Hardcore Gamer's Scores
- Games
For 4,325 reviews, this publication has graded:
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50% higher than the average critic
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9% same as the average critic
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41% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.4 points lower than other critics.
(0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 73
| Highest review score: | Balatro | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest review score: | Final Fantasy: All the Bravest |
Score distribution:
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Positive: 2,428 out of 4325
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Mixed: 1,655 out of 4325
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Negative: 242 out of 4325
4328
game
reviews
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- Critic Score
GSC Game World should be proud that their once-PC-exclusive trilogy from the early 2000s has come so far. In terms of atmosphere, tension and challenge, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy - Enhanced Edition is a triumph of survival gaming. The new textures and enhancements add to the grim visuals of the inhospitable Zone without detracting from the horror that made the games into cult classics. Sure, the lingering bugs can get frustrating, but never to the point where you want to stop playing. Players willing to overlook the present issues will come to enjoy the feeling of roaming and surviving in the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., with its plentiful variety of weapons and enemies, as well as the brutal combat and exploration. So, get out there, Stalker.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted May 21, 2025
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Disaster struck and the world is broken, but RoadCraft lets you rebuild it one satisfying step at a time.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted May 21, 2025
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If you’re new and love challenging hack-and-slash adventures, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is worth a look -- it’ll just take time to acclimate to the controls and combat. With a little luck, players might be seeing more from the Onimusha series soon.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted May 20, 2025
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As a piece of history, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a must-play for anyone who missed out on the late '90s/early '00s era of fighting games and especially those who lived through it. It combines so many kinds of games together within a single genre that its breadth is impressive even if its scope is "just fighting games." The archival images and soundtracks are also fascinating and having access to so much high-quality artwork is a treat for the eyes and makes this another must-buy for fans of that aspect of the industry. Not every game here is going to be to everyone's liking, and it's a shame console-exclusive modes weren't put in for everything, but it's still an incredible collection of titles executed very well.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted May 16, 2025
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It's truly disappointing how Death end re;Quest: Code Z turned out. The previous two titles weren't stellar by any means, but they were entertaining and precisely in Compile Heart's wheelhouse. Compliments should be given to the developers for wanting to change things with this spinoff, but care should have been taken to make use of what the roguelike genre can do. Making use of the simultaneous turn-based combat is an inspired choice, but it feels like they slotted the core of the system into the title, but didn't have time to build on it. As the plot doesn't provide much of anything of interest, even fans of the first two games would be safe to give this a skip. This is an anomaly for the developer, as even their worst titles were good for a laugh.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted May 13, 2025
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Doom: The Dark Ages is AAA gaming at its best, with huge set pieces and memorable moments around every corner of the beautiful environments that only add to the highly-polished and heavily-addicting gameplay. Id Software hasn't held back any punches in creating one of the most grandiose and large-scale games in recent memory, utilizing their big-budget funding to create a 100% user-focused experience that makes the player feel immensely powerful without forgoing a sense of challenge or difficulty. The classic Doom formula has been deconstructed and reformed into a techno-medieval bloodbath, with gaming's original one-man army going on an unbridled rampage of demon-slaying destruction that somehow tops the scale of the iconic franchise yet again.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted May 9, 2025
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Almost everything in Captain Blood is a love letter to the genre it shares many titles with. This doesn’t feel like a game made to wow people, but rather provides solid entertainment and fun. The game feels like a callback, and it's almost wrong to say it is. Here we have an opportunity to play a game that has never been released and almost lost to time entirely, and it makes the experience nostalgic and charming. While the story and soundtrack aren’t something many will consider to be amazing, they are still serviceable and can be enjoyable. There's plenty of fun to be had within the game, and if you’re a fan of the genre looking for a new game to play, this could scratch that itch.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted May 8, 2025
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In the end, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is well worth experiencing for veterans of the title and hopefully the rest will see what all the commotion is about.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 30, 2025
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Milestone doesn't have to continue to innovate its MotoGP series, but it simply desires to. The Career Mode shines once again with its implementation and engagement. The racing now offers an arcade physics engine to go along with the simulation engine, which allows anyone to jump on and race. It's fun for veterans as well. The new racing disciplines are a welcome change that requires more tracks and implementation. The Career Mode should start by competing in championships in these disciplines, then progressing through the three MotoGP classes. Being able to start wherever you want is both a positive and a negative, but the experience is good either way. The jump to Unreal Engine 5 isn't a massive change, but there are noticeable changes. The overall lack of modes still hurts, but the Live GP should help keep players online along with crossplay. The AI issues are the only real thing hurting the on-track experience, but otherwise this is still another stellar racer from Milestone.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 30, 2025
