App Trigger's Scores

  • Games
For 579 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 50% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 45% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.4 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
Highest review score: 100 Life is Strange: True Colors
Lowest review score: 30 The Rumble Fish 2
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 20 out of 579
585 game reviews
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    With lots of things to see and do and unlock, Splatoon 3 delivers exactly what people want from the franchise and so much more. Despite a few disappointing decisions, like the removal of the rhythm game, a near-perfect Splatoon experience.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Zodiac Age retains the best parts of the PS2 original and improves on the game’s flaws. With enhanced visuals, a vastly improved job system licensing board, and the option to move at a faster speed, The Zodiac Age is the best way to experience Final Fantasy XII.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you liked the original Advance Wars games back on the Game Boy Advance, this is everything you wanted the re-boot to be. The battles are still deceptively clever, the strategy is still in full force, and the character designs still slap.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Despite some delayed modes and some missing features, Guilty Gear Strive is still a masterful fighting game filled with brilliant moves, perfect controls and some of the greatest art I’ve ever seen in a fighting game. All it takes is watching one fight in this game and you’ll need to own it.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Donkey Kong and his pals still bring the coolest 2D platforming adventure around, even as a port. Tropical Freeze is fun and challenging; Funky Kong makes it better by adding accessibility for younger, less experienced or outright busier people. Even discounting Funky, this is another perfect example of portability making an already-great game even easier to enjoy.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story delivers on the uncomfortable, important, and personal journey it promises. Clever UI design, superb writing, and intricate, complex puzzling weave together to accurately simulate both a lost phone and the world of the real person it belonged to. Though it’s a brief, one-way ride, the takeaways (and music tracks!) will stay with you long after you’ve pocketed the device.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Ghost of Tsushima is a beautifully crafted samurai adventure filled with elegance and marvelous treasures to discover. The combat is engaging, yet challenging, and it has yet to get old. Despite a few hiccups in the lackluster AI and a few glitches, I managed to continually get lost and awe-struck at the truly extraordinary experience Sucker Punch has created.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Far Cry 6 isn’t perfect but the anger toward the FC formula or the size of the game seems unnecessary. It’s fun, it’s beautiful and it’s finished without any massive bugs or glitches. So, grab your favorite amigo and your killer backpack and let’s start a revolution, baby!
    • 92 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe serves as the definitive version of this racing game. New characters, new items, classic battle mode reintroduction and all the game’s courses (basic and DLC) are packaged into a game that you can play with friends at home or on the road, online and off.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A gorgeous looking farm sim that doubles as a dungeon crawling adventure game, you can spend your days farming and crafting or fighting and solving mysteries. It’s all there plus romance options. The sound design is a little odd at points and a lot of the NPC dialogue is flat, but the game’s charm and feeling of progression that occurs as you achieve more goals more than makes up for it.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the peak of its genre as it brilliantly combines story, exploration, music and combat in a beautifully organized world.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed is even more fun than the first remake with improved and colorful visuals, smooth gameplay and the same amazing sounds that we know and love. Some games don’t need to be improved but we sure are glad this one was.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Coming straight out of left field, The Quarry surprises gamers with a fun and scary story, great (albeit sometimes buggy) graphics and gameplay that shows the devs actually listen to the players. Say hello to your game of the summer.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Activision and Toys for Bob have taken many of the best features of various platformers throughout the years and woven them together to create one of the best platformers I’ve played in years. A higher than normal difficulty curve may chase away some players but sticking with it definitely yields its rewards in fun mechanics and unlockables.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you have about 6-8 hours of time and you want to solve a mystery while trying to avoid madness, then I’d say Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace is a good time.