GamingTrend's Scores

  • Games
For 5,255 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 69% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 25% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.1 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 78
Highest review score: 100 Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass
Lowest review score: 5 Viridi
Score distribution:
5284 game reviews
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Driftland: The Magic Revival is a mix of RTS and god game that focuses on the realm of magic. The indirect control of individual units and their free will can lead to insubordination, which ruins the fun. Planning out your moves is the key to success.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain lets you blast away at hordes of alien enemies, making you feel powerful. The framerate drops when too many enemies appear, but it doesn't ruin the game. The story isn't very compelling, but manning your PA gear in combat makes up for that.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Super Weekend Mode is a tense arcade-type shooter that tests your hand-eye coordination and reflexes. The simple and charming aesthetic hides the true challenge within, but that is one of its strong points.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! takes the puzzler series to new heights with the first Switch BoxBoy! entry. With an innovative spin in the form of fresh new mechanics and the playable inclusion of another loveable boxy character, this eShop title will brighten up any puzzle fan’s day.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mechstermination Force is a wonderful follow-up to Bertil Hörberg’s Gunman Clive series. While it can get a bit frustrating at times, the silly atmosphere and tough but entertaining gameplay make for a great time for those who want some simple, unadulterated fun.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Days Gone features some potentially interesting community-building mechanics and the appeal of a bikers vs. zombies game is hard to ignore, but it never lets its best ideas take center stage. Instead, it focuses on lackluster combat and a repetitive set of missions. It moves along on the kind of momentum that exists almost by default in big open world packed with activities, but I could never get fully engaged, partly due to its dragging pace, scattershot story, off-putting protagonist, and frequent bugs.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    My Time at Portia is a visually beautiful, charming game rich in story, lore, and personality; everything about it is made better by the jump to a portable console. While this version lacks voice acting and rumble integration, the portability and surprisingly decent load times make this a great way to discover all that Portia has to offer.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I have a lot of VR games because I think they transcend barriers for non-gamers, and they are also a whole lot of fun. Job Simulator was a great way to break in new players, but I have to say that Vacation Simulator will be supplanting (or at least supplementing) their previous effort. While some of the minigames won’t keep you coming back, there’s enough here to keep you busy for quite a while. Owlchemy Labs has spent four years hard at work, but I’m gonna enjoy bit of my Vacation Simulation.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Forager marries everything you love about survival-adventures with everything you didn’t know you wanted in one. A casual yet chaotic experience that’s worth a try despite a slight lack of polish.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is a creative infusion of card-based combat with a traditional RPG. It plays entirely unlike any other card combat game, and it’s worth a look even for those who don’t generally like the genre. While it’s light on story, less replayable than other card games, and could use some refinement when it comes to building decks and equipping characters, it’s still a fun twist on a familiar concept that’s easy to recommend.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit is ingeniously designed. The synthesis of physical cardboard Toy-Con with commensurate digital software creates a tactile and fun virtual reality experience that feels decidedly Nintendo. However, once the initial magic of Labo VR wears off, all that is left is a shallow, oddly assembled lot of minigames that won’t last more than an afternoon.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Katana Zero is an extraordinarily fun experience for the few hours it lasts, but the bad taste it left in my mouth lingered much longer.