CGMagazine's Scores

  • Games
For 2,614 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 54% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 40% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.4 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 76
Highest review score: 100 The Messenger
Lowest review score: 10 Vroom in the Night Sky
Score distribution:
2626 game reviews
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Owlboy is a masterpiece. Plain and simple.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    GORN 2 is a must-play VR title and has been pulling me back into the VR medium. Between hilarious combat and a weird story, GORN 2 is incredible.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    VA-11 Hall-A is a funny, thought-provoking, and sometimes tragic work of art, with truly original gameplay and a beautiful aesthetic unlike anything else on the market.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Shadowbringers is more than just a masterful arc in a beloved tale; it’s one of the best Final Fantasy stories ever realized, showcasing an MMORPG at the apex of its craft.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Starcraft retains its seat in the high pantheon of genre defining games.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes everything good about Animal Crossing and improves it ten-fold.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Enter the Gungeon is a full-clip of awesome, loaded into a gun of perfection and fired onto the most interesting console.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    BioWare took the time they needed to bring Dragon Age fans the perfect RPG experience. From style to story and everything in between, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is everything I wanted from this entry in the Dragon Age universe.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    ASTRO BOT is creative, inventive, insanely fun, and a true love letter to the legacy of the PlayStation.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Split Fiction is a masterpiece. Between engaging emotional storytelling and wildly experimental gameplay mechanics that manage to stay fun start to finish, everyone should play Split Fiction.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The Roll7 team have achieved an original greatness with Rollerdrome across the board: original concept, 80s nostalgia music and art—augmented with super fluid mechanics and gameplay.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a sheer triumph in every department, evolving beyond its inspirations to present one of the most engrossing RPGs of the last decade.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Expertly expanding upon its predecessor, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is not only one of the best Star Wars games to date, but a masterclass in blending genres, pacing, and emotional gut-punches.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Demonschool is a straight-A Turn-Based Strategy game. Thoughtful, stylish, innovative and incredibly fun.
    • 96 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Baldur's Gate 3 masterfully blends gameplay, story & music with incredible player agency & emotional tension, a true gaming masterpiece.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a deftly rebuilt iteration of a foundational title—making the must-play strategy-RPG easier to enjoy than ever before.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    God of War is back with one of the most rewarding experiences on the PlayStation 4 to date.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is everything that was great about Igarashi’s Metroidvania titles all rolled into one, and feels like it will be as timeless a game as Symphony of the Night.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Age of Empires 4 is a bold and ambitious evolution of the series, and quite likely one of the best RTS games ever made.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    I’ve never had the chance to review a perfect game, nor did I ever think I would, but Hades is that game. SuperGiant Games prove once again that no one is creating games as unique and fun as they are.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The definitive edition of Final Fantasy XV.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy XV is a challenge to modern game design and traditional masculine gaming narratives, on top of being a truly phenomenal, enriching experience. Square Enix has reclaimed its throne.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Chicory: A Colorful Tale is an absolute delight—fun, engrossing, and bursting with creativity.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    A brilliantly realized, brutal and bloody Metroidvania that is the next best thing to reading up on Catholic Martyrs while you whip yourself with a barbed cat-o-nine-tails.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Tetris Effect combines the simplicity of Tetris with an evocative and awe-inspiring mixture of music and visuals to create an experience unlike any other.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Sonic Mania Plus adds more to a game that was already perfect.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Basically, Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 is all about decorating and designing, and that really is the core of the franchise. If this is something you love, then the update is for you.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    This is Borderlands perfected. A game that takes the foundation of the series and elevates it in every conceivable way. Funnier, smarter, richer, more thrilling, and absolutely overflowing with reasons to keep playing long after the credits roll.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The Plucky Squire is a phenomenal game from a debut studio and is an absolute must-play.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy XVI melds the best of the series’ themes with a modern, malleable take on combat—creating a heartrending, generation-defining tale of revenge, fate, and freedom.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Earth Atlantis innovates by bringing in ideas from the metroidvania genre to its shoot’em up shell, creating an experience that is unlike any other.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a masterpiece, featuring exceptional characters, stunning environments, engaging combat mechanics, and captivating performances that hold up even after a third playthrough. It is a game everyone should experience.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth is a short and sweet game that is beautiful to look at and play. The journey through Moominvalley and the characters you meet make the entire experience worth it.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Diablo IV's dark allure combines ingenious design choices to create an extraordinary Diablo that we couldn't have dreamed possible back in 1997.