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim excels at pretty much everything it attempts to do, and brings it all together very well. The story is brilliant and worth experiencing, while the combat is really where it is all at. If it were not for the lack of difficulty and over-reliance on time travel in the story, this may be the perfect game.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A unique, immersive mystery adventure game that is a standout in its genre. The amount of detail present in nearly every aspect of the game makes for a challenging but accessible puzzle solving experience. The game brilliantly combines time-loop mechanics with clever and mysterious puzzles that will put you on wit’s end, while smoothly balancing a creepy plotline with a colorful art style and dry humor. This indie title is a hidden gem that fans of mystery and puzzle games alike will greatly enjoy.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A thrilling adventure to save a world turned on its head with themes surrounding human nature, civilians in war, and the soldier’s journey. Surrounded by an impeccable soundtrack and pointed visuals, there is not another game which so gracefully pulls this off. The multiple endings are another thing to keep players coming back and are just as thrilling as the first playthrough. There are some issues with cutscenes and sidequests hardly live up to the main questline battles, however.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Cave Story+ is an absolute blast of a game. It’s addicting, it’s entertaining, and the multiple endings will keep you playing time and time again. It’s one of the Switch’s best releases and one you shouldn’t miss out on.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Samurai Shodown does the near-impossible task of blending old and new into an incredibly fun, solid fighting game package.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Gears 5 gives a lot of content for players to chew on. The campaign is by far the best part of this meal because of the deep character-driven story and the bombshell decision made near the end of the game. Multiplayer fans will not be disappointed with the updated versions of Horde and Versus. On the other hand, Escape feels out of place, but still brings fun and intuitive map building.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Whereas most DLC works as a throw-in gameplay experience that complements the main game, Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City places itself in the role of an unforgettable farewell. Whether you enjoy the haunting vistas, the myriad of new combat encounters, the expansion of the weapon, armor and items catalog or the fond memories of the series at large culminating into a fitting conclusion, it’s hard not to argue that Miyazaki’s level of excellence has persisted throughout the series.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Severed loses little, if anything, by coming to Nintendo Switch. It gains screen space for the player to bask in its incredible, artistic environments, and though the console can be heavy to hold one-handed for longer play sessions, that’s hardly a reason to stay away from this title. Given its brevity, you may dismiss Severed as a game for a rainy, bored day, but don’t. This is one of only a handful of must-plays in the Nintendo Switch library.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA MegaMix for the Nintendo Switch is a fun musical romp through the virtual idol’s massive library of songs. Though there are minor graphical issues and new modes that don’t quite hit, it’s hard to take away from the fact the base game is phenomenal.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Persona 5 is an exquisitely put together RPG overflowing with incredible style and a main cast you will sorely miss when the game is done. It’s easily the best RPG I’ve played in a few years.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is practically a must-own for anyone who has just picked up a Nintendo Switch. The expected excellent platforming fun, enjoyable storytelling, and impressive art and sound of all three campaigns not only comes all packed together in one title, but also includes better accessibility than ever before on a platform the title feels made for.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Whether played in VR or not, Resident Evil 7: biohazard is a thrilling game and it shouldn’t be missed. If you have the option to play the game with a PSVR, you should by all means do so. Regardless of how you play Resident Evil 7: biohazard, just be sure that you do because it is one of 2017’s finest releases and the constant stream of DLC keeps the nightmare alive.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Chime Sharp takes the simple concepts of the original Chime and brings with it new music and new challenges and puts it together in a robust, affordable and unique package.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Right now, in setting up a grander story, Guardians of the Galaxy can coast on its style. With a shocking revelation setting up a world of possibilities going forward, there’s plenty of promise here. Whether or not the story goes places will make or break this series, but “Tangled Up In Blue” sets up a dynamic cast that will be fun to follow on their journey.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Alan Wake 2 is a fun romp through dark dimensions, offering chances to change the world around you, all the while giving you plenty of jump scares. There are some texture bugs to work through, but overall, it is definitely a worthy sequel to the first game.