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Overwhelm’s dark, intense action makes for a fantastic yet occasionally frustrating horror experience. When you are in the game, leaping around enemies and using your limited ammo to deal with evolving threats, you will be experiencing an immensely satisfying challenge. It’s only a shame that some of the technical aspects can make death too easy and navigation a chore, because the roots of Overwhelm’s concept design are exemplary.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    God's Trigger is a fast-paced top down shooter in the realm of Hotline Miami, which brings with it some brutal deaths. The various abilities and ways to attack are fantastic. The story doesn't delve deep, but it does what's needed to keep you engaged.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Weedcraft Inc. is an interesting tycoon game that focuses on the weed business. The premise may be controversial to some, but it offers an experience not typically known by people. The resource management can be challenging and fun, though the soundtrack may get annoying.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Gal Metal is a weird rhythm game that unfortunately doesn’t live up to the hype that its premise promises. It’s worth checking out if you want some metal in your Switch diet, but other than that, you can probably skip it.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Switch ‘N’ Shoot is a fun little arcade shooter that speaks the language of “one more go!” While it’s limited in its content, this micro-sized game will appeal to the high score arcade junkies out there.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Unruly Heroes features a mix of platforming and combat with four characters that you can switch between on the fly. With a handful of interesting bosses and plenty of mechanical variation between levels, the game never locks you into one style of play for too long. Ultimately, though, I didn’t find any part of it that much fun to play, which wasn’t helped by its leaden controls and uneven difficulty.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Outward is an ambitious, uncompromising game, sometimes to its own detriment. There’s a lot to like about it, from its unique take on player character death to its focus on the mundane aspects of adventuring. But every moment when it really shined was surrounded by drudgery and frustration. Outward is sure to appeal to some players, but it often undercuts its own best features.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Hob: The Definitive Edition is a 3D adventure game that combines fluid combat, landscape altering puzzles, and engaging platforming. The varying area designs and atmospheres are a treat to experience and entice you into pushing forward. The enhancements since the original improve the experience as well.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Operencia is a great dungeon crawling experience that you shouldn’t sleep on, especially if you’re a fan of the genre. While some of the mechanics and presentation are a little hit-or-miss, that shouldn’t scare you away from the unique world, memorable characters, and excellent combat that Operencia has to offer.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The transition from portable devices to consoles hasn’t hurt the quality of the Ace Attorney Trilogy, which remain some of my favorite games of all time. Phoenix Wright and company are deserving of the big screen, and this game is well worth your time if you haven’t gotten around to playing it elsewhere.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid has some near-perfect online play and tag-team mechanics, but is held back by some disappointing story modes and an egregious lack of content. Dedicated Power Rangers fans and fighting game enthusiasts will find a lot to love, but for everyone else, wait until the free update for more characters and content in the future.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Yoshi’s Crafted World is a refreshing, modern 2D platformer from Nintendo that, for once, truly feels new. From its gorgeous aesthetic to its myriad creative level motifs and gameplay ideas, Crafted World embodies the spirit of fun. While the game’s soundtrack is decidedly lackluster and its co-op feels underbaked, this is undeniably the most ambitious and fun 2D platformer from Nintendo in a long, long time.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Take Us Back, the franchise finale of The Walking Dead, is a serviceable episode to end the series, and in a way, Telltale Games in general. While it has the problem of falling into its familiar issues at times, the sendoff of Clementine and her friends is one that will be remembered for years to come.
