MonsterVine's Scores
- Games
For 74 reviews, this publication has graded:
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55% higher than the average critic
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10% same as the average critic
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35% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.4 points higher than other critics.
(0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
| Highest review score: | Pokemon Pokopia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest review score: | Pathologic 3 |
Score distribution:
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Positive: 45 out of 74
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Mixed: 23 out of 74
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Negative: 6 out of 74
75
game
reviews
- By Date
- By Critic Score
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- Critic Score
Lost Castle 2 is a testament to Hunter Studio and the iteration they’ve been able to implement since the original. I play a lot of roguelites, and the worst are filled with RNG that results in nothing but wasted time. In the best, you’ll encounter cool items, become overpowered provided you play your cards right, and be offered substantive and fun choices. Whether solo or in a group, Lost Castle 2 is an experience that should fit right into your gaming time. I know the word “roguelite” can scare some people, but there’s a lot of beat ‘em up gameplay here to enjoy as well, whether you had that experience in the 90s like me or later.- MonsterVine
- Posted Jun 21, 2026
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Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition works wonderfully on the Nintendo Switch 2, finally giving Nintendo diehards the chance to experience one of the best Capcom games of the last decade. It looks fantastic and runs incredibly well, once again impressing me with how far ahead the Switch 2 is of its predecessor. This is a great way to play Devil May Cry 5, and it’s never a bad time to revisit such a brilliant title.- MonsterVine
- Posted Jun 21, 2026
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Though it’s certainly rough around the edges, Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara has a lot going for it, even in Early Access. Selling and opening capsules can make for some very fast-paced and frantic fun, and the consistent store upgrades keep you wanting to push on. I think Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara is plenty fun as it is now, so long as you don’t mind a couple of little hiccups.- MonsterVine
- Posted Jun 18, 2026
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Rune Dice is a short, frustrating experience made even more so by a lack of difficulty tuning. I genuinely was in disbelief when the cutoff for content after the first third of the game was reached, which led me to listen to the same music and repeat the easiest level nearly a dozen times if not more to only learn the Bard is incapable of actually besting the latter stages. Rune Dice was already a novelty in concept, and in practice, you may just want to grab a pair of dice and roll those instead.- MonsterVine
- Posted Jun 15, 2026
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Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II is a game with pretty obvious flaws that won’t deter fans of the franchise already, but the glacial pace, lack of variety, and limited selection of music may make this hard to swallow for others. There is a “rustic” charm to it as someone who grew up on PC games like this, and it does provide an interesting Warhammer experience even as someone who’s only glanced at the wider property. If you do want to take up arms, the presentation, art, visuals, and well-realized cast, combined with a fairly modular experience, could provide dozens of hours of fun.- MonsterVine
- Posted Jun 3, 2026
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007 First Light delivers a massive, bombastic action-adventure that blends elements of IOI’s Hitman series with Uncharted. Its depiction of Bond balances being fresh while maintaining all the required characteristics, and it’s sold incredibly well by Gibson’s performance. This Bond’s first adventure is a worthwhile, satisfying, and creative outing from start to finish. All I can ask for now is even more silver screen-worthy adventures in the future.- MonsterVine
- Posted Jun 1, 2026
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Replaced will go down as a wonderful production that could have been a more robust package.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 28, 2026
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Schrodinger’s Call is a beautiful visual novel set in the final moments before the end of the world. It has a strong emotional impact, and while it isn’t a flawless experience, it’s a truly memorable one thanks to its story, beautiful visual style, and incredible soundtrack.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 28, 2026
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Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a totally different experience from past Yoshi games, and that’s pretty much entirely to its benefit. Exploration and experimentation take center stage here, allowing for a riveting and charming platformer that leans more towards the puzzle genre than you might expect. While not every level is a winner, there are far more hits than misses, cementing this game as one of the most unique platformers around.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 27, 2026
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Table Flip Simulator can be a lot of fun to play and has quite a bevy of interesting ideas tucked into a number of the stages, but the rough presentation and hit-or-miss humor drag it down a bit. If you’re just looking for some wacky physics-based mayhem, this is certainly a decent enough choice to go with, so long as you don’t mind its underwhelming visual style and writing.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 21, 2026
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Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen likely won’t do much for older players or people who don’t care for the source material, but it’ll absolutely be a hit with kids who like the show. The gameplay is straightforward but solidly enjoyable, and the presentation feels like a perfect extension of the source material. If you’ve got a child who loves Bluey, this is definitely a great choice for their next gaming outing.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 21, 2026
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Bubsy 4D is a far better revival for the boisterous bobcat than I think anyone could have anticipated he’d ever receive. Fabraz nailed it out of the park here, turning a series that was essentially the internet’s platforming laughingstock into a brilliant and extremely enjoyable 3D platformer that I couldn’t stop playing. The camera can be a bit unwieldy on occasion, but that’s nowhere near enough to stop Bubsy 4D from being a top-notch game.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 21, 2026
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Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a fresh improvement on the Lego series formula, trimming down the massive bloat. It’s focused, reworking years of Batman media into a mostly connected, large-scale story that covers years of the Dark Knight’s career. Feeling like one big comic book combined with an improved, if only slightly, combat system makes this the best Lego game in years. You might not be blown away by anything Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has up its sleeves, but any fan of Lego or Batman would be doing themselves a disservice by not answering the call.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 20, 2026
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Kiln looks great and has a creative idea at its base, but it gets old fairly quickly and doesn’t seem, like it’ll have the longest shelf life. Making pottery is incredibly well-realized and satisfying, and the team-based matches have their moments, but the main gameplay loop gets tiresome, and the lack of stages and content beyond Quench mode makes the game feel more empty than you’d expect.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 14, 2026