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    It would have been nice to see Dragon Quest Builders 2 have a greater emphasis on non-linear progression or a less initially sparse world, but it successfully iterates on the original by streamlining its systems and mechanics without trivializing them, creating an endlessly endearing game brimming with simple, unadulterated pleasures.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    It’s easy to get lost exploring the giant maps in Rebellion’s Sniper Elite 5, and it’s been a while since I’ve played a game where I lost track of time. The collecting part leaves something to be desired, but the co-op and invasion gameplay modes more than make up for that.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet needed to be playtested a lot more before release. There are some genuinely jarring issues, but they don’t take away from the fact that there’s a really fun game here at its core. The storyline is better and more real than almost any Pokemon storyline I’ve seen in years. It’s hard to miss the flaws in this game, but if you’re a fan of the series, it’s far more interesting than it is disappointing and I’m glad I spent my time playing the game.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet needed to be playtested a lot more before release. There are some genuinely jarring issues, but they don’t take away from the fact that there’s a really fun game here at its core. The storyline is better and more real than almost any Pokemon storyline I’ve seen in years. It’s hard to miss the flaws in this game, but if you’re a fan of the series, it’s far more interesting than it is disappointing and I’m glad I spent my time playing the game.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    For both big and casual gamers, lore lovers, and those seeking a narrative-rich experience, Song of Nunu is a frosty gem worth every second. And, echoing my twins’ sentiments: “Can we have some more Yeti hugs, pretty please?”
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    PGA Tour 2K21 beefed up its career mode with the inclusion of more courses, brands, and rivalries with tour pros. Hitting great shots feels very satisfying and the immense flexibility in difficulty makes the game fun for everyone. Online play is fairly deep with Societies and matchmaking while the course designer continues to be a shining star for the series. If this franchise is the future of golf games, then it’s looking pretty good.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Oxenfree II pays deep homage to its predecessor while creating a pretty and creepy game that old fans and new ones alike can enjoy.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Serpent Rogue offers a fun and relaxing game that is part adventure and part sandbox. Whether you’re here for the gameplay or the atmosphere, I think you’ll enjoy your stay.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    A Space for the Unbound starts 2023 off right with one of the better narrative romps I’ve had in a long time. A slice-of-life narrative tale set in 90’s Indonesia and filled with supernatural twists finds a way to be compelling to all walks of life thanks to a well-crafted story with a lot of heart. Excellent world design and music help seal the deal. The game is moderately slowed down due to extensive foot travel and some strange point and click mechanics but the rest of the game is so interesting that you learn to roll with it.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Tormented Souls is a great addition to your Halloween lineup by appealing to the new generation with good music and good graphics but catering to the older gamers with nostalgic gameplay, storyline and mechanics. It’s not perfect but it’s a good time.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    When the Past was Around is an emotional roller coaster of a story told exclusively through gorgeous art and stirring violin music. The puzzles are clever and fun but a little immersion-breaking at times. The addition of touch screen support in handheld mode on Nintendo Switch adds to the experience as well.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Minus some occasional glaring AI issues, it's off to the races with yet another stunning simulation racer.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The End is Nigh is a marvelous and challenging game, and is both familiar but also somewhat alien for fans of both Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel’s past works. Its excellent level design and numerous hidden secrets and challenges will offer those willing to take it on hours upon hours of grueling, satisfying gameplay.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The story paints something that feels all too real-world with things like police corruption and right-wing smoke screening. Combined with real-world visuals of the city mixed with gorgeous graffiti-like special effects, it all mixes into a fantastic racing experience that is hard to quit. The only gripe is an incredibly slow progression system.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Need for Speed: Heat is the kind of game that reinvigorates the franchise. With so many things to do, so much to explore and unlock, it’s a complete experience with an extreme racing intensity that's somewhat hampered by tedious grinding at later levels and the extreme difficulty of high Heat levels. If you haven’t gotten into a Need for Speed game in a while, this is probably the time to finally hop back in.