    • 43 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Dying Reborn is an escape room game with some creepy elements to it. The story has an interesting premise, but quickly becomes uninteresting and confusing. Some puzzles feel rewarding, while far too many feel obscure and annoying.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Tropico 6 overhauls the entire infrastructure, bringing forward most, but not all of the features we had with previous outings. A greater emphasis on transportation and simulation deepens the experience and makes Tropicans feel less like mere numbers. At its heart, Tropico 6 is still a game about building your empire and making it grow, but it’s the small mechanics that create a connection with your benevolent dictator, and help make your anarchy-prone archipelago feel a little like home.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    R.B.I. Baseball 19 is a lazy, clunky, uninspired mess of a game. The controls are overly simple and leave little control to the player. The physics are unrealistic and the players contort their bodies in Silent Hill-esque horror after each swing. The format is tired and outdated, and the game bears no resemblance to a competent baseball experience aside from the skeleton of game it presents.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Broken Toys is a wonderful third episode for Telltale’s The Walking Dead: The Final Season, and is perhaps the best entry for the season so far. With a great mix of new and returning appearances, varied action sequences, and a stronger emphasis between the dynamic of AJ and Clementine, this is a great couple of hours before the final installment.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Akashicforce is an incredibly challenging puzzle game that feels rewarding when you succeed. The bumping music, fantastical visuals, and fast-paced action keep you engaged. A tutorial would've helped the start of the game immensely.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    With an incredibly robust feature set and massive swaths of content ready for the launch window, as well as an extensive roadmap on the horizon, The Division 2 raises the bar for how a sequel should launch. Only a handful of minor bugs and hiccups remain, but none of them hold this back from being the best team-based shooter we’ve played in a very long time. Massive Entertainment has a massive hit on their hands, and we can’t wait to see where it goes next.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 45 Critic Score
    Windscape may look like a decent lo-fi adventure at first, but it doesn’t have much to offer beyond its initial cartoony charm. With sleep-inducing combat and an absolutely skeletal crafting system, it just does nothing to keep your attention.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Peasant Knight is a nostalgic 2D platformer with a unique twist. Being tasked with strategically stopping while racing a time limit provides a fantastic challenge. The game won't take too long to beat, but boy is it a fun ride.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Himno is a relaxing 2D platformer where death only comes from falling. The levels are dark and ruin-like, yet emit tranquility and beauty as well. It's best played in short bursts, but if you just want to turn off your brain and relax, here's your chance.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Elli’s relaxed nature makes it the perfect game to unwind with. Its world is gorgeous and its gameplay is solid, due in large part to its well designed puzzles. By the same token, its myriad technical issues and solid, yet totally shallow, core mechanics and story hold it back from being truly great.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Second Chance Strip Club is an odd yet surprisingly charming rhythm game about stripping. The gameplay is simple yet challenging, with a musical focus. The quirky characters and catchy beats are a treat, but don't expect much animation for the actual dancing.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice manages to live up to its monstrously high expectations in nearly every way. Its high-risk combat system is as satisfying as it is punishing, and its level design begs you to explore every inch of the world. While its locations and enemies aren’t as varied as in previous From Software games, you’ll hardly notice when you’re locking swords with opponents across several beautiful settings. Sekiro tells an intriguing tale about loyalty and mortality packed with surprises and easy-to-miss side stories.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    The Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Special Episode delivers consistently fun and refreshing puzzle action. Aiming higher than the base game, this DLC stretches the Captain Toad mechanics and concepts in new ways, while also offering interesting new settings to explore. That said, the Special Episode’s reliance on remixed content from the base game and truncated runtime hold it back from being truly great. Nonetheless, this DLC offers an afternoon of colorful, creative single player or co-op entertainment.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dead or Alive 6 is a good addition to the fighting game scene, although it doesn't stand out from the crowd. The story is okay, but probably resonates better with longtime fans. The combat is fluid, action-packed, and plenty of fun regardless.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Golf Peaks is an interesting mix of puzzle-solving and golfing. The card playing mechanic is entertaining and adds a good challenge. It doesn't take very long to complete every level, but it's a nice journey.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Agartha is a charming, pixelated platformer that relies on blasting your way through the environment. There are plenty of levels and extra paths to explore, although the game doesn't take too long to get through. Buying and playing multiple adventurers is recommended.