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For 782 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 62% higher than the average critic
  • 3% same as the average critic
  • 35% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 5 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 80
Highest review score: 100 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Lowest review score: 13 Defenders of Ardania
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 588 out of 782
  2. Mixed: 171 out of 782
  3. Negative: 23 out of 782
807 game reviews
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    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Marvel's Spider-Man
    Insomniac's take on Spider-Man now reigns as the web-head's best game.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Wolf Among Us: Episode 5 - Cry Wolf
    Cry Wolf ends Telltale’s Fables series on a memorable and effective note, taking everything that has worked in the series so far and amplifying it to its most spectacular.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Titanfall 2
    Titanfall 2 is a major surprise. I was expecting to love the multiplayer and to tolerate the campaign, but I love everything about it. Respawn isn’t just making Call of Duty with mechs. It has found its own way, and that has paid off with a special game.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Grim Fandango Remastered
    Grim Fandango is still one of the best stories any one has ever told in a game. If you’ve never played the original, the convenience of a multiplatform release (and the better control options) really should push you to finally try this classic.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Forza Horizon 4
    This is the best Forza Horizon game, and that makes it one of the best racing games ever. But that just doesn’t wow me like it once did.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
    It might have been madness for a small studio like Ninja Theory to take on such a herculean task, but I’m glad they made the trip.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
    When I go to give Link's Awakening to someone else, would I recommend this version? Is this the game I want my kids to play? And yes. It is. Absolutely.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Dark Souls II
    Dark Souls II is demonstrative of what all video game sequels should aspire toward. It takes the successful formula of the original, expands it with tons of new content, trims away clunky and confusing gameplay elements, and delivers an experience that is an improvement on all fronts. If this is the kind of trend we can expect from From Software, I truly can’t wait for Dark Souls III.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Tearaway
    I left Tearaway feeling happy and content. What more could you ask for?
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
    Majora’s Mask is an odd one, but it’s a legendary game from Nintendo’s library, and one that deserves a rerelease. With its graphical improvements and system enhancements, one of the best Zelda games is even better this time around — and that’s really saying something.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Super Mario Maker 2
    Having someone to share Mario Maker with is like having a pen pal. You make something for them, send it to them, and then you wait to hear what they think about it. Maybe they make something for you, or maybe you build something new based on their feedback to challenge them even more next time.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Tetris Effect
    I consider myself lucky that I got to play this game. It’s special. If I could go back in time to show a video game to artists from the last century, I would choose this. God, I know that sounds hyperbolic, but I mean it. It is such an effortless and mesmerizing marriage of perfect game design and powerful imagery and audio. And it is an interactive lesson in why those things matter to games.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    LittleBigPlanet 3
    Judging by its content alone, LittleBigPlanet 3 is easily the greatest value for your money this year. But beyond that, it’s a fun, deep, and endlessly charming experience that has plenty of ways to entertain and amuse you. This is the PlayStation 4’s first must-buy title.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Firewatch
    Firewatch is special and rare...It tackles mature subjects, but it isn’t just telling a story. It is using the medium of gaming to say something to the player. Maybe that was especially effective for me because I’ve avoided asking myself the questions that Firewatch poses. But I think it’s important that a developer can wield this kind of power, and I want more of it.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron From Ice
    The choices I’ve made are sticking with me way more than any scene that HBO has aired.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Wasteland 2
    The gritty world and its many pitfalls create a realistic post-apocalyptic experience where every choice can mean the life or death of any or all of your friends and enemies. The responsive combat system and environment test the limits of video game problem solving, and the size of Wasteland 2’s quest bank allows for countless hours of enjoyment.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    inFamous: Second Son
    A phenomenal game, and a must-play for any PlayStation 4 owner. If you don’t own a PS4, it’s worth buying one just to play Second Son — that’s how good it is. If you’re looking for an open-world game with lots of side quests, a satisfying story told through groundbreaking animation, and an arsenal of one-of-a-kind superpowers, Infamous: Second Son has it all.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Bravely Default
    Bravely Default is the best JRPG you could play on the 3DS. If I were Square Enix, I would give this same team a Final Fantasy-sized budget and let them make a proper, numbered entry in the series.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Kingdom Rush Frontiers
    I’ll keep going back for more punishment because Kingdom Rush: Frontiers is just that damn good. It’s not only worthy of carrying the title of “sequel to Kingdom Rush,” it’s one of the finest tower-defense games you’ll find anywhere, regardless of platform.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
