Hardcore Gamer's Scores

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For 4,326 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 50% higher than the average critic
  • 9% same as the average critic
  • 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: 100 Balatro
Lowest review score: 20 Final Fantasy: All the Bravest
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,428 out of 4326
  2. Mixed: 1,656 out of 4326
  3. Negative: 242 out of 4326
4329 game reviews
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    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Pokemon FireRed Version
    Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are major classics in the franchise that still hold up well enough to be worth exploring for fans of RPGs and the series itself. On the other hand, as a new release of an old game, it's one of the most barebones releases possible and there's no good reason for it to not have at least something extra to justify it as a commemorative edition.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tales of Berseria Remastered
    Tales of Berseria was the last mainline game before the franchise was reborn anew with Arise, and you can certainly feel its age. It retains a lot of the bad habits from the games of the 2010s, such as inconsistent visual quality and linear dungeon designs. It doesn’t help that while a handful of quality-of-life improvements have been made, they aren’t enough to justify a full repurchase. Thankfully, what carries the JRPG is the rest of the experience. The combat is fast-paced, fluid and highly engaging. The story is darker and more mature with a likable cast of characters. And of course, the soundtrack from famed composer Motoi Sakuraba helps immerse the player into the world. Tales of Berseria is one of the best Tales games out there, so it’s a shame that Bandai Namco has done little in adapting it for the next generation.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Mario Tennis Fever
    If you’re specifically looking for a non-traditional, colorful tennis game to play with your friends, then Mario Tennis Fever will fill the void. Unfortunately, the latest Switch 2 entry into the subseries does little memorable and enticing outside of this. It has solid gameplay mechanics, with a variety of characters and rackets to choose from, but there’s not much of note outside of this. It doesn’t help that the Adventure mode is a glorified tutorial. In the end, all Mario Tennis Fever amounts to is a short distraction with friends with minimal enjoyment outside of that.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Esoteric Ebb
    Esoteric Ebb is a fantastic RPG with a gripping narrative and plenty of options to explore. There’s so much to do and so many threads to explore that it can be a little overwhelming at first, especially with the lack of a simpler list of potential tasks or other guidance. For those that insist on it, what you get is a full-course meal into a mesmerizing fantasy world.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    iRacing Arcade
    It's not too often that a game comes out at a low price that makes you feel willing to pay more if they had just added certain things. This is the case for iRacing Arcade. Was this a game simply because there was extra room in their budget or was iRacing just testing the waters? If there is a sequel, they know what to add after this. The racing, the aesthetic, and the Career Mode are the draw in iRacing Arcade. At just $25, any racing fan needs to pick it up. Players will need a group of friends to lobby up, though, as there isn't matchmaking for online racing and not much else going on outside the Career Mode. This also does get grindy and repetitive. These cars could be made into toys, as the reflections really showcase the detail in these caricatures of automobiles. The racing is fun at the right difficulty level, and is completely worth the price of admission.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Resident Evil Requiem
    Resident Evil Requiem is a game for new and old fans alike. It contains the identity of both the recent entries in the franchise and some of the remakes, meshing both horror and action that works most of the time.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    God of War Sons of Sparta
    God of War Sons of Sparta is a satisfactory, yet not overly triumphant, return to the Greek era. A 2D Metroidvania God of War title sounds great on paper, but Mega Cat Studios never quite manages to capture the feel or pacing of a God of War game. The story is where the game is at its strongest, delivering a look into Kratos' life and personality before tragedy strikes. Though the pacing makes getting into the story difficult and Sons of Sparta never feels necessary to the overarching narrative, the story ends strongly. The Metroidvania piece itself is a stumble thanks to the poor pacing of key abilities. The locales are neat, the corridor design is fine, but getting through the first couple of hours is a real chore. Combat fares better thanks to a smart implementation of Greek and Norse era mechanics, but Mega Cat Studios never manages to capture the God of War feeling. God of War Sons of Sparta is a satisfactory adventure in the God of War universe, but it's far from the triumphant return of the Greek era fans have been waiting for.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Demon Tides
