REPLACED Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: REPLACED is a 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer set in an alternate 1980s America, with free-flow action combat and a deep, dystopian story.

    You play as R.E.A.C.H. - an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body against its own will, striving to adjust to human life, in
    REPLACED is a 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer set in an alternate 1980s America, with free-flow action combat and a deep, dystopian story.

    You play as R.E.A.C.H. - an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body against its own will, striving to adjust to human life, in and around Phoenix-City.

    Outlaws are rife in a society that has sustained lasting damage and taken a turn for the worse, following a catastrophic nuclear event. Everything is ruled by corruption and greed and the ones in power see humans and their organs as nothing more than currency.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Apr 17, 2026
    95
    With its sharp presentation, REPLACED will have you grappling with emotions, and it was well worth the wait.
  2. Apr 20, 2026
    85
    REPLACED isn't perfect, but it is special. We've fallen in love with its narrative, its aesthetic, and its extraordinary art direction. And its mechanics—the platforming, combat, and puzzles—work well and are sometimes truly outstanding. With all of this, it manages to weave a story that's a delight to uncover bit by bit. REPLACED is a must-play for fans of cyberpunk and narrative experiences with personality. And upon finishing it, we’re left thinking about its characters, its world, and what it truly means to be human.
  3. Apr 22, 2026
    85
    REPLACED is an awesome debut for Sad Cat Studios, who deliver us a fascinating cyberpunk pixel art adventure with satisfying combat. Despite some balancement issues, it remains a great action-platformer and a must-play for fans of dystopian sci-fi adventures.
  4. Apr 17, 2026
    80
    Sad Cat Studios makes its debut with REPLACED, a gripping adventure that rewrites humanity’s known past. Some 80 dystopian and retrofuturistic settings serve as the backdrop for the story, which takes on special significance as the game progresses. Outstanding art, visceral combat, and platforming come together to create an action title where everything blends perfectly to form a well-rounded video game.
  5. May 4, 2026
    78
    Replaced has been a long time coming, and for the most part we’re happy with how it has turned out. The combat and presentation are the highlights here, with incredible animation making every encounter look and feel awesome. A slow opening and generally heavy platforming and exploration can drag things down at times though. As it is, Replaced winds up being worth a play for sure, even if it isn’t quite the next best thing we were hoping for.
  6. Apr 17, 2026
    70
    Replaced didn’t turn out to be what I thought it was, nevertheless, I enjoyed its narrative and the things it had to say about A.I; given where we are in 2026 it felt pretty timely. I did have some small graphical issues on PC but the fact that the Xbox version is not capable of telling players what buttons to press in order to be successful is just crazy to me. I should not have to spend 10 minutes of trial and error to figure out a mechanic that the game should display in the tutorial. For a game that has been delayed so many times it’s these kinds of bugs that are just simply a bad look for the developer. There is some fun to be had with Replaced on Series X but I would wait for a patch or two before I began to go looking for it.
  7. May 8, 2026
    70
    Replaced is an enjoyable game. While it feels much more conventional than we originally expected, especially after its numerous delays, it’s nonetheless a solid effort from Sad Cat Studios. Admittedly, it won’t leave a lasting impression for its gameplay or its storyline, but it will likely have no trouble winning over fans of 2.5D action-adventure games who are also fans of cyberpunk settings. Because in the end, that’s what we’ll remember the most about Replaced: its top-notch retro-futuristic design.

See all 9 Critic Reviews