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a cinematic RPG experience that showcases both visual and audio prowess. The tone is depressing, but is countered by the beauty of this world and the hope from its characters to succeed on their mission. The combat is engaging enough as it relies on Quicktime Events and a parry system to keep players engaged. This is a solid leap in this turn-based RPG genre that normally would get stale due to the repetition of combat. The overall experience is a slow burn, but comes alive once reaching the halfway point. The main narrative comes in at thirty hours and there's some other content that can clock in at sixty, but a lot of this feels like dead air time because the world is rather empty and there are times where you're walking for the sake of walking. If you're a fan of turn-based RPGs or this type of lore, it would be hard to pass this up for a playthrough.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 23, 2025
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Maliki: Poison of the Past is one of the most enjoyable turn-based RPGs that's come along in a while. It evokes the joy of the best of the PS1-era of the genre while also featuring some of the most frustrating time-sinking puzzle design and objective fulfillment as well. It winds up being greater than the sum of its flawed parts due to the compelling time-bending narrative, but it would be even better with quality-of-life improvements down the road. As it stands now, it's still an easy recommendation for turn-based RPG fans and also a fine game to give a go if you love time-bending stories in fiction, killer soundtracks and interesting diorama-style art design.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 23, 2025
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Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a narrative adventure that won't be forgotten for a long time. The relationships that all four of these characters form have you invested in the story, while the performances by the actors are top-notch. While there are graphical issues and plot holes that haven't been filled, this game needs to be experienced, especially if you're a Life is Strange fan who feels disappointed by Square Enix's latest entry. It's a shame the gameplay isn't as interesting as the first tape, as you find the majority of the collectibles in the first half, but the story will keep you invested with engaging dialogue options, ending with plenty of replayability.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 22, 2025
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I, Robot is an incredible sequel to a lost arcade classic, instantly playable by fans of the original, but with more than enough new gameplay hooks to make it stand on its own. All the features of a Llamasoft game are present, from the occasionally rude level name to an audio soundscape comprised of baa-ing sheep and endless samples, plus the visual overload that dials it back on the main part of the level and goes for broke during the shooter sections. Each level is its own little arcade puzzle, with the player needing to untangle how the enemies are going to move this time and what the best path through looks like, and whether you want to do a full run from Level 0 to the end or just take it a couple levels at a time and continue as needed, I, Robot is happy to accommodate. The authoritarian eye should probably be paying much closer attention to the robot's moves, but its laziness means you can cram an entire level of rebellion right through its all-seeing cornea.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 21, 2025
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Anyone that was a fan of the original Command & Conquer games or similar RTS from the early 2000s can't pass up Tempest Rising. The look, sound and upgrades to a system that changes things up just enough will appease classic fans. Anyone expecting an elaborate amount of depth akin to what some of the recent RTS games have incorporated, however, won't find it here. There's not much to do, just the campaign, skirmish and multiplayer. There's only two factions and not a ton of maps. Once each faction is figured out in a month, the game will turn into a rush game online. This was a complaint of the legacy C&C games and this gets carried over with it. It won't be about strategy, it'll be about what works. There's a lot here that any fan would want in a modern C&C game, but it doesn't check every box on the wishlist.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 17, 2025
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In the end, Lunar Remastered Collection is a must for new and old school players alike, bringing the two classic JRPGs from the ‘90s to the modern age in a monumental way.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 15, 2025
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There's a video gaming trope that some of the most fondly remembered games are 7 out of 10 and Rusty Rabbit could be the poster child for this. From a gameplay perspective it's good, decent, not a bad way to spend a surprisingly large number of hours if you want to unlock everything, even if it can't quite live up to its ambitions. The game isn't just the gameplay, though, and when taken as a whole, Rusty Rabbit is the type that sticks in your brain and will be remembered more fondly than actually playing it might justify. The secrets of the history of the rabbits' frozen world are buried in the caverns of Smokestack Mountain, but Rusty knows they'll take care of themselves while he deals with a base filled with hostile rust beasts, chasing after the far more important goal of reconciling with the only family he's got left.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 15, 2025
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There's more than enough in Crashlands 2 to make the return to Woanope a thoroughly enjoyable journey. The 2D art looks great, with lots of details everywhere from the thin lines of the reed walls to insects and other crawlies wandering around the landscape. The various native races are all creative and distinct and it's always fun to interact with them in each new cutscene. The writing in particular knows when to have the characters rib each other and when to back off, leading to dramatic scenes that actually feel like recognizable interactions rather than overwritten melodrama. The crafting, building, exploration, story and even the combat all come together to make a ridiculously fun adventure, with Flux and Juicebox running from one side of Woanope to the other to solve all the problems a world in need can throw at them.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 9, 2025