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A slick sniping title in name, but one that also encourages creativity, delivers action, and demands adaptation, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 is one hell of a ride. Although it has a lackluster story and a handful of minor issues, it’s still an immensely enjoyable separatist kill fest set in the gorgeous open-world landscapes of former Soviet Georgia.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    While still in need of some technical polish, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a loving flashback to the good old 90s, filled with some lighthearted laughs and killer beats in an easygoing adventure setting. Fans of the original will definitely find something to love, and those who are new to the craziness can find some great fun here.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    DMC 5 is probably the best hack-and-slash game you’ll play all year, and definitely the most stylish.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    ChromaGun VR doesn’t do much to improve on 2015’s puzzle shooter, and the game takes a hit both visually and in performance in its attempt. The mechanics work fine, but bland repetition of puzzle elements only hit a few primary colors rather than the rainbow of features to keep this an engaging experience all the way through. If you haven’t played ChromaGun yet, this may be the way to experience it, but otherwise, you’re fine with sticking to the original version.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sleep Tight is a decently fun twin-stick shooter with roguelite elements. While the scenery and enemy variety are something to be desired, those who want a challenging time waster should try this.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Access Denied is a rather forgettable puzzle game that doesn’t do enough with its mechanics to justify a recommendation. While there are scant moments of brilliance, there isn’t much here to excite even the biggest puzzle fans.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Anthem’s rich storytelling and engaging combat lays the foundation for Bioware’s newest adventure. While there are plenty of quality of life improvements to be made, Anthem’s ambitious approach to the looter-shooter genre is encouraging given the development team’s steadfast community engagement. With a roadmap stretching far into the horizon, we’ll be flying around the world of Anthem for a long time to come.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Simple, sweet, and oh so stylish, Downwell is a perfect fit on the Switch. With its easy-to-learn controls, steep but fair difficulty, and some great looking pixel art, this is a must have for anybody wanting a little challenge on their handheld hybrid.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Flood of Light is a passable title for those that are hankering for a few hours of puzzle solving. While repetitive settings and cumbersome controls hamper the overall experience, there’s enough here to justify the $4.99 price tag.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Save Me Mr. Tako is a decent 2D platformer with some great presentation and a loving throwback to the 2D platformers of the 90s, but unfortunately feels a bit too frustrating to enjoy for long periods of time.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    DiRT Rally 2.0 is a simulator designed for the most hardcore off-road racing fans, and offers one of the most challenging rallying experiences I’ve ever played. Casual racing fans may shy away at this title, but if you want pure, uncut racing simulation straight into your veins, this is the game for you.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Kingdom Hearts III is a product of a development hell. It has too many ideas, too many characters, and too many mistakes holding it back. It is a fun experience that I recommend just for how addictive and smooth the combat is. Kingdom Hearts III is a fun game, it just easily could have been a great one.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Metro Exodus is a masterpiece in survival horror, and a game that evolves beyond its roots to transform into something truly special.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Jump Force is an interesting showcase for anime crossover fights. The story is very shallow and repetitive, but the combat is still enjoyable. Characters suffer from odd design choices, but the Japanese voice acting is great.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Every aspect of Flower serves its singular vision: nourishing and maintaining a 1-2 hour Zen-like experience. Vibrant colors, an incredible score, and meticulous eyes overseeing the game’s pacing—Flower rises to the occasion. A decade later, little has changed, though the PC port suffers a good deal on account of its mouse and keyboard controls.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 45 Critic Score
    God Eater 3 bears a superficial resemblance to Monster Hunter, boasting many of its features, but none of its depth. It offers nothing but diluted versions of what it has tried to poach from better games.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr’s Journey is a one-two punch of fun, casual and amusing gameplay, complete with all the expected charm, humor, and challenge expected of a game in the Mario Universe. Bowser’s Inside Story is one of the more odd and varied titles I’ve ever played, but it is a little too easy. The overall product combines several of the best game styles into one, yet the final product feels incredibly cohesive and is a must play modern Mario experience.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Salt and Sanctuary isn’t the most original game in the world, but Ska Studio’s take on a 2D Souls game has enough going for it to stand on its own two legs. It’s held back somewhat by occasionally cheap difficulty spikes, but that shouldn't deter you from picking the game up if you’re looking for a game that will kick your ass.