    Demon Tides is an excellent 3D platformer, easily one of the best in years thanks to its expansive, colorful worlds, variety of challenges that require putting its extensive moveset to full use, bonuses and extras, and even an incredibly likeable cast. Beebz seems like she could be a '90s mascot-with-attitude refugee, but she knows when to turn it off, and the fact that it's clear she actually likes and appreciates her friends makes her attitude fun rather than obnoxious. Cutscenes are never long enough to feel like an interruption to the gameplay, letting them be rewards between one stretch of platforming and the next. There's even a button dedicated to pointing out the nearest collectible, meaning you can focus on the challenge of acquiring it rather than scouring every inch of the level for that one last pickup. Like all Demon Turf's tools, how you use it is up to you, so if you want a vicious challenge or a guided tour, that's your call. There are enough movement modifiers that even the most difficult sections can be made possible with a little perseverance, putting Beebz and her crew that much closer to successfully platforming their way through their newest adventure.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    High on Life 2
    High on Life 2 is a sequel that takes meaningful steps forwards with its storytelling and variety, but also many steps back with its gunplay, level design and lack of refinement. It's an ambitious sequel that's fun in doses, but this comedy bit off way more than it could chew.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Revolgear Zero
    While Revolgear Zero takes a minute to learn, it's a big fun shooter that's more interested in being played than punishing the player. Beating it on the normal difficulty isn't that hard, which I discovered when the gameplay systems clicked and I blew through it with double-digit lives left over, but harder difficulty levels and unlocking Boost Mode (same levels, faster energy regeneration) give the game plenty of replay. Arcade shooters tend to be known for their difficulty, like the excellent Sektori, but approachable games like Revolgear Zero are perfect for introducing new players to the genre while having enough depth to its systems to make the harder difficulties worth exploring and repeatedly dying in for more experienced fans.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Super Bomberman Collection
    Super Bomberman Collection is a pack filled with fun games from the Super Nintendo era that are still just as fun today as they were back in the day. Filled with variety, they can be a strong option to recapture the magic once again. The collection itself ends up a little lackluster, though, with online multiplayer not being part of the pack by default and the basic additions that don’t even allow for complete remapping. In the end, it feels like more effort could have been put into celebrating such a classic IP.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
    Dragon Quest VII Reimagined has been remade with excellent precision. The developers have done a phenomenal job recreating what made the original so special, all while retaining its artistic integrity. There are also some fantastic quality-of-life improvements implemented, such as auto-battle and custom difficulty adjustments. This is a massive game, taking upwards of 100 hours to complete, but with it comes some slumps. The story’s pacing can be a bit awkward at times, and several of the plots have been modified. Kiefer’s newest model also stands out comically bad and the chatter that comes from the party outside of battle feels useless half of the time. Regardless, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a memorable and ambitious remake that does far more right than it does wrong.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    RIDE 6
    For those looking for something akin to Gran Turismo or Forza but with motorcycles, RIDE 6 is the closest thing you're going to get. A plethora of bikes, tracks and a deep Career Mode will have players engaged in a single-player experience that doesn't force a grind. Bikes are fully upgradeable with licensed parts that provide different performance increases. The racing is fun with an AI that's uniquely unpredictable, but enjoyable at times. The Bridgestone Racing School will get you ready for the in-game and real-world riding. RIDE 6 suffers in the technical areas with inconsistent visuals and bike sounds, along with a good bit of random, yet quick loading times. With more content coming in the future, this is the game that squids and twisty riders have been waiting for.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Nioh 3
    Nioh 3's gameplay still excels, but there are some noticeable issues. Ninja style is a fantastic, fun new way to play the game and build characters around, but Team Ninja doubled legacy inventory management issues from previous games. Samurai style remains enjoyable and refined yet also feels a bit too tame when compared to the speedy new Ninja style. Nioh 3's balancing also feels off, swinging back and forth between easy to difficult, and then very easy in co-op. It's a lot of fun to play, but the experience can vary wildly. Still, Nioh 3 is the culmination of Team Ninja's continued work on refining the Nioh experience. Nioh 3's ambition has yielded the most enjoyable and accessible entry in the franchise yet.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Earth Must Die