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Taking a year off truly helped the core experience of Monster Energy Supercross 25, but at the sacrifice of cut content. The change to the Unreal Engine 5 provides a different experience than in the past. The updated riding physics makes the game both more accessible and more difficult. Tight cornering and fighting for grip is the biggest hurdle. The Neural AI in the fantastic Career Mode is great, something that other racing series could use. The removal of the Compound hurts, but the Rhythm Section mode helps to make up for that loss. Mainly, fans of the series looking for a current Supercross experience finally get it in 2025, as the game is finally set in the year it releases.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 9, 2025
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South of Midnight may not be a standout in the gameplay department, but the dazzling art style, interesting world building and fearless storytelling more than make up for it. Games Pass continues their recent string of successful launches with another great title, bravely exploring themes of trauma, healing and empathy in a refreshingly unique new setting.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 3, 2025
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Croc Legend of the Gobbos is a fun little platformer that was great during the PS1 era, but doesn't hold up to platformers to this day like Astro Bot. The levels vary and keep surprising you with their mechanics, but the environments themselves are basic and feel repetitive. There's also a steep difficulty curve in the middle of the game that hits you like a freight train and causes you to retry the levels over and over again. The lack of save states and a rewind feature would have resolved some of the quirks. Argonaut Games has done an admirable job of updating the graphics with remastered models and improved textures (for the most part), and it's a great to have the option to switch to the retro look if so desired. Despite annoying levels here and there, Croc Legend of the Gobbos is a 3D platformer worth revisiting.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 2, 2025
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While Koira's gameplay loop can be repetitive by the end, it's wonderful at telling a narrative. It's beautiful, stirring and overall a fantastic debut from the 2022-formed Studio Tolima. Hopefully they'll continue to focus on the connection between music and gameplay in their next title because it's a concept that has great potential to be expanded on.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Apr 1, 2025
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Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition lives up to the Definitive Edition moniker that it sports this time around. Everything about the game has been enhanced to another level for fans, new or old, to jump into and enjoy. The updates to the graphics and gameplay have not only made the game feel more up-to-date, but more compelling and fun as a whole. You’ve got plenty of options and routes to build your characters while on foot, as well as various options for the Skells you fight with. With the past expansions being reworked into post-game content for players to enjoy, there's plenty to do in this version of Xenoblade Chronicles X. There's no doubt that this fan-favorite game is back in its full glory and better than ever.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 27, 2025
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The First Berserker: Khazan is a solid Soulslike that just doesn’t do anything special. Even though the developers do a good job creating skill trees to match each weapon, there’s a serious lack of variety when it comes to the arsenal and attributes. On top of that, while the bosses are a treat to fight, being a significant challenge that evolves with the story, the same can’t be said about the mission structure. These are lacking functionally and artistically in their design, creating less-than-compelling locales to fight through. Despite all of our issues with The First Berserker: Khazan, it still scratched an itch that many Soulslikes haven’t been able to.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 24, 2025
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The storytelling and level design might keep players interested enough to make it through the main story, but the lack of depth in gameplay and role-playing makes it hard to imagine anyone wanting to spend their time playing Atomfall over any other successful title in the genre.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 21, 2025
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At its core, the overall gameday feel and experience is largely unchanged. There are enough mild changes here to sway your eyes enough away from that aspect.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 19, 2025
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a decent game that delivers a good narrative, a set of great protagonists and strong gameplay, but never fully commits to melding the best aspects of both eras into a truly great package.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 18, 2025
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Warriors: Abyss is a massive combat action-fest that's got no interest in dumbing things down, and whether you're learning its systems or exploiting them, it's a fantastic brawl through Hell.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 14, 2025
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It’s important not to let the mild criticisms get in the way, as Wanderstop is a beautiful title with something to say about overwork, determination and letting go. It explores these potentially depressing topics with a ton of humor and relaxing gameplay, resulting in a thoughtful, unique title that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Stepping away from the game, I have fond memories of the characters Alta meets, particularly Boro, Gerald and Monster. It’s a chill time that wants the player to spend as much or as little with it as they would like, while also being deep but unpretentious.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 11, 2025
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WWE 2K25 is a healthy year-over-year improvement from last year's game. The core in-ring action flies better thanks to the revamped technical wrestling mini-game and the meaty showcase and MyRise modes encourage playing through new additions like Bloodline rules and intergender matches naturally so you're used to them for exhibition play. The new PS5 and Xbox Series Island is a fun way to explore a virtual WWE city and engage in unique matches in unique settings. The graphics are a minor bump over previous games, while the commentary as a whole is better and included for the Showcase mode to breathe new life into it.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 11, 2025
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Split Fiction is shorter, more expensive, and while it may not have the originality or variety of It Takes Two, it still manages to create an entertaining and captivating experience for both players.- Hardcore Gamer
- Posted Mar 4, 2025
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