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All of that is minor in the grand scheme of Forza Horizon 6, which continues the series' dominance in this casual, arcade-esque style of racing. The tools are there if you want to perfectly tune every aspect of your vehicle, and the difficulty and realism can be bumped through the roof if you so choose. But if you're like me, the satisfaction of drifting around turns, speeding down highways, and barreling through a forest with no regard for anyone's safety comes from the approachability offered by the best Forza Horizon game yet.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 14, 2026
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As the debut title from developer Nobody Crown, there’s a lot to like with Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery. Sure, its bloated menus and decidedly uncomplicated approach to crime solving might not scratch the itch of the most diehard genre fans, but its laid-back atmosphere and cozy aesthetic help to smooth out the rough patches, even if they don’t completely eliminate them.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 12, 2026
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There’s solid gameplay, but it’s a grind to find anything encouraging when everything is going wrong all the time, which does fit the IP and experience. And life in general, I suppose. So say we all.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 11, 2026
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Directive 8020 explores enthralling themes and serves up some aesthetically pleasing scares, but its overreliance on bland stealth sections and janky pacing hold the game back. I’m certainly interested in seeing more of the story routes thanks to the cohesive and quick rewind mechanic, but I think I’ll wait a bit before diving back into all those stealth sections.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 11, 2026
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Mixtape is a fantastic game that celebrates how a specific period of time can intertwine with music to craft a memorable and touching story. The gameplay is constantly surprising and satisfying, the characters are delightful, and the aesthetic is second to none. I’m really impressed with how much this game has tunneled its way into my heart, and it’s got me feeling nostalgic in a more substantive way than most things do. I can see people the same age as the characters really latching onto this story, but even if you’re past that era, it’s a wonderful look back at the messy but unforgettable twilight of youth.- MonsterVine
- Posted May 7, 2026
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Invincible VS is quite similar to the series’ protagonist, Invincible. He’s often conflicted, and as an alien, human, and superhero, he has much to live up to. In Invincible VS’ case, I’m not sure that it does live up to expectations. Quarter Up’s first effort should be applauded for developing a fighting game that could be a hit with both casuals and high-level players, but it could just as easily not find an audience with its conflicting decisions. Competition is tough in fighting games, and that remains true for…Invincible VS.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 30, 2026
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inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories is a beautifully chill and heartfelt game that really teleports you to a whole different time and place. The many small stories that customers pull you into are wonderful, while the gameplay is as satisfying as it gets. Outside of some typos and grammatical issues that are spread throughout, this is easily one of my favorite games of 2026 so far.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 28, 2026
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While I appreciate the smaller scale of Dosa Divas, the experience feels unpolished and unrefined. The combat is shallow, even for a 12-hour experience, and the story holds too many cards for the climax, so the moments leading up to it don’t really resonate. The cooking mini-game is a highlight, and the themes about how important cooking is to both culture and community do hit, but the specific story ultimately feels flat.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 27, 2026
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Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is a comfy and surprisingly mature adventure game that combines the satisfaction of exploration with a cast of weird but likable characters. The fetch quests get to be a bit much by the end of the eight-or-so-hour runtime, but it’s not enough to put a hamper on how delightful the game is overall. Whether you’re a fan of Moomintroll or not, you’ll likely have a pretty chill time with Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 27, 2026
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Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is the same game it’s always been, brought to a new and popular platform, with a new soundtrack that’s not up to snuff. I’m glad Switch owners will be able to play Memories in Celceta; it’s just difficult to recommend the game, considering the PC version is five dollars cheaper and doesn’t have a worse soundtrack. I hope Falcom has bigger plans for its future remasters because this was a little disappointing.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 25, 2026
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For better or worse, Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter Episode 1 wears its Danganronpa inspiration on its sleeve, which is a great thing for someone like me who loves that sort of story and gameplay. Despite some flaws and a lack of tutorial, it’s a fun murder mystery with odd-yet-likeable characters and intriguing hints for what the future will hold.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 23, 2026
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Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is one of the most ridiculous and customizable social sims around. It’s absolutely chock-full of silly features and a surprisingly rich breadth of content, meaning pretty much anybody will be able to have a laugh playing the game. I really wish it were possible to share this fun with other players, so it’s a shame Nintendo has made it pretty impossible this time around, but this is an otherwise excellent oddity that will produce hours upon hours of wacky joy.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 22, 2026
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Dragon Quest Smash/Grow does a surprisingly solid job of combining Dragon Quest with roguelite elements in a mobile format. The story is pretty vanilla, and it’s hard to say how much the gacha system will impact the game past launch, but this is a decent enough way to take part in some charming Dragon Quest fun while on the go.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 20, 2026
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Legacy of Kain: Ascendance allows players to experience the events of previous games through a different lens in an entirely different genre than they’re accustomed to. Unfortunately, the combat is boring, and the story is winding and doesn’t pay off. As the game ends, we’re shown Raziel being thrown into the void, leading into the Soul Reaver games, left wondering why this game was even necessary.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 17, 2026
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Ground Zero is a fantastic example of how to take the things that inspire you, make something great, while maintaining the core DNA, and add your own twist.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 17, 2026
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Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is an interesting take on the Cthulhu Mythos, even if its overall narrative doesn't stand out. Slow-paced, frustrating at times because its puzzles can be opaque, and very dedicated to gathering and understanding clues, it's an experience that should appeal to players who enjoy the detective-like approach of studying every clue they come across.- MonsterVine
- Posted Apr 16, 2026
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