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    A vast improvement from Subsurface Circular, Quarantine Circular is a standalone sequel that tells its succinct story through engaging characters, a nice storyline, and a shift in protagonists.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Crackdown 3 makes no sense on paper. Its story is nonsense, you spend way too much time searching for hidden orbs and leveling up, and the presentation isn’t anything spectacular. And yet, the over-the-top madness and hilarious, memorable moments it brought me made it impossible to put down. While the PvP multiplayer mode falls short of what it’s trying to achieve, there’s a lot to love about Crackdown’s long overdue return.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Far Cry New Dawn is an awesome addition to the series, especially since it's the first sequel for another game. The combat makes you feel like a badass, but that doesn't mean you can go in without gearing up. On the lighter side, there's plenty of quirky characters to make you laugh during these hard times.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Wargroove has the confidence to stick to simple, familiar gameplay with a few twists, rather than try to wow you with its novelty. While its charming graphics might make it look cute, it offers a vicious challenge that gets a bit uneven at times. If you get into its slower pace and high difficulty, it also offers plenty of alternate game modes and custom campaign creation tools to extend the fun.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Monster Energy Supercross 2 is a fast-paced dirt bike racing game that provides a tough yet enjoyable challenge. The controls take some getting used to, but after you get time in with the game, you'll be racing like a pro. The graphics and soundtrack keep the blood pumping and the eyes pleased.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    LongStory is a charming and innocent LGBTQ+ dating sim focused on conversations and relationships rather than just getting lucky. It’s a little over the top, a little dramatic, and a little silly, just like middle school itself, and allows you to date almost every character in the game, or go the asexual route. It’s a little heavy-handed at times, but otherwise a great way to pass time.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    8 Bit Hordes is a nice addition to the 8 Bit series, especially with the fantasy centered theme. The gameplay is essentially the same, which is great for fans of the previous game. For RTS fans, you'll appreciate the ability to control three different groups while managing your resources.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Utopia 9 is a short but sweet twin stick shooter. The plot of the game is shallow but a fun reason to be fighting. The variety of weapons and tools are cool, and I was excited to see what I'd find next. Offers a fair challenge, but nothing that difficult.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    At times, Candleman: The Complete Journey can feel like a chore with its slightly erratic pacing and inconsistent tone. However, those that stick with it will find a surprisingly heartwarming story mixed with an innovative mechanic and some great environments.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Katamari Damacy Reroll is as simple, silly, and superbly entertaining as it was more than a decade ago. The main experience stays intact, but the remaster does enough to make anyone interested in this game smile. Here’s hoping that Bandai Namco takes this reimagining and invests in the original sequel next.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Legrand Legacy is a pretty but otherwise generic RPG. It’s beautifully hand-drawn world gets lost beneath mountains of dialogue and a plot so weighed down by tropes that it barely stays afloat. It’s a passable to good title, but none of its elements come together to create anything new, exciting, inspiring, or terribly memorable.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Senran Kagura Burst Re: Newal is an interesting remake of a 3DS game from 2013. The combat and visuals have been overhauled to fit the times, but there's nothing ground-breaking. The cute yet tough girls are a treat to play as, even though combat can get repetitive.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Resident Evil 2 is a survival horror masterpiece, and sets an unbelievably high standard for video game remakes. The unrivaled realism, terror, and difficulty creates a tremendous, immersive experience that, honestly, makes other horror games look bad. I can see this game living on forever in speedruns, let’s plays, and even discussions for the greatest horror games ever made.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Catherine Classic is a port to PC of one of the more unique and surreal gaming experiences around. Scary, thought provoking, and beautiful to behold, Catherine combines horror, romance, puzzles and platforming into a must play experience for anyone. Highly repeatable and challenging gameplay defines this true classic cult hit that begs to be discovered and rediscovered despite outwardly obscuring its true nature behind the standard expectations of a game in this style.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    My Time at Portia is not just a simulator, it’s an adventure game loaded with things to do, people to talk to (and potentially romance), ruins to explore, and things to create. It’s an addicting romp that keeps you playing the next day in hopes of finally completing that one goal only to create another one in the process.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a game that would have benefited from being released in a vacuum. As it stands, this package is one that can neither live up to Nintendo’s own suite of contemporary 2D platformers or the Deluxe moniker it is tagged with. Even beyond this point, the game is little more than a window into a bygone era of Nintendo. Offering simple, polished platforming action, this title is suited only for those who have exhausted the genre’s other options on Nintendo’s hybrid system.