    Despite its many references and callbacks to the 1991 classic, A Link Between Worlds feels fresh. Not only does it feature some of the best dungeons and bosses in the series’ long history, but its stunning use of the system’s 3D effect should make anyone thinking about saving a few bucks by getting a Nintendo 2DS pause and reconsider.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Fire Emblem: Awakening
    Fire Emblem: Awakening completely engaged me while I was playing it, whether I was connecting with its well-written characters or taxing my (limited) intellect as I tried to win a difficult battle while keeping everyone alive. It's hard to ask for much more from a strategy game, but Awakening goes beyond that by supporting its great mechanics with immersion and beautiful art.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Far Cry 4
    Far Cry 4 is the furthest thing from a mere upgrade. As developers struggle to decide how much a sequel should be similar or different from its predecessor, Ubisoft shows immense skill in finding a happy medium in Far Cry 4.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Game of Thrones: Episode Six - The Ice Dragon
    Telltale has put together an incredible Game of Thrones story. I’ve said all along in my previous reviews that I am happier with this than the television show proper, and I stand by that. I still can’t wait for HBO’s next season to debut, but I’m far more interested in seeing what happens with this story.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: WWII
    Multiplayer is better because of War mode and the slowing of the superhuman speeds. Nazi Zombies has roots in the Nazi interest in the occult. And the single-player campaign follows a squad with characters that you care about through a sweeping journey through some of the most epic battles of the war. Each battle is intense, and the attention to details of the imagery — like the quality of the water in a stream running through a forest — is amazing. It’s an authentic Call of Duty.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    N++
    N++ is the new co-op game of choice in our house. And, if you like crazy, physics-based platform action and a decent challenge, it’ll likely find similar favor in yours. Even just played solo, N++ offers so much content and replayability — and is so obviously a labor of love — that it’ll stay on your PS4 home-screen for months to come.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Fallout 4
    I’ve spent around 50 hours playing between the console and PC versions, and I don’t feel like I’m anywhere near quitting...And that’s what we want from Fallout, right? A world we can dive into completely and spend days exploring. Well, if that’s what you come to Bethesda products for, you’re going to get it here.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Rocket League
    Amazing.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
    Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare delivers a familiar Call of Duty gameplay in an innovative new setting that should satisfy gamers who are tired of playing the same old thing.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
    Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the ideal example of a Star Wars game in 2019. It's an expert blend of multiple genres.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Sonic Mania
    Sonic Mania isn’t just a great game for old Sonic fans. It’s a great game. This inspiration from the past should be Sonic’s future.
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These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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    • 67 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Gotham Knights
    In case I hadn’t made it clear already, I really didn’t like Gotham Knights. It lacks the speed, flow and character of previous Batman games, and its action-oriented gameplay is hamstrung by the 30 FPS lock. It became such an exercise in boredom that I couldn’t bring myself to continue playing — and because I didn’t finish, I’m leaving a score off the end of this review.
    • 80 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!
    Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu is another good example of Nintendo doing what it both excels and fails at: pairing fun gameplay while introducing a new mechanic.
    • 79 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu!
    I bet longtime Pokémon fans appreciate, if not embrace, this first Switch outing. It adapts much of what makes the series shine while adding effective motion controls and a bridge to Pokémon Go, the mobile game tens of millions of fans still play. Much of my enjoyment came from taking my kids along on this journey, benefiting from their love and knowledge of Pokémon to enhance what I found here.
    • 72 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    GreedFall
    Two of its major aspects, character progression and narrative choice-making, will take some more time to get a full read on, but I will say I’ve run into some great scenarios so far that have made me feel like the choices I’m making in both of those areas will have real consequences. If that’s the case, Greedfall could be an RPG sleeper-hit.
    • 56 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
    I give this single-player campaign 3.5 stars out of five, which is the worst score I’ve ever given a Call of Duty Game. I’ll amend the score after I’ve played more multiplayer combat. [Campaign Review]
    • 88 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Horizon Forbidden West
    Anyone who digs these kinds of dense, map-based open world experiences is going to feel happy with what Guerrilla Games is offering here.
    • 91 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Crusader Kings III
    If I were to score it now, I’d give it a 5/5. But I’m not quite ready to do that. I need to try out a few more realms — especially one that sets my ruler up for an uphill challenge among fierce rivals. At this point, I do feel confident in saying this is the best Crusader Kings release yet. And I hope it just gets better over time.
    • 85 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Wasteland 3
    It doesn’t have that freight train momentum you sometimes feel from other RPGs, where the story gains so much steam you feel like you need to blitz through it, missing out the sidequests and other tidbits that gives games character. Wasteland 3 isn’t asking me to hurry up; it wants me to stay awhile, crack open a beer, and take it on at my pace. And that might be its greatest strength so far. And nothing can shrink that.
