IGN Benelux's Scores

  • Games
For 166 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 53% higher than the average critic
  • 3% same as the average critic
  • 44% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.7 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 79
Highest review score: 100 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Lowest review score: 40 Outbound
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 1 out of 166
167 game reviews
    • 95 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    I find it hard to say whether Tears of the Kingdom is worth revisiting on the Switch 2 for returning players. I haven’t had that experience myself, after all. Plus, the €10 upgrade only gets you a higher resolution, HDR, and a more stable framerate — nothing that truly shakes things up functionally. That said, I do expect that almost anyone with a save file from 2023 still has plenty left to do before reaching 100%. For new players or returning Zelda fans who walked away from Breath of the Wild disappointed back then, I’d say: give it a chance. After playing Tears of the Kingdom, I’m still not entirely convinced — I’d love to see a brand-new, traditional Zelda on the Switch 2. That said, I’ve come to appreciate the direction Zelda took in 2017 a lot more now.
    • 95 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Hades II delivers an excellent sequel to a fantastic game. It does just enough new things to feel refreshing, while never forgetting what made the first entry so great. The game looks stunning and plays beautifully on the Switch 2. With a bit of effort, you can finish it in just a few hours, but at that point, you’ve really only seen the tip of Olympus. Hades II has become one of the best games of the year and is one everyone should definitely try. With Blue Prince, Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Hades II, it’s going to be tough to decide what my favorite game of the year will be. But Hades II absolutely deserves to be in that conversation.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A somewhat inconsistent difficulty level and checkpoint system fortunately do little to detract from this excellent platforming experience. Astro Bot has all the potential to become PlayStation's permanent mascot, precisely because he embodies everything that makes PlayStation what it is. I sincerely hope he gets that chance, because if this game proves anything, it's that even a longer Astro Bot game isn't long enough. This leaves you wanting more once again.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Elden Ring was already one of the best games of all time, and Shadow of the Erdtree takes it even further, with a complex but captivating world that constantly challenges you with its secrets, tough bosses, and beautiful vistas. After over 40 hours of gameplay, I've seen all the areas and defeated all the bosses, but I'm far from done with this perfect expansion to an already perfect game.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    All in all, Metaphor is a different game than I expected. In a way, that's a shame: I was quite curious about what the Persona developers could achieve with an entirely new set of systems. Still, it's certainly not a bad thing. Metaphor does everything Persona did, and in many areas just that little bit better. The visual style is stunning, the battles and everything around them are more streamlined, and although it takes place in a fantasy world, it has just as much to say about our reality as its socially engaged predecessors – for games, at least. I'm very much looking forward to Persona 6, but perhaps I'm even more excited about the future of Metaphor.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a fantastic game that everyone should play. The combat is a unique combination of turn-based and real-time, while the game completely captivates you with an immersive story and interesting characters. The focus on exploration is special, but occasionally ensures that you as a player can get lost. Still, this is only a small downside in an otherwise excellent game. For me, it is the best game I have played this year so far and there is a good chance that this will not change in the coming months.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Hollow Knight Silksong exceeds all expectations. Team Cherry manages to create an amazing ever expanding world that has a new challenging adventure around each corner. You feel that every little detail of this game has been hand crafted with so much love and attention. Silksong is an artful masterpiece at a price tag of only €20.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a lot less daring than you might expect after Remake. Fortunately, even a safe sequel means more of this fantastic world and near-perfect combat system.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    Forza Horizon 6 is the dream of every car enthusiast who has been asking for Japan over the past decade. Playground Games not only delivers a stunning, diverse, and massive map, but also innovates brilliantly with the dynamic system of 72 micro-seasons. The intense focus on deeply-rooted JDM car culture, the spectacularly improved engine sounds, and the addictive mountain roads make this an absolute must-play for racing fans.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Split Fiction is a really cool co-op experience, but where I could recommend It Takes Two without hesitation, the latest game from Hazelight Studios comes with some reservations. The concept of two completely different worlds is brilliant, and the game bombards you with gameplay ideas that follow each other in quick succession. However, when you add it all up, the whole experience quickly becomes chaotic.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Donkey Kong Bananza is the second must-play title of 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2 owners. From start to finish, the game puts a smile on your face—one that won’t fade even after the credits roll. Bananza offers a great deal of freedom, features a fantastic soundtrack, and looks stunning 99% of the time. Add to that the excellent platforming elements and the unique twist of the transformations, and I can’t help but wholeheartedly recommend this game.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered may seem like an unnecessary re-release, but with an inevitable PC version on the horizon - and because there's obviously no better way to cash in on the popularity of the TV series - it's nice that we get to play this version on console as well, with a number of extras that are definitely worth it! Graphically, the game is still gorgeous, and the new No Return mode and extras are well worth the entry price for current owners of the game. Anyone who, like me, didn't have time for The Last of Us Part II upon release will also absolutely enjoy getting this Remastered version into their home.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Tekken 8 is an improvement over Tekken 7 in many ways. Although the main story is not very long, it is told and portrayed much better than in the previous installment. The game is a feast for the eyes thanks to Unreal Engine 5. Tekken 8 also plays very smoothly and both a beginner and a veteran will have a great time due to the large amount of content. Everyone can improve and learn thanks to the Special Style and the Heat System provide new dynamics and ways to play Tekken 8.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Pokémon Pokopia has turned out to be an excellent game that, honestly, has given me a lot more enjoyment than Pokémon Legends Z-A and Animal Crossing. It’s one of the better cozy games, and you can easily sink dozens of hours into it. For me, the credits rolled after about thirty-five hours of play, but even after that I still have plenty to do to keep myself entertained.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 92 Critic Score