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Vane lets players shift from the form of a bird to a child as they explore a strange, hallucinatory world set to a fantastic synth soundtrack. But what starts as a liberating flight through a vast desert eventually devolves into a linear trek through cramped corridors. Vane is a strange, haunting game that deserves attention, but it abandons its most interesting ideas too early on.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes is outrageous. The game is uncompromisingly zany: full of smart design, fluid combat, and laugh out loud personality front to back. While some may be turned off by its low budget feel and disjointed design, those who can look past these rough edges will find a hack-and-slash so quirky that it’ll be tough not to fall in love. This title stands as a shining beacon of bold creativity and anyone who values risk-taking in games owes it to themself to give Travis Strikes Again a shot.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Fitness Boxing doesn’t have a lot of features to speak of, but it does provide a solid workout. Its exercise routines are challenging and enjoyable enough, despite their atrocious background music. Fitness Boxing isn’t going to be the most fun game on your Switch, but it’s worth checking out if you need a little extra motivation to get your heart rate up.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A short but sweet gem of a game dusted off and polished by Capcom for a quick nostalgia trip. Visual and auditory upgrades make this the definitive version of Onimusha: Warlords, but nothing can hide the game’s aging design.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Bladed Fury doesn’t break any new ground, but it’s got its 2D hack and slash fundamentals down to a science. Its beautiful hand-drawn art style and great enemy designs bring its mythological rendition of ancient China to life, even when its story fails to.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Using only text messages, Bury me, my Love develops two relatable main characters and tells the engaging story of a Syrian woman’s search for refuge in Europe after her sister is killed in a bombing. The game rewards multiple playthroughs with its compelling writing and interesting storylines, though replaying the same passages can be tedious.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 45 Critic Score
    The Last Remnant is an interesting experiment in expanding the traditional turn-based battle system, but there are enough annoyances in that system and weaknesses in its setting and characters to keep this from reaching the heights it’s clearly reaching for.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Ashen uses the Souls-like formula to tell a very different, optimistic story about community. Whether you’re playing alone, with an AI companion, or with another person, combat with the game’s varied enemies and bosses is challenging and satisfying. Ashen’s world feels real and lived-in, and getting to carve out your own settlement and watch it prosper is truly satisfying.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Coffee Crisis takes the interesting concept of the classic beat ‘em up with a metal and coffee theme and attempts to run with it, only to trip over itself with a questionable implementation of modifiers that can’t be selected normally, as well as bare-bones combat. All of the pieces of a quality beat ‘em up are present in this game, but it’s not quite put together yet.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Silver Linings offers some fun moments, but ultimately lands on its face. However, I have all the confidence in the world that Insomniac’s Spider-Man will bounce back, either in future DLC or the sequel.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Below is a dark, mysterious game that invites you to illuminate its secrets, then punishes you for trying. While it does a great job invoking a sense of wonder, thanks in part to its sparse, tense soundtrack, its genuinely great moments are spread far too thin. Below will certainly be a divisive game, but it offers a compelling experience for players willing to put up with a good amount of frustration and tedium.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Elder Scrolls Online: Murkmire is a scant but slick addition to the world of Tamriel, and begs to be unleashed even further in the future. For now, the swamps and bogs come alive and while there are some less than desirable traits to be found, the overall product is solid and a must have for dedicated ESO players.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The sum of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s parts is nothing short of excellent. From single-player to local multiplayer, there are very few flaws with the experience. Whether you’re hoarding spirits in World of Light, spiking your friends in a versus match of Smashdown, or running through Classic mode with your favorite fighter, there is no shortage of smart, creative action to be had. That said, in a game so well assembled, its lackluster online portion stands out even more starkly. However, when taking Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a whole, that one blight does little to diminish the overall mastery on display. This is not a game Nintendo Switch owners should be caught without.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Book of Demons introduces a unique card-based skill system and a sense of humor to the stuck-in-its-ways ARPG genre. It has plenty of tricks in its dungeon to keep you on your toes, but gives you ample ways to form your own strategy. With three distinct classes and an endlessly replayable quest, you can get lost in Book of Demons’ papercut dungeon for quite a while.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I am the Hero is a short and sweet beat-em-up that mixes an accessible yet comprehensive gameplay system with some challenging gameplay and unique aesthetic. Pick this one up if you’ve got a hankering to destroy the forces of evil with punches and kicks!