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Clearly inspired by old-school action platformers, Angry Video Game Nerd 1 & 2 Deluxe presents two beautifully remastered games complimented by a rocking soundtrack. The game’s vulgar language and brutal difficulty won’t appeal to everyone, but retro gamers and AVGN fans will really appreciate everything this game has to offer.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Runner3 builds upon its predecessors, and what it ends up delivering is a polished game that asks for precise maneuvers from its players. With a catchy soundtrack driven home by your every move, and vibrant visuals, fans of the series and genre will find a lot to love.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    By revamping its multiplayer efforts and focusing it in a hub that promotes creative expression (both cosmetically and through gameplay preferences), NHL 19 marks the best representation of simulation hockey video games this generation.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Super Mario Bros. 35 is not your typical BR game where balance changes come left and right, forcing you to adapt to new metas every few weeks. It’s the kind of game where even if you come to it late or take breaks from it, you aren’t going to be painfully behind the pack. You can pick this up either as a 2D Mario veteran or noob and have fun with it. Unfortunately, this game will only be playable until March 31, 2021, and I hope that isn’t the case.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Bursting with personality and fun everywhere from the menu to the game's 120+ levels, Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition oozes with the spirit of fun, competition, and cooperation that the Nintendo Switch wants to put front and center on its console.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Persona 5 Strikers is an absolute love letter to Persona 5 and a worthy sequel. Despite some camera issues and some massive framerate dips in the Switch version, the game is an absolute joy, filled with bizarre villains, fantastic plot twists and fun new mechanics.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    If you’ve been looking for a game with the charm and slow world-building of Stardew Valley or My Time in Portia without the strict always time mechanic or a heavy focus on crafting, this is the game you’ve been waiting for. The combat and inventory could be improved upon, but overall this game is pretty grape… I mean great!
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a fantastic game that elevates itself above the trappings of more general hack-and-slash fests thanks to its incredible and engaging narrative, epic musical soundtrack, and overall fun and fluid gameplay. It's a very worthy successor to Hyrule Warriors as well as an official entry into The Legend of Zelda lore.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Pokemon Unite busts out the gate as a very solid, very easy to pick up and play MOBA game. Even as someone who does not like MOBAs, I found myself getting really into the rounds and figuring out the tools quickly. Cute visuals, fun unlockables and a fun variety of play styles keep matches fresh and a quick chat feature helps avoid the toxicity that normally sticks to MOBAs like glue.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Bluepoint Games’ remake loses some visual style when compared to the original, but its revamped controls and incredible attention to detail are more than enough to make up for it. The new release manages to keep the heart and soul of the franchise while making it more accessible than ever.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation -The Endless Seven-Day Journey- is exactly what the trailer promised. It’s a heartfelt summer vacation sim mixed with Stardew Valley-style side quests mixed in with a sprinkle of time travel and dinosaurs, because why not?
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    A beautifully atmospheric game of exploration that tasks you with climbing a structure of which the top cannot be seen from the ground, Jusant gives me the chill but thought provoking climbing experience I didn’t know I needed. It’s a fantastic game for the people who loved something like “Only Up” but died a little on a personal level every time they fell all the way back down. Jusant is a wonderfully unique experience with very well executed mechanics and I can’t recommend this enough.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Aside from its occasionally imprecise aiming and uncharacteristically restricting final moments, My Friend Pedro is a gorgeous amalgamation of the best portions of many wildly different genres.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    While the lack of a story felt like a ton of missed potential, the gorgeous art and the beautifully complex but fun controls kept me enthralled. The difficulty was ridiculously high but the developers have already stated they’re working to patch that. For people looking for a beat ’em up style game, Sifu offers one of the most remarkably unique entries into that genre, especially if you want more from your beat ’em up than button mashing.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    PGA TOUR 2K23 doesn’t hit you with a shipload of content, but with some of the best gameplay ever in a golf game along with returning features like MyCAREER, Societies, Quick Match, and the course designer as well as the addition of Topgolf and the new MyPLAYER Archetype/Skill system, there’s plenty of replay value at the virtual links.