DualShockers' Scores

  • Games
For 1,382 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 56% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 39% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.2 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 76
Highest review score: 100 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Lowest review score: 10 Serious Fun Football
Score distribution:
1400 game reviews
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    WWE 2K26 isn't a perfect game. It suffers from too many technical issues, and I'm not sold on the tweaks to its core gameplay being a net positive, even though they make sense. That said, WWE 2K26 does so many good things that it's still worth it. This year's version of The Island is a massive improvement, and I cannot stop playing it, especially progressing through Tower runs. CM Punk's Showcase is an excellent presentation, and MyRISE is another successful story. Overall, WWE 2K26 is still another solid entry in the WWE 2K franchise, but I can't help but wonder where it could have landed. It reminds me of the recent LA Knight spot from this year's Men's Elimination Chamber match. He's got the crowd in the palm of his hand, he's ready for a big move off the rope...and he slips. He's still over with the crowd, and I think that's how things will ultimately land with WWE 2K26, but I have more reservations this year than I did last year.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Replay value is somewhat hindered in Campaign mode but is quickly forgotten with the fast gameplay, the obsessions of upgrading your plane, and Challenge mode.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ready or Not can be a little formulaic at times, but so is police work. It's the second police game I've reviewed this year, but the first one I can wholeheartedly recommend. If you are here for the multiplayer, the PC players might move too fast for you, but you can just disable crossplay. The controls are intuitive, the AI is generally easy to command apart from some menu clunkiness, and the dystopian grit looks great on a big TV screen. I'm definitely going back to playing the PC version most of the time, but that doesn't stop Ready or Not from being the best tactical shooter available on consoles today.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The yearly nature of EA Sports FC typically gets in the way of selling new copies because of just how similar the versions are. FC 26 bucks that trend by giving the single-player side of things the love it had been badly craving for years. Without the shadow of multiplayer balancing looming over things, you have gameplay that is likely to stay the same until FC 27 inevitably comes along. I've been having a blast with the current implementation, and was quick to uninstall FC 25 after a single match. If you like to play it slow, pass around, and fist-pump after tight wins, this is the football game for you.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a huge step in the right direction for the franchise. The story is easily the best in the franchise, and while the gameplay still has problems (like the insistence on using AI-controlled party members), it's much better than its predecessor, and made me far more engaged with the combat and Monstie growth mechanics. ​​​​​​​Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is way better than Monster Hunter Wilds, and hopefully reflects a brighter future for the series.​​​
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Digimon fans starving for a game with a proper budget can finally have their fill. Digimon Story: Time Stranger is everything that those who grew up alongside Taichi and Agumon once dreamed a game could be. The story, though it sometimes stumbles with its time-travel theme and clunky script, has a glorious conclusion, and there's nothing better than filling your roster with 400+ Digimon. However, those who are just looking for a new turn-based JRPG might not find much here to hold their attention, especially since the first hours feel unappealing for anyone who doesn't care about Digimon.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Doom: The Dark Age improves on the more polarizing elements of its predecessor, with its defensive gear offering an exciting twist on the familiar Doom formula. The level designs are overly drab, and the vehicle sections wear out their welcome, but the actual battles against hordes of demons are as fun as ever, and you’re given tons of awesome tools and toys to unleash on them.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The combat changes in Story Mode actually help to make the game feel more in tune with Minecraft‘s own combat, and will definitely be a welcome change for players of Telltale’s previous titles.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Wars: Squadrons delivers on nearly all fronts with a tight focus on space combat, multiplayer dogfights, and immersive VR support.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Super Meat Boy 3D isn't exactly a massive leap for the franchise when compared to other side-scrollers that have made the jump to a new dimension, but that's okay. What's here is the high-level, fluid, and precise platforming you'd expect, and that fans of the series have come to adore. Yes, you will die thousands of times by the end, but that's also the point. There are small design hiccups here and there in terms of a few levels that don't feel fair, a couple less memorable bosses, and the added depth sometimes playing tricks on your brain. At the end of the day, however, Super Meat Boy 3D is a blast, and I'm looking forward to shaving off tenths of seconds from my record times on each and every level.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Donut County is a charming and straightforward example of how video games don’t need to be overly complex or contain multiple mechanics and systems to make for a good time.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Overall, Mario & Sonic is a welcoming surprise that I can see myself playing with friends regularly.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Blazing Chrome is a top-of-the-line appetizer to what could be a masterpiece of a five-course meal.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A great appetizer to the greater world of MOBA games. It’s definitely got to be one of the best mobile takes on the genre I’ve ever played, and there’s no doubt I’ll boot it up every so often on my Switch.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The game is certainly not afraid to throw curveballs at you with story twists and main character deaths being pretty prevalent.