    • 84 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Gris is an incredible achievement, using its art, music, and gameplay to tell a thematically consistent story about a woman overcoming her grief. Despite the weighty subject matter, the way its protagonist’s triumph over sorrow is reflected in increasingly fluid and diverse platforming makes it a joy to play. While Gris is low on challenge and impossible to fail, it still feels exciting. Even if it doesn’t sound like your kind of game, Gris absolutely deserves a try.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Hunter’s Legacy: Purrfect Edition fixes several of the issues the original game had by adding a much-needed minimap and making enemies more reactive to your attacks. However, the sound design on Ikki herself is still irksome and the game is a far cry from what it could be. I’d love to see what Lienzo does with Ikki in the future, but for now, Hunter’s Legacy: Purrfect Edition is just OK.
    • 46 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    At its best, Desert Child captures the feeling of working toward a big dream while struggling to even buy your next meal. Unfortunately, those moments come sandwiched between a lot of repetition as the initially fun races become a chore that you have to do over and over again. Desert Child's unique setting, filled out with great art and a killer soundtrack, is fun to explore for a while, but the game runs out of gas a little too quickly.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Just Cause 4 is another solid entry in a franchise that continues to bring me hours of over-the-top, hilarious action. It doesn’t do enough to evolve the franchise, and doesn’t make enough use of the new weather effects, but the new tools available to Rico and the improvements in customization options is well-worth the price of entry.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Thronebreaker is a masterful RPG with a version of Gwent that is well-suited for a single-player experience. Even if you aren’t into card games, this one is worth a try for the story and RPG mechanics alone.
    • 29 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Ark: Survival Evolved is an open-world survival game where you're fighting against the elements and the dinosaurs around you. There are some nice concepts implemented, but framerate and performance issues drag the game down. Unless these are somehow fixed, you might be better off steering clear.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden’s blend of turn-based tactical combat with stealth is interesting, but not always successful, and its story doesn’t take advantage of its unique setting. Although the ability to explore the world and sneak up on enemies adds a fun twist to the genre, it brings unwelcome complications and technical hiccups as well. I also ran into numerous performance issues, including game-ending freezes, that strained my initial fondness for the game.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ultra Space Battle Brawl is a neon and slicked back bout of space madness that I only wish had been around when I was still young enough to really grasp it. A simplistic pong-like battle brawler makes for a unique experience to say the least. The game wears thin over the time you play quicker than most it seems, but the experience is still worth a try.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    60 Parsecs is a simple game about not dying in space. While not complex in gameplay, 60 Parsecs is incredibly deep with strategy, problem-solving, and smart resource planning. The game expertly blends a cartoonish and goofy world with some of the darkest elements of death and isolation. 60 Parsecs is a surprisingly fantastic game that has a large amount of replay value. It’s well worth a look.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    New studio flukyMachine’s 2D runner-style platformer is every bored student’s notebook come to life, proudly embracing its own eccentricities in the visuals department. But turn the page and one will find that the gameplay lacks the same luster, living in the shadows of its influences. While it does sport more-than-serviceable gameplay, Escape Doodland is a game worth playing for its charm and simplicity, not for its depth of mechanics or level design prowess.

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