    Earth Must Die presents an intriguing take on the point-and-click genre following a buffoon leader trying to get things his way. Though the jokes may sometimes be crude or hardly interesting, the wacky world and unique characters are enough to keep it an enjoyable journey. The best part, however, is how much of its personality oozes into the gameplay choices, truly representing how VValak acts, thinks and feels in all of its colorful details.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Arknights: Endfield
    Arknights: Endfield is a huge sprawling mass of a game that goes in a million directions all at once, and which direction is the right one always feels like it's at the player's discretion.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon encapsulates what the heart of the series has always been about. Its engrossing story combines finally bringing forth some of the huge bombshells that the Calvard arc had in store while also not forgetting the importance of fostering the vast world where even the most mundane NPC truly matters for those who have been following the tale so far. Meanwhile, the gameplay is truly remarkable in its customization and strategic elements while finally showcasing, along with last year’s Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, that Falcom has found a great balance between the action-oriented and turn-based formats.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights
    Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights is a solid otome game with flaws that keep it from shining as bright as it should. The visual novel features a compelling plot, a curious fantasy setting and solid audiovisual aspects. It may not be among the best Otomate titles, but fans of the genre are likely to enjoy Cecilia’s story.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    INAZUMA ELEVEN: Victory Road
    Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is a comprehensive experience in the soccer RPG franchise. It’s a fascinating take on the genre that provides a slow build for the story mode and a lengthy look at the franchise’s past. The emotional heights of the main narrative and the compelling way it turns the fundamentals of soccer into RPG disputes is a remarkably strong reminder of what makes the Inazuma Eleven franchise unique.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition
    Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is a decent way to experience a unique but flawed platformer from the original PlayStation era. As a simple port with basic features, it doesn’t do much to uplift the experience. Nonetheless, its heart is intact and for anyone curious to play the game, this is a good way to do it.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a nostalgic-filled romp with a lot of heart. It features a decently sized campaign filled with well-designed areas, metroidvania mechanics and compelling boss encounters. It helps that the presentation is beautifully done, with the score having rocking tracks and the visuals being some of the best on the Nintendo Switch 2. With that said, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond does have strange design decisions. For starters, having a rather empty and lifeless open world that mainly just facilitates the need for the motorcycle. It wouldn’t have been so bad if there was teleportation, but even then, the open world feels unnecessary. On top of that, scanning objects in the world breaks up the gameplay and the controls can be finicky at times. Even with these faults, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond remains a memorable and highly engaging entry that will leave its mark on new and hardcore fans alike.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Destiny 2: Renegades
    What hurts Destiny 2: Renegades the most is that it is just an Episode masquerading as an Expansion. There are no new Strikes, Crucible maps, Gambit maps, and for the first time ever in any $40 expansion, no new Patrol Zone and no new Raid. On top of that, some of the most desirable loot, including the White and Purple lightsaber crystals, are held ransom in the Eververse Store. As Kylo Ren once said, "it's time to let old things die," and it's hard not to think that about Destiny 2 after The Edge of Fate and Renegades. After 2025, it's time for Bungie to take a break, regroup and finally release Destiny 3.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons
    Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons tries to update the formula of the series with new ideas that are very popular in the indie sphere. While the concept is interesting, the end result is actually much more frustrating than anything else. Repetitive and artificially padded, the ideas end up not shining as bright as they should, though fun can still be found by understanding its limitations from the start.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    ROUTINE