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    By daring to make a statement, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided succeeds in being a nuanced, mature gaming experience that pushes the medium forward in major ways.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It’s the most innovative shooter I’ve played in years.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Katamari Damacy REROLL is a delightful game that I highly recommend. It’s quirky, charming, extremely fun, and much deeper than it initially appears. I know it may sound cliché, but there really isn’t anything else like it and with it’s wide availability on modern consoles, it’s a game that you should definitely play if you haven’t experienced it yet.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    NieR: Automata is the rare gaming experience in which narrative, aesthetics, and gameplay all complement each other to form a perfect storm of master class game design. A truly exemplary example of what video games are capable of as an art form, and a new personal favorite.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a complete reinvention of everything that makes the franchise great, and the best 2D Mario game ever made.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Mixtape is a greatest hits of gameplay, storytelling, music and animation. Its a true work of art that would be a crime not to experience.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It is a quality experience through and through with some excellent writing and inventive design that I can’t say I’ve ever seen implemented so well in a game before. It dares to be different and does so with style. I loved every minute of it.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Oxenfree takes the best parts of supernatural 1980's teenage horror films and combines it with believable characters, beautiful set pieces, and a haunting VHS synth-pop soundtrack to create a masterpiece.
    • 96 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is easily the greatest open world game ever made, and may well be Nintendo’s finest achievement.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VII Rebirth delivers upon Remake's thesis, increasing a classic's scale and character tenfold to create a new modern-day masterpiece.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds upon its strong foundation to present a captivating narrative and gameplay experience that stands in the franchise’s upper echelon of tales.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Tetris Effect: Connected is a must-play game, and should not be missed by anyone.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth sets a new standard for the Yakuza series with its captivating story, mesmerizing gameplay, and richly detailed side activities.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Cairn is something truly special. A game that makes you climb in isolation, giving you and Aava time for quiet contemplation, enough so that you feel the embodiment of the character and can’t help but face her struggles like they were your own. With an outstanding gameplay loop and so much freedom to climb where and how you like, Cairn is incredible.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    I absolutely loved Slime Rancher, from the colourful start to the bittersweet ending that literally had me sobbing—something that is quite hard for video games to achieve.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Resident Evil Requiem feels like the culmination of everything the series has been building to and building on over the last thirty years. The story, gameplay, and sound design are all remarkable.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Hollow Knight: Silksong takes the masterclass design of its predecessor and elevates it to set a new gold standard in Metroid-like design.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End will be regarded in the same light as Ocarina of Time and Grand Theft Auto III as a game that pushed the industry to new heights we’ve never seen before.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Genre-bending and hauntingly mesmerizing, Half-Life: Alyx brings the series as it should have always been experienced while doing the impossible: surpassing Half Life 2.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Pokémon Pokopia is one of the most robust cozy games to-date, essentially melding two Nintendo franchises into one content-rich whole that should keep fans pleasantly busy for some time.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Yoku's Island Express is the perfect combination of pinball mechanics meets metroidvania, and is not only my favorite indie game so far this year, but my favorite pinball game of all time.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The best looking console game I’ve ever played, and one that can easily stand toe-to-toe with the best the PC world has to offer — and I can play it on a big-screen from the comfort of my couch. Bluepoint knocked it out of the park so far the ball killed someone in a distant suburb.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The Messenger’s intricate platforming and charming world make for a surprising journey that must be played.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Kirby and the Forgotten Land's Switch 2 Edition is the best paid upgrade yet, and a worthy addition to one of the Switch's finest platformers.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Considering that it’s both free and quite probably the best ARPG that we’ll ever see, I can think of no valid excuse not to give it a whirl. To be honest, every time I get lost for a weekend in refining a new build, only to die and start again, I wonder why I bother playing anything else. There’s always been something for everyone in Path of Exile; now there’s even more.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Bravely Second takes concepts from it’s predecessor and improves on them completely, making this the best game on the 3DS.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    A lack of a total visual overall barely detracts from the fact that Valkyria Chronicles Remastered is a total bargain, and the definitive version of the best in strategy.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Pioneers of Pagonia is not only one of the cutest, but also one of the most substantial city builders I have played—if you want it to be. Its endless content, ability to be as hands-on or hands-off as you’d like and its sliding difficulty make PoP one of my favourite games of 2025.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is the best version of the best RPG of 2017. If you like these games and have a console you’d be a fool not to play it.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows knows its audience and is a near-perfect addition for fans of Soulslikes.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a must play title for any gamer, and the next gen upgrade is an excellent excuse to jump back into the bleak monster ridden world.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Don't be fooled by its unassuming facade: Rakuen is a one-of-a-kind adventure that brings tears and smiles in equal measure.
