GLHF on Sports Illustrated's Scores

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For 321 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 38% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 56% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.3 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
Highest review score: 100 Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Lowest review score: 30 Peppa Pig: World Adventures
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 171 out of 321
  2. Mixed: 141 out of 321
  3. Negative: 9 out of 321
333 game reviews
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    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dungeons of Hinterberg
    The narrative and character writing carried me along from dungeon to dungeon, where the clever puzzle design kept me entertained from start to finish. There’s room for improvement as far as the platforming controls and combat are concerned, but the more I played the less those complaints mattered to me as I became enamored with everything else it had to offer.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
    Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty isn’t a perfect game. The beautifully tweaked combat system is let down by a few useless weapons and some duff level design, but when it does everything right, it feels like a diamond in the rough. This certainly isn’t Nioh 3, but it’s the perfect masocore experience for both new players in co-op, and for those that need something to tide them over until we get Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Age of Wonders 4
    The keyword of Age of Wonders 4 is “choice” – the game provides a lot of it, expressed in all of its mechanics. Lending itself to near unlimited replayability, especially once the ambitious plans for expansions and new content are realized, Age of Wonders 4 is a natural evolution of the series’ classic formula and will have min-maxers and role-players alike suffer from a severe bout of one-more-turn fever.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ultros
    Even after 15 hours and finishing the main story I didn’t feel like I fully understood Ultros, and that is what was most exciting about it. With pathways undiscovered and new upgrades as yet unused, the main game feels like a long tutorial for how to explore the world at your own pace afterward. Ultros is definitely a step forward for the genre, and I hope it encourages others to push boundaries and expectations in the future.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rocksmith+
    I still haven’t learned to play Seal’s Kiss From A Rose, by the way. It’s a fair bit tougher than I expected, but I’m not giving up yet. Rocksmith+ has taken my money for another month – and on the laggier PS5, whether I like it or not – and I’m going to make the most of it. I’ll at least clear through the Intermediate piano lessons, and play bass to a few Mobb Deep tracks. This arrogant fool has been humbled through this whole process, but it’s been great to drop the ego and go back to basics. Nothing quite makes you appreciate how far you’ve come like going back to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a great Call of Duty game when those are growing fewer and further between. It’s the best Call of Duty game on the latest generation of consoles, and it’s available to play on Xbox and PC via Xbox Game Pass. Last year’s COD might’ve been the biggest rip off of 2023, but Black Ops 6 stands as the most robust FPS release of 2024. Enjoy it while it lasts, because there’s no guarantee the series will reach these highs ever again.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wild Hearts
    As you can probably tell from the dozen mentions of Monster Hunter in this review, it’s tough to separate Wild Hearts from what it’s inspired by. These games both fit into their own niche genre of action game, and both excel at different things. But even through all my frustrations, and all the times I shut the game off after getting knocked down a single time, I still want to return to Wild Hearts with friends to get better gear and take down bigger Kemono – and that’s a good indicator that this game is doing something right.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pacific Drive
    The setup is frustrating and can even feel like a waste of time, but I also appreciate how it forced me to change my expectations. Pacific Drive expects you to approach it on its own terms, and if you’re willing to do that, you’re in for quite a ride.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
    Paranormasight takes the best elements from all the greatest visual novels and mashes them together for a gripping supernatural thriller.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Penny's Big Breakaway
    Penny’s Big Breakaway is the closest somebody that isn’t Nintendo has gotten to making 3D platforming feel perfect, and that’s a huge achievement in itself. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s hard not to love something that’s made with such passion for retro 3D platforming.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hi-Fi Rush
    What you will remember about Hi-Fi Rush is just how charming it is. It’s so rare for a game from one of the major developers to take a creative risk, and Hi-Fi Rush does just that. Not only is the core of the game innovative, but the way each character is written takes a big risk of having people switch off before they develop and you grow to love them. I hope Hi-Fi Rush is incredibly successful. I hope it teaches the industry that creative innovation can also create profits, and we see more new and interesting ideas from the big boys in the future.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Freedom Wars Remastered
    Freedom Wars is the best game that was never ported from the Vita, and the remaster makes all of the quality-of-life changes we could reasonably expect it to. It looks more beautiful than ever, with some flashy cutscenes, and though it pains me to say, the remaster is the best way to play. My only worry is that it isn’t enough. While it surpasses the 150GB games of today in terms of innovative gameplay mechanics, fast, fluid movement options, and fourth wall breaks, it lacks the accessibility and variety modern gamers have come to expect.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tchia
    Sometimes you just need to relax, calm down, and breathe in the culture, and Tchia lets you do just that. It's got its issues, the technical side of things is a bit lacking, and the combat can become a bit tedious with time, but when you're just wandering, seeking out new stories, taking in all the world has to offer, everything else falls away.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Plucky Squire
    The Plucky Squire gives you simple combat and clever puzzles, all wrapped up in two gorgeously colorful art styles that stand out from anything I’ve played in a long time, with a story that made me smile at every turn.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Persona 4 Golden