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a game that exceeds even my wildest dreams in terms of production value. It is by far the most visually stunning game I’ve seen on the PlayStation 5, accompanied by a soundtrack from Woodkid that reaches similarly impressive heights. The game has clearly taken past criticism into account, resulting in a much more accessible experience. Death Stranding 2 is certainly no walking sim, although it does start at a walking pace. Beyond that, it’s a groundbreaking game with an emotionally gripping story, making it one of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives to date. Meanwhile, Elle Fanning and Troy Baker manage to steal the show – their performances alone are reason enough to play the game.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Infinite Wealth has made me feel like I've been on a warm, colorful and wacky but fantastic vacation during this cold winter time. The gameplay may be more of the same if you look at Like A Dragon, but the game is very well put together and there is so much to do that you can easily spend hours distracted from the main story with mini-games and fun activities. Fortunately, the story of Infinite Wealth is also strongly crafted and the game managed to keep me constantly entertained. The amount of content can give you dozens if not hundreds of hours of gameplay, and people who really want to complete everything will be able to top that number with ease. Infinite Wealth is simply the best Like A Dragon/Yakuza game I have played so far.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Resident Evil: Requiem finds the perfect balance between survival horror and explosive action thanks to its two protagonists. The result is an outstanding experience that managed to keep me constantly engaged.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The foundation of Monster Hunter Wilds is rock solid. The game is smoother and more streamlined than ever. It’s also more beautiful and spectacular than any of its predecessors. On top of that, it’s incredibly accessible for new players. However, at least in its current state, it offers little resistance, meaning you’ll breeze through it – especially as a Monster Hunter veteran.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Mewgenics is a bizarre, complex, and at times unforgiving game. That is precisely why it’s so hard to put down.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Dragon's Dogma 2 is, in one word: unique. Bold choices offer both pleasure and frustration, which are balanced by excellent combat.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    For me, Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles felt like a warm, nostalgic embrace. I loved puzzling with the many Jobs to get through battles in as few turns as possible and without losing any of my units. The game would easily have scored at least one point higher if it had been in 2D-HD, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a wonderfully polished version of a game that, even 30 years later, is still fantastic to play.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sword of the Sea is a visually stunning but short experience that, despite its length and minor issues, left a strong impression on me.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    After more than thirty hours with the Switch remake, I joined the group of people who have been saying for years that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the best Mario RPG. It lacks some quality of life aspects that I would have liked to see in a modern release, but this is just a small blemish on an otherwise great game. The memorable characters and moments in the story, combined with the large dose of dry humor, made the time fly by.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Fans of the original will get more of what they know, but newcomers can also pick up Kingdom Come: Deliverance II effortlessly. It’s a wonderfully realistic RPG where countless systems seamlessly intertwine within a beautifully designed open world.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The best games rarely cater to the broadest possible audience, and Mixtape is proof of that. The limited gameplay and lack of freedom are deliberate choices that won't appeal to everyone, but they're precisely what make the game what it is. Beethoven & Dinosaur tells a four-hour story that is more convincing, more heartfelt, and more memorable than what most games manage to achieve in dozens of hours. Those who surrender to the experience get something back that is hard to describe: the feeling that you yourself are saying goodbye to Rockford, Cassandra, and Slater, as if you lived through that final evening yourself. And just like the best songs on a mixtape, that feeling lingers long after the last note has faded.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Persona 3 Reload has everything you want from a modern remake. New content, better voice acting, new events, a big graphics and music update, and more. A perfect mix of style and substance make sure Persona 3 Reload never gets boring for new and recurring players.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a brilliant action game that plays just as wonderfully as it looks. It’s easy to pick up, yet packed with depth thanks to a combo system you learn organically. The game continuously expands both combat and exploration with new abilities. Above all, it looks breathtaking with a unique painterly style and stunning lighting effects. Every level is crammed with secrets and extra challenges that provide countless hours of fun. The bosses are tricky, but they never gave me the feeling I couldn’t overcome them. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the kind of action game they rarely make anymore – and it plays even better than it looks.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are excellent 3D platformers, and it’s nice that the second installment is now also playable on modern hardware. Still, I’m disappointed by the way the ports have been handled. Nintendo is asking a significantly higher price per game than with Super Mario 3D All-Stars, the last time Super Mario Galaxy was brought to Switch. In return, there’s only some new side content, while nothing meaningful has really been added in terms of gameplay. That said, these remain two of the best games ever made, bundled together in one package.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Like Returnal before it, Saros didn't need to be a roguelike at all. That the experience holds up so confidently regardless is a testament to the game's quality, largely because the core gameplay is once again every bit as tight as you'd expect from Housemarque.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The beat ’em up foundation of Absolum is smooth and fluid, and the roguelike twist adds the necessary depth, making it almost endlessly replayable. In recent years, quite a few games have shown how cool beat ’em ups used to be. Absolum shows how brilliant the genre can truly be from now on.

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