Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy!

 Switch
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Mar 25, 2019
    90
    As a character-driven bit of Final Fantasy fanservice, Chocobo Mystery Dungeon Every Buddy nails the bright, bubbly charm and joy of a good, humble JRPG. It’s the small moments where you get to simple appreciate Chocobo for the adorable character that he is that it’s at its best, and accompanied by the comfortably familiar and accessible dungeon crawling that it has, this is a relaxing, pleasant, joyful game, and I hope it sells brilliantly, so Square Enix can realise that this is one mascot that shouldn’t be put on ice.
  2. Vooks
    Jul 1, 2019
    80
    Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every BUDDY! Is a bit of an interesting spectacle. It’s a remaster that nobody asked for, in a series that’s largely been forgotten, in a genre that doesn’t really get much attention. In a way, it’s almost worth playing for that spectacle alone. But spectacle aside, there’s a lot to love, and the game is filled with charm and adorable, fictional bird moments. Sure, it gets a little repetitive, and the difficulty curve is steep, but it’s got a solid foundation, and if you can push through the grindier elements, there’s a lot of fun to be had.
  3. Cubed3
    Jun 3, 2019
    80
    Absolutely filled to the brim with content, Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! is a charming take on the Mystery Dungeon format. While it might not offer too much in the way of innovation, there is a refined quality to just about every aspect. From the Buddy System, to the wonderful integration of Final Fantasy's Job System, there's very little on display that doesn't ultimately come together. The difficulty's pacing might pose a problem to some, but Square Enix's latest interpretation of the Mystery Dungeon franchise is bound to be remembered as one of the series' highest points.
  5. Destructoid
    Apr 21, 2019
    80
    Hardcore roguelike fans may find it too forgiving, but for anyone unfamiliar with the genre, you won't find a better jumping off point than this.
  6. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Mar 29, 2019
    80
    If you’re a fan of mystery dungeon games, I can’t recommend Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! enough. It’s got a few issues with dated visuals and the way you gain job experience, but it’s still a gem of a game. Final Fantasy fans and newcomers alike should treat themselves to this adorable experience.
  7. Twinfinite
    Mar 26, 2019
    80
    Despite its heavy use of aleatory mechanics, Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy offers a strategic and challenging adventure that’s paired with a delightful dose of Final Fantasy nostalgia.
  8. Everyeye.it
    Apr 9, 2019
    75
    Has an undeniable charm.
  9. Multiplayer.it
    Apr 1, 2019
    75
    Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY! is misleading: it looks cute and charming but it can also be brutal and punishing.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Shared Switch Game of 2019

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 30
  3. Negative: 6 out of 30
  1. shofixti
    Mar 27, 2019
    6
    This game is a prime example of what happens when you put an absolutely beautiful coat of paint on a drafty house that smells of mold.

    At    This game is a prime example of what happens when you put an absolutely beautiful coat of paint on a drafty house that smells of mold.

    At its best, you're in love with the adorable bright-eyed birb who's running around trying to help people, joyfully reaching up with his cute little wings to take hold of precious treasure. The world is pretty (though I had some screen refresh updates while moving around), and you get lots of great Final Fantasy music. There's enough raw charm to draw me in and make we want to play the game, even if the story isn't exactly grand dramatic prose.

    At its worst, you're dealing with gameplay that was created in 1980 and other than easier controls and visuals, still has nearly all the warts. Some people think those mechanical challenges are what makes the experience that much more satisfying. Perhaps those people are the same people who will maintain that cumbersome controls are part of what made Silent Hill scary. Me, I'm not a fan of "Oh crap, I'm gonna die because I can't target the monster," any more than I'm a fan of "I just got too close to a monster because of clunky diagonal movement controls and now my nice +12 weapon just got cursed and I can't fix it because I ran out of inventory slots for de-curse items nine floors ago." Or "whoops, looked like I was pointed the right way, but I just kicked the healing potion at the boss instead of my buddy, now the boss is looking fit and my buddy is looking smushed under the boss's foot. And now I'm dead because my buddy can't heal me. So much for that last hour."

    A little bad luck can set you back tens of minutes, or hours. Again, if you are looking for that challenge, to get the satisfaction of being the best prepared for calamity, micro-managing and tuning your limited inventory, each and every movement and ability use, and all of that, then this is the game for you. For me, the only satisfaction in gameplay is the rush of leveling, of seeing new skills from jobs open up. It remains to be seen if that'll get me through the whole game.

    Summary: If you really love Final Fantasy, or you like Rogue, you may like this; to love it, I suspect you will need to be a big fan of both.    … Full Review »
  2. owenw218
    Mar 21, 2019
    8
    So far this game is great. It reminds me of the PS1 era Chocobo's Dungeon games. I am playing it on hard and am not too far in yet. My oneSo far this game is great. It reminds me of the PS1 era Chocobo's Dungeon games. I am playing it on hard and am not too far in yet. My one complaint so far is that as you level up your various jobs, the game does not do a good job of telling you that you have new abilities. These new abilities are pretty much necessary to complete some of the early challenge dungeons which unlock important content early game. This is a minor gripe. The only other thing I dislike is it has a pretty child focused lens for story telling, I'm almost 30, I wouldn't mind them toning that down a bit.

    All things considered, it scratches the dungeon crawler rogue like itch for me, and the music is fantastic. It's definitely pulled from lots of different games in the series and so far I am loving it. It will definitely hit you right in the nostalgia, and I think that fans of the series will appreciate the numerous nods to other games.

    I think that this game will continue to be enjoyable, and the Switch version allows for mobility which is great.    … Full Review »
  3. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this spin off game in the series.
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