    While there are minimal downsides to the game, like the overall setup of the puzzles and how to get through later areas, it does create something quite special and intense for horror games. It most certainly won’t be for everyone, as many players are affected by different types of horror themes and genres. Cheap jump scares are few and far between, and your brain is left to run rampant and fill in the blanks. Psychological horror might not be that scary for a large portion of players, and this is something that the game leans heavily into. But if you do prefer the psychological aspect, this might just be the perfect game to pick up and dive right into.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
    Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a great beat’em up that shows significant love towards the Marvel universe, its stories and the lively worlds it presents. It has a great variety of playable options, each with significant differences to their movesets, and the attention to detail in its stages is remarkable. For anyone who loves the genre or Marvel itself, it’s an easy recommendation and guaranteed fun.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Kirby Air Riders
    Kirby Air Riders is a fast, fun addition to the Nintendo Switch 2's growing library, but, it might have been a better experience had it stuck some more traditional racing mechanics.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Octopath Traveler 0
    Octopath Traveler 0 has fantastic quality-of-life improvements and base-building elements, although it’s not a huge step-up in the formula. Square Enix perfectly takes advantage of their nostalgic 2D-HD art style, all while incorporating a shocking amount of voiced dialogue. The ability to have all eight party members on the field, half of whom are sidelined and can be pulled into battle at any time, is a phenomenal addition, although it does reduce a good chunk of the challenge, especially considering most of the characters can be recruited early on. Regardless, the story will have players engaged enough to keep them playing for the immensely lengthy storyline. If there’s one long JRPG to get for the holiday season, it’s this.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Project Motor Racing
    There's a lot of good and a lot of bad with Project Motor Racing. The handling is unique and challenging, while the Career Mode and online ranked license system are different and unique. The range of cars is great for fans of racing over the years. More will come with DLC in the future, but the various physics elements for the different cars provide something most console racers haven't experienced. The development team really wants to make this as close to the real experience as possible, but unfortunately, the LMDh class is broken and undriveable. The ultimate immersion breaker is just how frustrating and atrocious the AI is, and they can't even be bumped out of the way, all while pushing players around. The online races are fine before release, and having a custom lobby system will be a plus. It's also cross-platform, so the lobbies and races can have the maximum possible players. Project Motor Racing has big issues that hinder the experience, but the GT Cars are worth experiencing.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Where Winds Meet
    Where Winds Meet is a game that has incredible highs and extreme lows. It has wonderful boss fights that make the combat shine, showcasing that with the right mechanical skill, you can make an intense fight an amazing spectacle. The combat and exploration are the highlights as a whole, but when you’re not in a boss fight, you’ll be exploring, doing puzzles and experiencing the main story. All of which are serviceable, especially as a free-to-play game, but they could have most certainly been handled in a way that makes them more enjoyable. The co-op modes are limited, requiring you to get through a decent chunk of the game before they are something that you and friends can play through and enjoy. Even with all the issues, it isn’t a bad game by any means, and it's fun when you get to the in-depth and interesting portions. It does end up being somewhat limited by the format chosen by the developer, making it difficult to enjoy every minute that you do end up playing.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Sektori
    No matter which mode you gravitate towards, Sektori offers a fantastic experience from start to finish. The enemies range from familiar to unique in their behaviors, with the bosses in particular being impressive, while the controls and shooting are perfectly tuned so that every hit feels like it could have been avoided or eliminated. There are a good amount of unlocks, ranging from different powerup options to ship appearances and even ship types, although earning that last one will take a little practice to earn. If I have to go reaching for a complaint, it's that the Challenge difficulty level in the Campaign mode, which calls itself "Sektori as designed to be experienced by default," is tuned maybe a notch or two too high. Explorer, on the other hand, is a great time right off the bat even if it does bill itself as more a learning experience, so there's options for those who want to play rather than be ground into neon-pyrotechnic dust. Plus that's only one mode out of seven, so a minor grumble at best. Sektori is top-notch twin-stick shooting with a simple setup and scoring depths for those who want to go looking, and a wonderfully destructive light show even for those who just want to dominate the endless swarms of an arena that never stops pouring on the enemies.
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