who is looking for a fun multiplayer experience.… Expand
  79. MrComrade
    Jun 17, 2017
    9
    It's fun. I love the characters, stages, music, and especially the gameplay. It's a refreshing take on the fighting game genre. It'll be supported in the future, too, with free character, stage, and ARMS (the different weapons used to customize your punch's effects ) dlc.
  80. toonlinkman
    Dec 26, 2017
    7
    Good *fun* game with lots of tactical play. The online play is great and seems much more stable than mario kart 8. The only downside is lack of single player offline game play.

    It is much easier to play with pro controller than using motion controls. I doubt I'll put in 100+ hours within the first month like Zelda, but maybe in a years time I will still be playing the odd game when    Good *fun* game with lots of tactical play. The online play is great and seems much more stable than mario kart 8. The only downside is lack of single player offline game play.

    It is much easier to play with pro controller than using motion controls.

    I doubt I'll put in 100+ hours within the first month like Zelda, but maybe in a years time I will still be playing the odd game when Zelda DLC is dead and buried.    … Expand
  81. Ryn_Ken
    Jan 21, 2018
    7
    Games are often compared to bodies of water to show how vast and deep they are. In this regard, Arms is a surprisingly deep... puddle. The fighting is great and the versatility of mixing character perks and different weapons is awesome along with the online servers being lag free 95% of the time, at least for me. everything around it is a different story. The plot is as basic as possible,Games are often compared to bodies of water to show how vast and deep they are. In this regard, Arms is a surprisingly deep... puddle. The fighting is great and the versatility of mixing character perks and different weapons is awesome along with the online servers being lag free 95% of the time, at least for me. everything around it is a different story. The plot is as basic as possible, the backstories are minimal, the dialogue is very limited, the music is repetitive and it was released with only a few characters. Charging full price for this was a mistake. In it's current state with fifteen characters, it would have easily been worth $40, but being $60 back when there were only nine to choose from was a terrible idea.

    The irony here is that I really like its combat and haven't been able to put the game down recently. Maybe the sequel, 'Two Arms' will provide a more fulfilling experience.    … Expand
  82. GojiraSan
    Jun 27, 2017
    10
    Fun new IP from Nintendo, this has the potential to be the Mario Kart of fighters. Kinda like Splatoon is the Mario Kart of shooters. The idiots complaining about a lack of content (both critics and users) seem to forget that the same process of delivering content over time was used with Splatoon. More features/characters are coming ( FOR FREE!!!!). Another winner from the big N.
  83. AlexRamosQueiro
    Jun 29, 2017
    10
    é um otimo jogo! para uma nova IP tem um grande potencial, no aguardo de novos lutadores e de mais algum possivel modo , mal vejo a hora de chegar, fora que eé quase zero lag, ainda mais que eu moro no brasil
  84. talalrahim
    Jul 12, 2017
    10
    This is an amazing game. It looks great, the motion controls are awesome and it's a lot of fun to play. I never though I would enjoy boxing so much. Now I don't know if I will have time for Splatoon or Zelda anymore. It's soooo great!
  85. Barnes1987
    Jul 3, 2017
    8
    A lot more fun that it looks. However i don't feel the urge to continue playing day after day. It's one of those games that's good for a quick gaming session. Worth a look in but not sure if it's worth full price.
  86. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    5
    It’s not a terrible game but it just doesn’t seem to make sense as to why Nintendo feels the need to make this game. I get that with Mario that gives them a platformer, with Zelda they have a game in the RPG genre, with Mario Kart they have a racing game. With Splatoon a couple years ago, they were finally able to get into the competitive shooting market and this game feels like its aIt’s not a terrible game but it just doesn’t seem to make sense as to why Nintendo feels the need to make this game. I get that with Mario that gives them a platformer, with Zelda they have a game in the RPG genre, with Mario Kart they have a racing game. With Splatoon a couple years ago, they were finally able to get into the competitive shooting market and this game feels like its a fighting game mixed with Splatoon.

    The big thing is, Splatoon is a very good game that nailed what it was going for where this just seems odd. Nintendo already has an incredibly successful fighting game, Super Smash Brothers. I just don’t know who this game was made for.

    Not to mean but the Wii and Motion Controls were a fun gimmick but people are done with that. No one wants or cares about Motion Controls anymore. Especially in the fighting game genre where execution is the most important aspect of those games. This is the worst of both worlds.