    • 96 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Elden Ring is an epic. With a beautifully designed open world, FromSoftware takes the Souls formula to new heights and crafts a journey that needs to be played.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade makes a compelling case for the Switch 2's technical potential, and remains a must-play experience.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Its retro inspired aesthetic and difficulty make it a blast for anyone who grew up playing Metroid, and its straight-up fun factor make it a great time for anyone else.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    God of War was a big deal when it hit PS4 in 2018, and it still is in 2022 when it hits the PC.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Ninja Saviors – Return of the Warriors’ highly-aggressive play style makes all other beat ‘em ups seem slow by comparison.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Even without the nostalgia creeping in, one can plainly see that this is a game for the ages. Cross-play would make this the perfect release for me, but even as is, I love this game.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Metroid Prime: Federation Force is not only the best FPS on the 3DS, but perhaps one of my favorite FPS games ever.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    A visually resplendent strategy game that makes every turn feel important and every approach viable.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    With a level of polish unseen in the genre, Apex Legends is the best battle royale ever made.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    RiME is the rare game that balances its spectacle and whimsy with a dose of quiet humanity.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    SAROS is head and shoulders above Returnal, which was already a stellar reinvention of the bullet-hell genre, thanks to a richer story, tougher enemies and gameplay systems that tailor the game to the player.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    This is the best entry in the series. While the campaign isn't my favourite it still has a lot of character, the graphics are unmatched, the new Horde mode is fantastic, and it is all around one heck of a good time.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Arc Raiders combines deep yet accessible mechanics with S-tier sci-fi world-building to deliver the best extraction shooter yet.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    As suggested by its tagline, ‘made by freaks for freaks’, this game might not win you over if you are not already interested in speedrunning, puzzle-shooters and/or anime-inspired visual novels but, if you even slightly happen to be, Neon White is a bona-fide cult classic with a genre combination made in heaven.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Genital Jousting is a pleasurably girthy package with loads of fun mini-games and a short, funny-yet-impactful story mode that dares to touch on subjects other games wouldn't dare that will surely arouse some controversy. No need to beat around the bush, this one is rock solid.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    My only complaint about Monsters are Coming! Rock & Road is that there isn’t more of it, and for under $10, they have already provided dozens of hours of content. Addictive and replayable, with a killer soundtrack to go with it.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series triumphantly arrives on consoles as the ideal way to revisit a 35-year old franchise's origins—carefully balancing legacy with modern convenience.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    NeoBards Entertainment has taken bold risks with Silent Hill f, and the result is one of the most unsettling, personal and rewarding horror games in years.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree elevates the already stellar base game to new and challenging heights, adding a wellspring of content that cannot be missed, making it an essential must-play for all Elden Lords.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    WWE 2K26 took an already great game and made it better in every way, with no definitive weak spots relative to the genre. They’ve added a lot with very little feeling like filler and brought back things that fans missed. It’s one of the best annual release games that I’ve had the pleasure of playing.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Truly, Layers of Fear is a masterpiece to behold. Buy it. Play it. Buy it and have a friend play it while you watch if you’re faint-of-heart.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Okami HD is a good action game, but it is a better game about how a dog can enhance a life. Ammy is a wonderful protagonist with a natural puppy charm, one who steals every scene with her playful yet serene expressions, and through her big heart improves the lives of those around her. She digs up the yard sometimes and barks a lot, but she means well, making the world a better, happier, brighter, and funnier place.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    While it may be missing the visual improvements that came with the RTX version of the game, the quality of life additions, amount of content, and jaw-dropping new campaign make this remaster a must-play for fans new and old.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Yakuza 6 has so much to offer and every moment of it is a joy, even if you can’t always read what they’re saying.