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Obsidian takes the aging Bethesda open-world RPG formula and makes it feel fresh with an outer space setting, shorter length and incredibly sharp writing that should appeal to fans of that signature style of game and fun sci-fi adventures.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Combining a hearty single-player campaign with interesting new combat mechanics, decent netplay and a character creator that’s honestly worth the price of admission alone, Soulcalibur VI takes its rightful place on the stage of history as one of the best fighters out right now.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Hatsune Miku Project Diva Mega Mix+ isn’t quite the PC port we would hope for but it is a great start for the series or for PC players to dip their toe into the Weeb-fueled rhythm game.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    WarioWare: Get It Together! is short but it’s an absolute blast to play and will keep you hooked with everything it throws at you. The single-play story can beaten quickly but the replay value is in the different characters and figuring out how they handle each puzzle. The graphics are wild and fun, the controls are really solid, and the wealth of multiplayer options make this a blast for multiplayer couch sessions.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The battle mechanics do feel a bit more sped up from before which marked an improvement to the quality of life that was needed to keep the pace of the battles up. A large roster also keeps things interesting but there is a locking feature where some characters can’t be changed out, limiting the usage of the expansive roster in the beginning.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Kingdom Hearts III is a welcome return of the Disney action-RPG epic and the best game in the series to date, making you really want to see the next chapter in the series as soon as possible.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Approachable, but surprisingly deep, Knockout City is one of 2021’s biggest surprises and a refreshing take on the team-based competitive multiplayer genre.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Pikmin 3 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch takes an already great game and sweetens it with updated visuals, improved controls and impressive (though uncharacteristically difficult) side missions to create a title that would make most Switch game collections incomplete without.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    While not the most complex game in the world, Penko Park is an adorable ride through a creepy little zoo of the cutest little creatures and a relaxing time for a casual experience.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Valkyria Chronicles 4 is arguably the high point of the series with great and varied tactical action and customization. However, its attempt at being a serious drama about the high cost of war on both sides is undercut by a ridiculous amount of gratuitous objectification.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a fresh and exciting reboot that feels completely new yet satisfyingly familiar. It breathes new life into the franchise by updating and modernizing what many consider to be one of CoD‘s best sub-series. Not every new addition or tweak lands perfectly, but overall Modern Warfare is a great package.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    From the music to the visuals, from the gameplay to the story, this game packs quite the punch. Scarlet Nexus is a game that has definitely had a lot of love put into it. It isn’t some kind of one-and-done, generic feeling hack and slash game that people vaguely remember six months after launch. It’s a game that deserves the attention from people who like anime games and those on the fence about it.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Where Winds Meet is one messy and unapologetically dense online game. It tried to mix all the good and the bad of open-world games and staple features of live-service releases -- whether it actually works or not. But it's the first time a wuxia game, or even an MMO in general, has truly felt like a living, breathing world -- not just a theme park of instanced dungeons and fetch quests. Anyone hunting for their next timesink, whether solo or with friends, will find Where Winds Meet surprisingly easy to get hooked on.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The controls aren’t the best as the characters accelerate really bizarrely but the worlds are inventive, the ideas are unique and ever-changing, and the multiplayer is an absolute blast. The addition of the challenging single-player-centric Bowser’s Fury is such a powerful bonus. With the wide variety of ways to play this game, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is easily a must-have for Nintendo Switch owners.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Champions’ Ballad hits a few stumbling blocks in its execution, but by and large is an excellent coda to the soaring symphony that is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. With a balanced mix of combat, exploration, story, challenge, and discovery, there’s no reason to stay away from the DLC if you, like most of us, enjoyed the game to begin with.