    I know it seems like I am rambling on about this game but I just want to make it clear that I just don’t understand why this game exists. Now don’t get me wrong with this game, it’s still fun but its a very shallow fun. If I played this game fore 5 hours, I don’t think I would ever want to play this game again.

    Nintendo is capable of making games that are always going to be competing for Game of the Year honors but for every great game they make. There is a major miss and this is one of those misses.    … Expand
  87. FanFreak777
    Oct 29, 2017
    10
    A fighting game where you really feel that you are fighting. Based on hitting, dodging and protecting ourselves, the game shows us how much fun it is to fight in this game. No need to learn absurd combinations to fight. You have very different characters with lots of gloves to match your choice. Mixing strategy with fighting. A real fighting game that Nintendo does not stop to improve.
  88. Lao3821
    Jun 27, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Divertido y un gameplay excelente,desde que lo e jugado no para de querer mas y mas, ademas tendra dlc gratis asi que la falta de contenido sera temporla… Expand
  89. jikflet
    Jul 21, 2017
    9
    I can't believe how fun this game is! i was curious about it when it was announced but was that kind of game i knew i was not going to buy. but later on, when i started to watch gameplay i was really into it. now, couple weeks later, i bought it and i can't stop playing! specially with family and friends. is so addictive. and you get better with every match you play. The motionI can't believe how fun this game is! i was curious about it when it was announced but was that kind of game i knew i was not going to buy. but later on, when i started to watch gameplay i was really into it. now, couple weeks later, i bought it and i can't stop playing! specially with family and friends. is so addictive. and you get better with every match you play. The motion controllers work so damn good!! i would not believe it if i wasn't playing. so accurate. and its so fun to play with them i haven event use my pro controller in this game, im not even curious abut using it at all. and more content is on the way as nintendo promised. and of free. totally recommend this game to everyone.… Expand
  90. UnionJack0714
    May 7, 2018
    8
    ARMS is the most recent Nintendo game with the most potential since Splatoon. A unique combat experience accompanied by a colourful group of fighters offer a fun solo and co op game that will satisfy you for hours. A semi weak campaign focuses on players entering a tournament of 10 fights. The player has 7 difficulty levels to select from, so challenge isn't an issue. However repeatingARMS is the most recent Nintendo game with the most potential since Splatoon. A unique combat experience accompanied by a colourful group of fighters offer a fun solo and co op game that will satisfy you for hours. A semi weak campaign focuses on players entering a tournament of 10 fights. The player has 7 difficulty levels to select from, so challenge isn't an issue. However repeating this as different characters is the only other option in terms of a main story. There are a decent amount of unique modes for a fighting game, including fighting versions of Basketball, Vollyball, Shootingat targets as well as the more predictable but still fun 3 and 4 player free for all fights. There are plenty of collectables, from art, badges and ARMS as well. Which brings me to the ARMS themselves, never has a fighting mechanic been so underrated. The numerous arms to collect allow for possible thousands of unique fights, from weak but fast party poppers to large slow powerful wrecking balls. There is also a pretty decent online mode called party mode. This will direct the player to a lobby full of other players, and will quickly match them into random fights and modes. This works super well with the Swicth's quick play ideal. In conclusion, this is just the beginning of what will surely become Nintendo's new fighting series. There is so much potential for this franchise's future and I can't wait to see what comes next. 8/10… Expand
  91. cool_dork
    Feb 3, 2019
    8
    I thought that this was really original and fun. However, after a while it got repetitive and I stopped playing it. If they come up with some really UNIQUE arms I will give it a higher rating.
  92. jiorl
    Jan 19, 2020
    6
    The Good: New IP's from Nintendo are always good, fresh take on the fighting genre, a wide range of interesting fighters and stages, a large array of arms to unlock, combat is easy to learn/hard to master - lots of depth in combat, online connection solid - have never been disconnected from a game.

    The Bad: Motion controls are a hit or a miss, lack of variety in game modes - can get    The Good: New IP's from Nintendo are always good, fresh take on the fighting genre, a wide range of interesting fighters and stages, a large array of arms to unlock, combat is easy to learn/hard to master - lots of depth in combat, online connection solid - have never been disconnected from a game.