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Regardless of which difficulty you play on, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 serves as one of the best entry points into classic Castlevania. Its gameplay, while not as challenging as the classics, introduces interesting mechanics that build not only on the original Castlevania games but the first Curse of the Moon as well. It certainly falls short in a few of the places it tries to innovate, but despite its flaws, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 offers a strong dose of nostalgia with a few modern twists and a fantastic presentation that makes it more accessible and sometimes even a bit more enjoyable.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It's honestly tough scoring Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park. The base game, Mario Wonder, is still excellent, but it's a three-year-old title at this point. You can also pick up the Nintendo Switch version for cheaper and not feel like you're missing out on any content. Despite my issues with Bellabel Park, it doesn't make Mario Wonder a bad game. If anything, it just makes the newest version one worth picking up only if you're looking to play with your kids or younger siblings. They'll undoubtedly love what's in store for them. If you're like me, though, and were hoping for something along the lines of Donkey Kong Bananza, Odyssey, and the original Wonder content, you'll be disappointed.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is filled with interesting areas to explore, heartfelt character interactions, and an engaging narrative. While having knowledge of the previous games is handy in some respects, this is by and large its own game and can be enjoyed by all players.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar it’s a good farming game that sucks you in with its visuals and audio, stays cozy without being childish, and keeps a steady pace to stay engaging. The customization has come a long way from other games in the series; the town feels alive, and the chickens appreciate my forgetful nature. My time playing Grand Bazaar feels like working on a jigsaw puzzle: it takes time, but it is very rewarding once everything ends up pretty, the villagers feel happy, and my potatoes fly off the shelves. I am now attached to this farm, frantically running around, second-guessing my romance choices from the eligible bachelors. This is the good life.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    ARMS pulls no punches in being one of the standout titles in the Switch’s early lineup.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mario Tennis Aces may have you bashing your head against the wall but Nintendo brings another great game to the Switch. Adventure Mode is a bit underwhelming; despite its infuriating difficulty spike, the story can be completed in just a few hours. Adventure Mode and COM Tournament mode are great precursors to the real highlight, the online tournaments.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    WRC 8 is an amazing racing sim, but don't expect it to hold your hand.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I honestly didn't know what to expect when first jumping into NASCAR 25. To say that it blew me away is an understatement; NASCAR 25 scratches the Forza Motorsport itch I've been missing for so long, even if it's nowhere near as deep as the iconic Xbox sim-racing franchise. With the game finally coming to PC, there's so much potential here for an online community to thrive. There's a lot I hope to see improved over the years, including a more fleshed-out career mode and improved presentation, but there are some solid bones here that have me excited for the future of the series. NASCAR 25 is one of the best racing and sports games of the year and is well worth your time. Boogity, Boogity, Boogity! Let's go racin', boys!
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is a refreshing take on the extraction shooter genre. Utilizing its lore-rich gameworld and anime aesthetic, the game delivers on many of the key elements which make a great PvPvE experience. Gameplay and progression are satisfying while each run carries with it the edge of a potentially fatal encounter. While the game looks good and is fun to play, there are certainly glaring flaws when it comes to the in-game microtransactions and paid items being lost or stolen. Overall, SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is a great game which I'd recommend to anyone who is a fan of extraction shooters and the anime aesthetic.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mimmox's creative mission to share enjoyable and relaxing games that help players unwind rather than wind them up is off to a good start with Umami. It's a whimsical and thoroughly wholesome puzzle experience that didn't push any buttons of frustration or confusion whatsoever. It gives you that gentle, consistent dose of dopamine with no need to go overboard visually or contextually. Critiques are truly minimal in this case, mainly just about how Umami could have been expanded just a bit further in terms of gameplay without sacrificing its pacing or overall tone of sensory relaxation. I genuinely look forward to seeing more from this studio.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rad
    You can’t go wrong with RAD and experiencing yet another imaginative title from Double Fine.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The newest Seasons expansion is a welcome addition and enriches the overall gameplay experience.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Wonderful 101 is not for everybody, and while the Wii U didn’t really do it any favors, I think it’s initial reception was proof of that. But time has passed, tastes change, word of mouth spreads, and appreciation grows. So maybe, with The Wonderful 101: Remastered, “not for everybody” includes at least a few more people this time.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dirt 5 is a content-rich, diverse arcade racing game that is unlike anything else among racing titles of this year. Codemasters’ new direction in the Dirt franchise might not be what veteran off-road enthusiasts would’ve expected. Still, Dirt 5 accomplishes its mission of expanding to a broader audience with engaging arcade-y gameplay, and sets the series off on an exciting new path.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I’m happy I got a chance to see this longrunning series’ early history with Disgaea 1 Complete, and I look forward to seeing where the games go next.

Top Trailers