    • 97 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Red Dead Redemption 2‘s attention to detail, engaging storytelling and beautiful graphics make it a must-play game. Despite some clunky control schemes and questionable new features, Red Dead Redemption 2 was a wonderful experience that offered a nice change of pace that separates itself from other open world games.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Marvel's Spider-Man finally gives players the best opportunity to do whatever a spider can.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Splatoon 2 provides a second chance at life for the Wii U’s best game, drawing in a new Switch audience with the staples that made the first game great and adding just enough quality of life adjustments and new modes to entice veterans. Robust launch content and a steady stream of promised updates should quickly soothe series naysayers, even if there are still a few desired features off the table. Above all else, Splatoon 2 radiates silly, squiddy fun throughout; a don’t-miss title when you take the plunge and pick up a Switch.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Despite the core gameplay being a remarkably basic RPG, Nintendo more than makes up for this by creating a world that makes fun of RPG tropes while giving you full ownership of every single character in the game. This allows for randomly generated funny moments and a feeling of ownership not found in many other titles. If you’re looking for a serious RPG, it’s not here; but, if you’re looking for a fun time filled with memes and light-hearted fun, you’re not going to do much better than Miitopia.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Jackbox Party Pack 6 pushes the franchise forward in the right direction with a variety of refreshing, exciting minigames. Whether it’s socially deducing aliens among humans, working on your stand-up craft, discovering new roles for you and your group, creating brand new words, or escaping a ghoulishly menacing ghost hotel, there’s an exceptional time to be had for all.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    While not a remake like the appropriately named Final Fantasy VII: Remake, Crisis Core is a 100% labor of love, taking the original game and cleaning it up while only making a few changes that allow people who never had a PSP to experience this somewhat hard to access chapter of Final Fantasy’s lore. The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay is smooth and fun, the structure of the game respects your time, and Cissnei is in it which is worth the cost of admission itself.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed: Origins marks a new beginning for the series as this open-world prequel successfully merges the old and new. While not perfect, the result is still a deeply satisfying Egyptian playground that will revitalize your love for a series that was starting to fall by the wayside.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Make no mistake, Windjammers’ biggest strength is in its fun and addictive gameplay. It cuts through the white noise and just delivers some fast-paced, super competitive action that anyone can pick up and play.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    With a story slightly better than Missing Heir, this episode of the Famicom Detective Club dives into a well-thought-out world of interesting characters and a surprisingly dark story. The world comes alive with gorgeously designed art, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, and fully-voiced characters. If you’re torn between the two Famicom Detective Club titles, I’d go with this one as it’s slightly better just because of the story alone.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Ys VIII abandons the sprawling, dramatic settings of other JRPGs for a restrained world and cast, then gives us every reason to fall in love with both. From combat to story to exploration to sound, Ys VIII offers subtle, but refreshing distinctions from the usual genre fare.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Fans of Max Payne will find El Paso, Elsewhere a finely-penned love letter to the action franchise, but players will likely discover the game’s heart to burn just as hotly as its gun barrels.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    As far as collections go, Capcom absolutely nails it with the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection. The slight graphical upgrade is nice as well as the large collection of backgrounds you can choose from. A talking MegaMan NetNavi at the title screen is also a super nice touch.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    MLB The Show 19 still offers some fun baseball gameplay that’s both engaging to learn and rewarding to master, yet it isn’t too different from what’s come before.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is more than a solid port of two Nintendo 3DS games, let alone, one that was localized for Western regions. Its enhanced visuals, twist-filled and exhilarating story, and orchestral score create a package that will definitely give fans of the franchise or the visual novel genre a bang for their buck. It’s a game that will test your wits, memory, and logic skills to solve the various cases at hand.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    From the graphics to the gameplay, Disintegration breathes new life into the first-person shooter genre. The first-person shooter and real-time strategy elements mix nicely and the story will grab your attention early on. Disintegration is a solid new IP that will hopefully grow with future installments, should V1 Interactive choose to expand on this universe.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    With no one single way to finish a level and constantly changing enemies, the game’s intense electronic soundtrack will get your adrenaline pumping as you slice, dice, and blow your enemies into pieces.