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.
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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.
    Read full review
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