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven is an all-around excellent addition to the game, and provides hours and hours of quality gameplay.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Sonic Origins is a definitive anniversary title that delivers everything I want from a series’ remaster. While a few more customization options and restored songs would’ve put it over the top, technical updates polish these four emeralds for a new generation.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Persona 3 Portable is a must-play for ALL RPG fans, and with its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass, a MUST try for all gamers.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Black Myth: Wukong masterfully takes what makes a good Soulslike tick without selling its own soul, delivering what is the best action game of the year.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a sequel that surpasses the original in nearly every way, and is an RPG that should not be missed.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Nintendo Switch and Persona 4 Golden were made for each other. This classic stands the test of time and thrives with a modest, affordable remaster.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    In Endwalker, Final Fantasy XIV does the impossible: bringing a complex narrative arc, woven over the last decade, to a nigh-perfect conclusion. The latest expansion is a masterpiece that justifies the game’s current popularity and the best new story released in the franchise in recent memory, and it sets an excellent foundation for the MMORPG’s next years.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Disney Illusion Island is practically a unicorn, offering fulfilling, customizable co-op for the whole family in an endearingly charming cartoon coating.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Alto’s Odyssey not only serves up a fantastic succession to the original Alto’s Adventure but also delivers a gaming experience for the ages.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Stray Gods felt like it was made for me. If you love musicals in the rock opera genre, then dive in immediately as there is a story full of emotion and fantastic music waiting for you.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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    • 80 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Inkbound fuses unique concepts together to create a good story and a better video game, a must-play for those looking for a new adventure. [Early Access Score = 80]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Ranger’s Path: National Park Simulator fundamentally works, even with some minor bugs and a lack of gameplay variety—the game has a lot of work to create the ultimate virtual park ranger experience. [Early Access Score = 65]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Second Extinction disappoints as an unoriginal multiplayer dino shooter with an uneven difficulty, unbalanced weapons and mind-numbingly repetitive missions. [Early Access Review Score = 60]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    I did not know what to think when I first heard IOI was working on a James Bond game, but having played 007 First Light, I can think of no studio better for this. It nailed the experience and the tone, and used its expertise in a way that feels fresh, engaging and fun. The team knows what it is doing and has gone all out to build a game that is unmistakably James Bond while feeling like a natural evolution for the studio. [3-Hour Hands-On Impressions]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    As it stands, big caveats aside, inZOI is an interesting experiment but not one that I would readily recommend, at least not at the launch of Early Access. What is here is, again, intriguing, yes, but far from feature-complete and optimized for performance. [Pre-Early Access Impressions]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    SpellPunk VR’s magic fizzles out from barely-working controls and limited engagement to keep players coming back after the first time. [Early Access Score = 50]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    There is a certain sense of feeling like a wandering soul in 33 Immortals that the title captures in a way that I haven’t experienced in a game before, making the experience truly feel unique yet familiar within the roguelike genre. [Early Access Impressions]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The big differentiator in Masters of Albion is its focus on industry: the game is one part city-builder and one part god game, smashed together. [Early Access Impressions]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Blightstone brings a charming roguelike strategy game to the forefront of early access, an easy recommendation to fans of the genre. [Early Access Score = 80]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Despite borrowing heavily from other life sims, Disney Dreamlight Valley feels unique and charming enough in its own right. However, the Switch version has some glaring pains at launch. [Early Access Score = 70]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The attention to customizability and accessibility of Galahad 3093 showcased how a mech-shooting game does not need to prioritize great graphics over a game playable for everyone. [Early Access Score = 70]

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