    • 75 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Watch Dogs 2
    Watch Dogs 2 doesn’t do much new. Just like it’s predecessor, underneath all that fancy hacking you’ll find a similar experience to other city-based open world games, including Grand Theft Auto. But at least this time, the adventure is a fun one. The new, light-hearted tone and its likable cast of characters are a good fit for this series.
    • 81 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Age of Empires IV
    I think this game is accessible and easy to learn, but it’s also got a lot of depth for real-time strategy veterans. I hope it does well because I want to see more RTS games hit the market. But this one could keep fans busy for a long time, as far as I can tell right now.
    • 68 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Star Wars Battlefront II
    Star Wars: Battlefront II tries to straddle the hardcore and casual audiences. It succeeds some of the time, and it also fails some of the time. So far, the cut scenes in the single-player campaign are excellent, but I’m waiting to get into some really fun gameplay.
    • 75 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Mario Tennis Aces
    I love Mario Tennis Aces so far -- even though I have some issues with its single-player content.
    • 74 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Far Cry 6
    I guess the best accolade I can give this game so far is that it’s another Far Cry game, and it’s a good one at that. It’s nice to see the return of the player character’s actual character. The villain is monstrous yet complex. Things explode. But it’s probably going to feel like a drag for far longer than it should, both in gameplay and in the story.
    • 78 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Pac-Man Championship Edition 2
    If someone like me (who reveres the Pac-Man Championship Edition franchise) is struggling to figure out where the leaderboards are and which mode I should compete in, then I don’t think this game has a chance of winning over new players. The numerous modes and levels are a fun distraction — but that’s part of the problem: they’re a distraction from what Bandai Namco should’ve made a much more rewarding asynchronous competitive mode.
    • 86 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
    Thankfully, the story is entertaining. It features a large cast of likable characters, including the eccentric-but-brilliant Herlock Sholmes. You play as Ryunosuke Naruhodo, a Japanese student who travels to Britain to become a lawyer, and it is fun watching him go from a meek, uncertain character to a determined, competent lawyer. I just wish it would get on with it sometimes. Dialogue drives these games, I know, but sometimes characters seem to chat forever before I’m allowed to do anything meaningful myself.
    • 81 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    You can tell you're going to like Kena's visuals just by watching a trailer, but its combat also stands out. [Review in Progress]
    • 67 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Sea of Thieves
    I hope Rare has a lot more to this game as I get further into it in terms of quests, but for now, I’m happy to let the visuals and social factor carry me like a wind across the sea.
    • 64 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Forspoken
    I’ll come back here and rate the game once I’ve finished the last chapter. However, I’m not convinced that it’s going to become any more magical and entertaining than it is now. It’s a shame, because the game starts from a good place: A new fantasy IP with a take-no-prisoners female protagonist. And I can tell that a lot of the people who worked on the game were sincerely trying. But I can also tell that several others very much were not.
    • 69 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Wolfenstein: Youngblood
    This is a worthy entry in the Wolfenstein series. I hope that we get a lot more from these characters because they are so dang cool. And I hope the upgrade path continues to feel rewarding. We’ll see. [Impressions]
    • 74 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Starlink: Battle for Atlas
    It’s not a starfigter game in the line of X-Wing or Colony Wars that I’ve longed for on modern consoles, but it’s fun, and it has potential. I just wish its controls were a bit more user-friendly.
    • 88 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
    I’m definitely having more fun with this than any From Software game up to this point. And I’m going to try to keep letting it win me over. Hopefully, I’ll return to this review a full convert...For now, however, I’m confident that people who like Soulsborne games are going to find a lot to love.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Death From Above
    This game doesn’t take itself seriously enough at the end to capture the gravitas of something like Casablanca. But it’s reasonably good at being entertaining with all of the constraints it deals with like a small team and being timely. [Early Access Provisional Score = 60]
    • 83 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed Odyssey
    Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey is dense, detailed, and varied. It is more dense, detailed, and varied than I considered possible for a video game before playing this. It is a stunning accomplishment, and the 500-to-1,000+ people who worked on it should feel proud. It has its problems. Combat is clunky, the menus are a slog, and leveling feels off. But those issues never made me want to stop playing. I want to keep playing right now.
    • 73 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    RAGE 2
    Artistically, it's uninspired. But mechanically, it's one of the best shooters I've played in years.
    • 83 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
    I’m now preparing to storm Drezen, a fortress-city full of demons. Along the way, I have plenty of quests to take care off to both defeat the Abyssal incursion and dive into the stories of my companions. This is what I want from an RPG, and Owlcat does an stellar job delivering this. The few bugs I encountered were either pathfinding errors (sometimes, one of my characters would just spin around as they tried to get to where they’re going) and one instance of freezing when I was casting a buff spell on my cavalier.

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