    Sure, it’s the best version of Persona 4, but a lot of that legwork was done in the Steam port, so it’s hard to really give much credit to this. Still, Persona 4 Golden is a great game with a wonderful soundtrack and a combat system that absolutely rules, which makes it worth playing (or replaying) for any Persona fan.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mind Over Magnet
    Mind Over Magnet is the exact kind of puzzler I love the most. It picks one idea and makes it the focus, constantly finding new ways to make you think about it from new perspectives and combing those ideas to make challenging puzzles, rather than relying on constantly introducing new mechanics. It doesn’t break the mold or revolutionize the genre, but it accomplishes what it set out to do, making me scratch my head just the right amount to make each puzzle satisfying to solve while keeping up a good pace that never let the experience drag.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pokemon Scarlet / Pokemon Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero - Part 2: The Indigo Disk
    It’s safe to say that this DLC will please just about any Pokémon fan. There’s so much to do, and all of it is way more engaging than usual, packaged in all of the best aspects of the main game. It may not fix the game’s biggest flaws, but it’s clear that the team at Game Freak knows what the fans want. If they can just get their technology in order and stick to the ideas pushed in this DLC, the next mainline Pokémon game could be something truly incredible.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
    Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is undoubtedly the best way to play Arc System Works’ Granblue fighter – the original can be uninstalled now – but if you fell off the original game, this probably won’t bring you back. However if all you wanted was some netcode improvements to keep you in the game, then Rising is essential. As long as you don’t buy it for Grand Bruise Legends, you’ll adore Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sonic Origins Plus
    If you never bought Sonic Origins, then Sonic Origins Plus is an essential addition to your gaming library, and proof that some games are timeless. You don’t have to have nostalgia for the originals to enjoy these four games, it is almost impossible not to enjoy yourself while running through the zones. My issue is that the additions don’t give much more than the Premium Sonic Origins, and that Premium content should have been included from the start.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
    Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a fantastic return for a classic franchise, though it can feel a bit thin on the ground in terms of content. It’s in dire need of a .5 entry, like For Answer or Verdict Day. Don’t take that as a condemnation though – it needs a .5 entry because we need more Armored Core 6. This is a fantastic base for the future of Armored Core, and after playing this I need to see that future as soon as possible.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Imagine Earth
    Imagine Earth’s console bugs are an annoying hurdle to get over, but they’re likely something Serious Bros. will patch out in the coming months. Underneath the little issues is a smart and thoughtful strategy game that makes good use of the medium as a teaching tool without making it feel like a gimmick.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    EA Sports FC 24
    Even though the feeling on the pitch is only slight different, not all of the new gameplay additions hit the mark - but even so, there's something that makes EA Sports FC 24 feel like the freshest games in the series, and certainly a good way to leave FIFA behind.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Frostpunk 2
    Ultimately, Frostpunk 2 is something very rare: A sequel that manages to substantially reinvent itself and innovate on the foundation of its predecessor without losing what made it great in the first place – in itself, this boldness is deserving of applause.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Goblin Stone
    Goblin Stone is a wholesome version of Darkest Dungeon, ticking all the same boxes without being a blind copycat – meaningful additions like the breeding system and its narrative ensure that it’s a unique experience that can stand on its own. Though the restrictions of its budget do show here and there, it’s clearly a labor of much love and craftsmanship that will keep you entertained for many hours.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Terra Nil
    Terra Nil is the Bob Ross strategy game about planting happy little trees you never knew you needed in your life.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Last Train Home
    It’s this fantastic interweaving of the strategic and tactical layers that makes Last Train Home such an enjoyable ride in combination with the loving eye for authenticity and immersion.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    INDIKA
    Indika isn’t a game you will enjoy playing, but you should do it anyway. Whether you agree with it or not, it will ask you to question the status quo, who has the right to judge others or decide right from wrong. Video games can be a form of escapism, a power fantasy, or mindless fun. Indika isn’t that. It’s something you won’t understand right away. It’s one you’ll want to discuss with others after you finish. It’s one that could change your worldview.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    WWE 2K23
    WWE 2K23 does what any annual sports series should do. It gets the roster as up-to-date as it can, expands on the game modes that are already there, and refines gameplay little by little. In a year when the WWE games will finally have a big competitor in the upcoming AEW: Fight Forever, this is a solid entry to remind everyone who the king of the mountain is.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Demon's Mirror
    It makes Demon’s Mirror a harmony of interlocking systems that all shine brightest when you’re forced to bounce between each one to make the most efficient turn. The cards may be more simplistic than Slay the Spire, but that’s only because having the board involved adds so much innate complexity. If you try to always have a game like this on hand to kill some time, then Demon’s Mirror is a great addition to your rotation, offering you something familiar while bringing ideas to the table that no one else in the genre has.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    EA SPORTS UFC 5
    UFC 5 is the strongest MMA game ever released, and I’m excited to see where the team takes it online. But if you’re not interested in fighting other players, there’s probably not enough meat in the career mode to fully recommend it right now.