    The Bad: Motion controls are a hit or a miss, lack of variety in game modes - can get boring after a while

    Other Notes: The series ARMS has a lot of things going for it. A great cast of fighters, an interesting twist on the fighting genre, good depth with the combat. However, there isn't that much you can do with it. Single play mode has you fight against CPU's in the same style you would when online, and there aren't much online modes, and the ones which are there don't feel engaging enough. Hopefully they continue the series, and build on what they have done in the next game, because there is so much potential to be found.    … Expand
  93. ScreenScraggy22
    Sep 17, 2017
    9
    This game is so underrated. The gameplay is so fun and very replayable. The graphics are awesome and the design just goes so well with the game. The content of the game is lacking, but they have already started DLC. Its such an underappreciated game and a definite recommend. Whether you like fighting games or not this is a very enjoyable game.
  94. TinyInfinity6
    Jun 20, 2017
    7
    It'd be great if the net code wasn't worse than Splatoon's. The mechanics are great, but when a third of your matches end with someone either DC-ing or teleporting due to lag to get a grab that would've been impossible otherwise, those fine-tuned mechanics go straight out the window. The game is great, the online is not.
  95. toastedbuns
    Jun 16, 2017
    6
    If you'll like this game or not depends heavily on how much you enjoy fighting games. It has depth but it's all about ranked mode. The extra stuff like party mode isn't as much fun. So it's up to you, 60$ for a short grand prix and ranked mode 1v1? Personally I bought this game so I have something to play until Splatoon 2 comes out. Nintendo did promise more free updates. For me this gameIf you'll like this game or not depends heavily on how much you enjoy fighting games. It has depth but it's all about ranked mode. The extra stuff like party mode isn't as much fun. So it's up to you, 60$ for a short grand prix and ranked mode 1v1? Personally I bought this game so I have something to play until Splatoon 2 comes out. Nintendo did promise more free updates. For me this game misses the mark. It feels more frustrating to play and it doesn't feel fun to win. Before you buy this game, ask yourself how much you enjoy fighting games because if you don't usually like them, chances are you won't like this either.… Expand
  96. OrangeYosh
    Feb 16, 2019
    7
    I was very excited for this game back in April or May, I was getting ready to play this game. It looked so cool! But when it released, it was fun. I liked the depth in the game, and the game and it’s characters because of how much charm they have. There’s a lot that this game does well, a unique battle system, a good cast of characters, the music and the gameplay. But, I feel that thisI was very excited for this game back in April or May, I was getting ready to play this game. It looked so cool! But when it released, it was fun. I liked the depth in the game, and the game and it’s characters because of how much charm they have. There’s a lot that this game does well, a unique battle system, a good cast of characters, the music and the gameplay. But, I feel that this game is a small bit underwhelming, the game isn’t a game I would play for hours, I just would pop in the cartridge, and play the game for 5 minutes, and that’s it. I never really wanted to come back because the game didn’t really encourage me to come back and say “Hey, come back and play some more bud!” The game can get a bit boring at times and I feel likes there is way too many modes in this game. Nintendo is trying to keep this game alive but, I don’t think it’ll stay alive for a while. Overall fun for a party, but a bit boring and un-encouraging for me to come back to play this game. Great game.… Expand
  97. The_Bairnsei
    Jun 25, 2017
    5
    I really wanted to like this game. New IP, new fighting style, polish, accessibility, slick online, fun - unfortunately, it doesn't have ALL of those things.

    Whilst online is certainly slick, it turned out to simply not be fun. Each 'party mode' match turned out to be an exercise in knowing I would win quickly, or knowing that I would be beaten quickly - and not being able to do much    I really wanted to like this game. New IP, new fighting style, polish, accessibility, slick online, fun - unfortunately, it doesn't have ALL of those things.

    Whilst online is certainly slick, it turned out to simply not be fun. Each 'party mode' match turned out to be an exercise in knowing I would win quickly, or knowing that I would be beaten quickly - and not being able to do much about it. This takes the enjoyment out of the game itself.

    I thought perhaps ranked mode would be better - where I would be matched against players of my (not very good) skill level. Turns out you need to win a grand prix against AI level 4 to get in to ranked mode. After a couple of hours of trouncing the AI opponent in one round, only to be barely able to land a hit in the next round - against the SAME CHARACTER AT THE SAME SKILL LEVEL - I decided that this game isn't for me and I'll be selling my copy.