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Some minor flaws aside, Neo: The World Ends with You greatly fixes the hot mess of a control scheme from its predecessor and delivers a worthy sequel with excellent art and storytelling. Constant changes to gameplay and twists in the story will keep you engaged throughout.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    While I didn’t go into this game with high hopes my expectations were shattered as it turned out to be a creative and fun take on the type of game I spent the last several decades somehow never getting bored of. From a return to unlockable characters without microtransactions to a really clever, almost rouge-like stage set up, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragon is a must have for fans of beat ’em ups.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Skyrim on the Switch may not allow you to have dragons that look like wrestlers, but it remains an epic adventure well worth undertaking and many may prefer the ability to have it with them wherever they go.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Rise is everything that made Monster Hunter World stand above the other series’ games with additions of fun new features that add to the gameplay. While Capcom still struggles with issues of storytelling and gender roles, the gameplay itself more than distracts from the weird hub world. With graphics I didn’t think the Switch could achieve and remarkably solid controls, Monster Hunter Rise is an absolute must for fans of the series or just people looking for a fun action-adventure for their Nintendo Switch.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    If we were to just judge the Layers of Fear remake on the sound and graphical improvements alone, it would far surpass its predecessor. Unfortunately, an abrupt ending and less-than-impressive voice acting takes the player away from the immersion and makes us yearn for some of the original qualities.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Danganronpa 1 & 2 Reload provides a powerful and gripping experience that will keep players addicted from the opening sequence until the final credits begin to roll. If you enjoy disturbing visual novels, odd characters, and solving murders, then Danganronpa 1 & 2 Reload is well worth experiencing.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    I never would have imagined a multiplayer dating sim working, but boy, does Monster Prom work. It rests on a framework of superb character art and hilarious scenario writing, then goes several steps further to offer a challenging competitive experience and an addictive solo one.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    I’m not really sure what my favorite part of Heidelberg 1693 was, really. I love the aristocratic time period, the colors and varying environments. The ending is a hell of a lot of fun as well but I won’t spoil that for you. If you are a fan of platformers or even on the fence about them, this is one of the good ones that will win you over with its looks alone.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Despite a few technical hiccups, Pacific Drive is a thrilling experience that is unlike anything I've encountered. Beautifully atmospheric with a really well-done story design and more than enough mental stimuli to make your mind terrified of what it doesn't see. Pacific Drive is a game about you and a questionably reliable car, and it is a destination well worth the drive.
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In Progress & Unscored

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    • 79 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Len’s Island is a good game that has a ton of great ideas working for it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t push those ideas to the limit and instead much to be desired. But it comes from a wonderful team that hopefully keeps making games. [Early Access Score = 75]
    • 82 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    MLB The Show 18 is a must-buy game for baseball enthusiasts. And if you’re a casual fan simply looking to dip your toe in a baseball game this year, you probably won’t find anything better than MLB The Show 18.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Unfortunately, the Market District isn’t as expansive as it initially seemed, with many of the buildings serving only cosmetic purposes. The update introduced a main plotline and gave the Doctor a goal, but still prevented him from progressing too far. I enjoyed the introduction of the new area and the terrifying new enemy type, but my explorations were frustratingly-brief. Perhaps it’s for the best, then, that my main complaint with Gloomwood is that I want more.
    • 69 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The Walking Dead: The Final Season episode 2 does well enough outside of its circumstance, but without the certainty of obtaining proper closure I cannot, in good consciousness, recommend supporting this episode as Clementine’s final chapter.
    • 86 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Diablo IV represents a significant milestone for a series that is approaching its 30th anniversary. From what I have seen so far, it successfully modernizes the franchise and brings it up to par with other ARPGs. Once again, you’ll embark on a relentless journey through dungeons, honing your skills, optimizing your damage output, and improving your survival chances.
    • 87 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    All in all, Dispatch is a game with a lot of potential. If we see this level of quality throughout the next six episodes, I have no doubt that we'll be looking at the biggest narrative experience of the year. Adhoc Studios has done well to harness the magic that made Telltale Games so great while also putting their own flair into it.

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