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These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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    • 90 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Destiny 2: The Final Shape
    I might rag on Destiny 2’s level design (I’d probably do the same with Halo, honestly), but I can’t fault Bungie on its pedigree when it comes to making a shooter that feels great. It’s far easier said than done, and many shooters manage to be merely functional and serviceable rather than fun – looking at you, Starfield, Borderlands, Outer Worlds – but Destiny 2’s guns are genuinely great to shoot. It helps that smaller, weaker foes will usually get wiped out in a fraction of an Auto Rifle’s clip, instead of acting like perpetual bullet sponges. Having dozens of weaker foes to fight against is far more satisfying than one big bullet sponge, and Destiny 2 understands this, all the way up until you find a dungeon or raid boss. [Review in Progress]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Palworld
    By focusing on survival crafting rather than traditional Pokémon-style gameplay, Palworld has made something unique out of two genres that have been stale for a long time. It’s still missing some big features like PvP, but given that it’s only at the beginning of its time in early access, it will only get bigger and better. [Early Access Score = 80]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Age of Wonders 4: Eldritch Realms
    Age of Wonders 4: Eldritch Realms superbly serves the power fantasies of wielding evil, ancient knowledge and becoming something otherworldly as well as fighting against such abyssal horrors, finding a nice balance between fresh content and mechanical additions. [Recommended]
    • 60 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns
    A year on, and Mortal Kombat 1 is still plodding along. If you’ve felt a bit gore deprived recently, Khaos Reigns is a great way to refresh your sicko meter and have some fun with friends, but even with infinite combos and a variety of new characters, MK1 still feels stuck in the mud. Hopefully, the next MK game will take place in a timeline where the gameplay doesn’t feel stiff, though I’m not sure even the Kamidogu can help with that.
    • 75 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    MultiVersus
    This doesn’t feel like a game you can reasonably “get good” at anymore, it just feels like a mess. Win, lose, it doesn’t matter. Perhaps younger gamers can forgive the gameplay quirks in exchange for seeing characters they love duke it out, but that alone is not what made Super Smash Bros. a sensation. MultiVersus’ online net code is great, which should be a massive selling point, but why would you want to play this game? [Review in Progress]
    • 82 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Cataclismo
    Cataclismo is built on a fantastic foundation thanks to solid fortress construction mechanics that capture your imagination. Build your Helm’s Deep, build your Minas Tirith, and hold it against the tireless forces of evil – that’s the simple and yet so very seductive promise of Cataclismo, and its Early Access launch already executes the idea brilliantly. Once the developers have gotten around to adding more spice, this meal will delight any strategy fan. [Early Access Review - "Recommended"]
    • 90 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
    The best part of the new port is the potential for all the upcoming mods. All of my complaints can be fixed by the community through mods, although Square Enix should address them directly first. Overall, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth looks and runs better than its PS5 counterpart on PC. The amount of options and scalability is enough to satisfy most PC gamers with modern hardware, and certain quirks can be fixed with quick updates.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Manor Lords
    Though not content-complete, Manor Lords feels like an incredibly fresh take on city-building, borrowing mechanics from other genres and fusing them authentically with history to create something unique and special. Its mechanical foundations could not be more solid, so all this game needs to fully unlock its immense potential is more time and meat on its bones...We aren’t scoring Early Access reviews, so all I’ll say is that I highly recommend this game even ahead of its full launch, if the developer’s vision speaks as much to you as it does to me. [Early Access Review - "Recommended"]
    • 86 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Diablo IV
    Diablo 4 treads familiar ground in its story and characters, but its combat and gameplay systems shine where prior games fell short. I wish its single-player experience was a little less hostile, and I worry for its longevity in its current state, but even at its lowest lows, it manages to match or outpace its predecessors in almost every conceivable way. [Review in Progress]
    • 87 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Crusader Kings III: Roads to Power
    For me, Roads to Power is an incredibly flavorful Crusader Kings 3 DLC – it’s a game changer in the literal meaning, because it introduces a way to truly play this title as a RPG as opposed to a strategy game, though I would recommend a healthy mix to get the best out of the experience, and it really spices up empire-level gameplay. Even if you’ve conquered the world, keeping your dynasty on the throne is now much more intense thanks to Administrative Realm politics. Now even more roads lead to Rome, and what could be better? [Recommended]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Breachway
    Edgeflow Studio has managed to create an immersive deckbuilder that really knows how to make use of its setting and connect it to the gameplay. This quality greatly enhances the heart of the game, which is the thrilling and intricate turn-based space combat that’s already fantastic in Early Access. The same can’t be said for its roguelike layer, which requires more variety and incentives to become similarly engaging. Breachway is not quite Faster Than Light, yet.
    • 81 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Songs Of Silence
    If Songs of Silence wasn’t an auto-battler, but featured either turn-based combat in the style of Age of Wonders or real-time battles a la Total War, and just a little more empire management, this would probably land on my game of the year shortlist (heck, it may very well still do so) – as things are, its genre, its resulting drawbacks, and a few technical issues ever so slightly lessen my enthusiasm, so it has to settle for being the best auto-battler and most gorgeous strategy game I’ve ever played. [Early Access Review]

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