    It would be great if the game gave me the impression that more practice or different ARMS would make a difference. Unfortunately, I'm none the wiser about how I won those rounds that I won - or how to stop myself from getting beaten like I did. If we get some balance tweaks, where most people could hit that magical 50-75% winrate, or be beaten CONSISTENTLY by a given skill level, that might improve things vastly. Unfortunately, I won't own the game by that time. :)

    Good try Nintendo, and I really mean that - it IS great original IP, it IS polished, it IS fun for some - but I wish you'd include the difficulty in this game more prominently in your marketing, and not give the impression that it's very accessible. Splatoon 1 got it right from the start; I have about a 75% winrate on that and enjoy the single player component a great deal, and any given online match can swing from one side to the other depending on strategies and effort. Perhaps it's just me, but I find ARMS much, much more difficult.

    Watch lots of reviews, footage and opinions before buying this one. I just read another user review, who said he felt like most critics didn't "get it", or weren't very good. I most certainly "get it" - I actually find the gameplay mechanic very appealing and enjoyable - but apparently I'm not very good. Great throwaway statement, but then where does that leave me, the guy that's not very good? Not having any fun. And if a game that markets itself as appealing and accessible leaves me not having any fun, and it's not teaching me how I can get better, then it's not doing its job properly, despite all the good work that went into it. It's a shame, because, as I said, I really wanted to like it. But it's left me wanting to throw the Switch through the window on more than one occasion. Not for me.    … Expand
  98. Aldeberuhn
    Jun 28, 2017
    6
    While the ARMS universe is colorful and visually appealing, there is a distinct lack of character building in this game. As a brand new IP, it's a little disappointing to see. The Grand Prix features a chain of randomly selected matches with no real context or opportunity to connect with the lives of these fighters. As a fighter game, storyline is not incredibly important, but the lack ofWhile the ARMS universe is colorful and visually appealing, there is a distinct lack of character building in this game. As a brand new IP, it's a little disappointing to see. The Grand Prix features a chain of randomly selected matches with no real context or opportunity to connect with the lives of these fighters. As a fighter game, storyline is not incredibly important, but the lack of character building is especially noticeable in this game due to its otherwise unique character designs.

    As far as gameplay goes, I find the motion controls to be terribly unreliable. For example, while trying to block a rush attack, I often end up throwing a punch instead. This ends up costing me a ton of health and sometimes the last little bit of my life. There are other strange things that happen as a result of the game not reading my motions correctly, but that is definitely the most noticeable one. Eventually, I found myself switching to the pro controller in order to be able to compete with other players. This was the best control scheme for me, but yet I still missed the charm of the motion controls. It felt like Nintendo really meant for this game to be played with the joy-cons, so to take them away, it felt like I was removing the core aspect of the game itself. However, playing with the joy-cons using motion control was not very fun either as I quickly found myself being outmatched by players using button controls like those on the pro controller.

    The wacky design of this game, using spring-like arms with missiles and other strange weapons attached, really sets it apart from other fighters. Having special abilities for each character also makes each character unique. On the other hand, there are some weapons and characters that are just clearly more powerful than others, and you'll find those particular ones being used frequently by your opponents. Meanwhile, characters like Master Mummy seem almost useless in competitive play as his two abilities include an armor effect, which can be easily cancelled out by a charged punch (something players should be using frequently anyway), and the ability to heal while shielding himself. Initially, you might think being the only character with the ability to heal would put Master Mummy near the top, but when you see how slow he regains health (the equivalent of the chip damage you receive while shielding a punch), you'll realize that it's not even worth the time it takes to get those 5-10 HP. You'll also be putting yourself at risk of being grabbed by your opponent while shielding, and that results in a massive loss of health which would take much, much longer to replenish.

    The developers will undoubtedly be working to balance things as the game continues to be played, but at the same time, there just isn't a lot to keep you coming back to this game over time. The fights were both silly and exciting at first, but the more I played, the more it felt like the same old thing over and over. Every 1-on-1 match felt just like the last, regardless of which characters or weapons were used. There are a number of different game modes, but the sports-based ones like Hoops, V-Ball, and Skillshot feel very bland. The fighting modes are much more entertaining, but the ones like 3 and 4 player free-for-all are not very fair to all players as one person usually gets picked on until they've been knocked out, followed shortly after by the person with the next lowest health. The player who avoids fighting the most usually ends up winning, and I'm just not into that kind of "win by doing practically nothing" defensive gameplay.

    All in all, if you've seen plenty of ARMS gameplay and you think you might be interested, I recommend buying the game. It's definitely a good game to pass the time until other games come out or to show to a friend who might be interested in some of Nintendo's latest ventures. I just wouldn't recommend buying it if you're short on cash and not really sure whether you would even enjoy playing it. I can't foresee it being a game that everyone will be talking about. It's a creative adaption of a boxing game, but it has many flaws. Even with more DLC added to the game, it will be hard for the ARMS IP to wiggle itself free of this boxing style of game it has pigeon-holed itself into simply by choosing the game to be centered around a group of professional fighters.    … Expand
  99. StabbedAbloke
    Jun 26, 2017
    2
    Alright, lets get to the point before the community downvotes this without reading it because they're a bunch of saltbabies, arms is a fighting game a new IP from nintendo, I know 2 new ips in under a decade what a shock. But Arms is to fighting games what splatoon is to shooters. The problem is, anyone who plays fighting games, will always find themselves in a bit of a sour mood. You canAlright, lets get to the point before the community downvotes this without reading it because they're a bunch of saltbabies, arms is a fighting game a new IP from nintendo, I know 2 new ips in under a decade what a shock. But Arms is to fighting games what splatoon is to shooters. The problem is, anyone who plays fighting games, will always find themselves in a bit of a sour mood. You can use motion controls or a regular controller, and frankly you're going to want to use a regular one or else your arms are going to hurt, it is a good workout even if the motion controls are rather harder to use and tend to overwhelm you.

    Look there is not much in terms of single player, and if you want to tag up with a local buddy he needs his own joycons so that's another chunk of change. You're not gonna play this game for the single player, and you will get sick of party mode because it keeps putting you in random gamemodes that you MIGHT not want to play, such as 3 for all where two people target one person and all you can do in those situations is put your controller down and wait.

    The main meat is ranked, best of 2 out of 3 in a fight 1v1. But answer me this, what ruins a lot of fighting games? Scumbags, Arms own community ruins it, because you're never going to fight anything other than Ribbon Girl, Ninjara, Twintelle, Master Mummy, or Helix. Why? Because those are the most broken characters currently. One can fly in the air, one can dash up to four times in the air an falls to the ground fast, the other has an outright warp move, an the other shrinks in size to dodge. And one can literally suck his thumb and heal by guarding constantly.

    Look the only way to play this game is to be a scumbag, if you just play single player you're going to hate the AI because guess what? Yeah AI in fighting games is bull.sh.it. they can react on a dime an don't have human restrictions. I've seen fairer AI in a mario party game.

    And some could say I'm salty, but I'm near max ranked in ARMS so I'd like to think I have enough experience to validate my opinion.

    I'd say don't buy this game, even with the new maps and characters coming out for free, it won't change what everyone online plays. You can get more fun with the 60 dollars on the steam sale, though I should come out and say I received ARMS for free due to winning a bet against a friend. Now here's the golden question.

    Did I have more than 0 dollars worth of fun?

    No, I probably had more than 0 dollars worth of irritation, annoying grab spammers that you do the same waltz an dance with, until you slip an they do get you an run all game.

    Look this isn't something you can just 'git gud' at. It's a fighting game with motion controls being the primary thing in mind, what do you expect?    … Expand
  100. zephir93
    Jun 18, 2017
    3
    after a while becomes a bore. there is no competition, the minigames is te best the game offers.
    skinny roster, skinny arms, skimmy fun. not a great game, it's not worth $60.

    and 2vs2 is a pain in the ass
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Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best Switch Game of 2017
10
#10 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
11
#11 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 97 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 97
  3. Negative: 0 out of 97
  1. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jun 2, 2018
    80
    Just like Splatoon, Arms' dynamic gameplay is geared towards online multiplayer. Behind its funny and colorful looks, the game is highly technical and offers various game modes to master.
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  2. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Sep 13, 2017
    75
    At the first glance, ARMS is unimpressive: its basic roster is only 10 fighters big, and there are no convoluted combinations of buttons to activate special attacks. But that’s just how Nintendo does things – its games are always easy to pick up. So you can flail away at your leisure against AI-controlled opponents, but once you start playing with other people, you quickly realize that you need to work on your technique. [Issue #222, p.68]
  3. Wired UK
    Aug 30, 2017
    80
    ARMS succeeds both as a surprisingly complex and detailed fighting game, and one of the best examples of motion controlled gaming we've seen. Another unexpected hit for the Nintendo Switch's burgeoning library of must-have games.
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