Nintendo Life's Scores

  • Games
For 5,862 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 45% higher than the average critic
  • 18% same as the average critic
  • 37% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 8 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 67
Highest review score: 100 Horace
Lowest review score: 10 Lawnmower Game: Racing
Score distribution:
5870 game reviews
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It may not quite hit the highs of the likes of Hyper Light Drifter or Dead Cells, but it's not far off and its zippy dungeon runs and slices of family drama feel like a perfect fit for Nintendo's portable console. If you're a fan of the genre this is certainly an addition to the Switch's library that's well worth checking out.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The gameplay is somewhat repetitive, but the action moves quickly enough that it never feels dull.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is a solid follow-up to the Danganronpa franchise that demonstrates a heap of ambition from its developers and mostly lives up to its predecessor's impressive reputation. But while the game delivers an excellent cast of characters and some truly intriguing mysteries to solve, it also stumbles in its methods, introducing mechanics and locations that outstay their welcome and become frustratingly repetitive. Still, for fans of Dangaronpa and those who enjoy a good gruesome crime or two, it's definitely worth checking out.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Vengeance Hunters does many things well. Its pixel art is superb across the board, with some very cool-looking enemies. It also has a lot of interesting ideas in its combat mechanics that allow seasoned gamers to dig deep. It’s a game that ranges from the impressive to the occasionally dubious. Enemy repetition starts to grate a little, but then excellent and imaginative boss battles redress the balance. We don’t feel quite so comfortable with the omission of grabs, the odd format of its sub-weaponry, or its rather overbearing number of explosive obstacles, but we can’t ignore that it’s competent and well-executed in many other key areas. Essential? Perhaps it falls just short of that, but for fans of the genre and those who get a thrill out of mining combo possibilities, there’s a bright, solid, and at times rather clever belt scroller here.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    NES and Namco fans will be happy with the titles on offer here. Some of them have never been released in the west before and the star of the show – Pac-Man Championship Edition – is an entirely new NES port created just for this collection. Each of the 11 games has at least some value, but the bare-bones nature of the presentation is a little disappointing: for a game with Museum in the title, we'd hoped each game would have been celebrated a little more with art and behind-the-scenes info.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Magnetis offers a competent core gameplay mechanic that is both intuitive and provides enough depth to keep players coming back for more. The lack of variety in the gameplay and omission of online leaderboards will take the shine off replay value for some, but the visual polish and outstanding soundtrack definitely make up for it and ensure Magnetis will find a place in every puzzle fan's collection.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Put simply, it’s Picross — and that’s tough to complain about.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Players looking for a classic 'Oddworld' game might be disappointed with Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath. The game has its own identity while still remaining part of that unique universe, and that somehow makes it even more appealing – giving players a world to explore that feels much bigger than what you see of it. While the game has aged well for the most part, some imperfections have become more obvious with time. The stealth mechanics are nowhere near as fine-tuned as they should be, and can be ignored completely without compromising the player's experience. A lack of instruction in the latter part of the story could also cause frustration, and the slapstick drop of falling from a height will never be something that fits with the game's overall tone. Despite these rough edges, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is still a joy to play on Switch, and if you didn't experience it the first time around, it's well worth a look now.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It's a robust little gem that makes excellent use of the GamePad, while championing an accessible party experience that can be adapted to fit almost any crowd.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While no one expected it – and we dare say that no one asked for it – Saints Row: The Third - The Full Package revives an often forgotten open-world adventure on a new console generation, complete with a huge amount of cosmetic and expansion DLC. While it's showing its age mechanically (and in terms of taste), in visual terms it’s a robust sandbox filled with outlandish activities, hyperactive ideas and the kind of diverse mission design most open-world titles fail to fully realise. With support for both local and online co-op, this version of Saints Row’s best outing is a steal. We might not ever get a Grand Theft Auto on Switch, but this is probably the next best thing.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Planet Fish's brevity and pick-up-and-play nature would probably suit it much better on a handheld, but as it stands the game is still a consistently fun and unique take on the innocuous fishing genre, and at 500 points, well worth a download for someone looking for something slightly outside the box.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher is the quintessential Monster Rancher experience, just bigger, louder, and more polished looking. The mechanics of the combat and training cycle will be familiar to long-time fans while the new larger scale of the creatures lends itself to the scale of Ultraman and his monstrous foes. Scanning every electronic device in your house to see what monster pops out is satisfying even if the actual gameplay gets stale over time.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Despite the fact that this is unquestionably a very fine video game, there's no escaping the fact that the Switch version has some serious issues; assets are noticeably weaker than they are in other versions, the frame rate is halved and the loading times are maddeningly protracted at points. Fingers are crossed that the developers can remedy some of these problems with proposed updates, but for the time being, this is arguably the least impressive edition of the game – although the fact that it's portable perhaps counts for more than you'd think.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Little Kitty, Big City is an adorable adventure that will almost certainly turn you into a cat lover, if you're not one already. It oozes charm and the realistic cat animations are simply incredible, although for as fun as it is to wander about the city, the game leans heavily on fetch quests and gathering up collectibles, which can lead to repetition. If you're someone who thrives on that kind of gameplay, however, then you'll have an absolute blast with this one.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    On the one hand, the gameplay is virtually unchanged from the original game and it's still lots of fun to play, even though it's incredibly easy now. Sadly you just can't help but notice all the oversights, such as the lack of a widescreen option, the jerky animations and the lack of a "classic" mode for the main game.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Big Pharma has a lot to offer for players who want a deep management simulator. There are a lot of systems to learn, and they take a long time to master if you want to succeed in the hardcore scenarios. The game goes further than the factory floor, bringing research, originator ingredients, and the min/max specification usually reserved for MMOs to the normal management experience. On Nintendo Switch the game suffers a little from awkward controls and text size, but the fact that a game of this scale works as well as it does on the platform eclipses its flaws once you're invested. In truth, running a global drug corporation on-the-go has never been more enjoyable, unless you’re losing money because all of your drugs cause headaches. Good luck.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sprinkle in a raft of difficulty settings for those looking to test their mettle (and maybe grab a little inspiration on the way), online functionality (where you can share your levels with others, try out submissions from across the community and compete for high scores) and co-op shenanigans (via split-screen, no less) and you've got a package that strikes just the right balance between Pac-Man-esque high score chasing, arcade mini-game sensibilities and family friendly game design. Though it doesn't quite get everything right, Puzzle Box Maker has plenty to offer for those eager to get creative and enjoy the fruits of their labour.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Pokémon Masters is a solid mobile release, and perhaps one of the most well-realised Pokémon mobile titles to date – especially in terms of presentation Sadly, the lack of any competitive element and little to do other than grind between events and story addition mean that it’s not entirely clear if the game will have the staying power required to keep people interested beyond the first few months. Still, the potential for character crossover in this game is unparalleled, and hopefully, it won't be squandered.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Solid play control, a wide variety of shooting gallery themes, and a competitive two-player game mode make this WiiWare title a lot of fun, especially considering the very reasonable 700 Wii Point price tag.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    All in all, Rush Rally Origins is a great little rally game if you keep your expectations of the graphics in check. From a gameplay perspective, it’s more than capable, and offers improvements over the original game in spades. Despite the easy vehicle handling, the game is nevertheless challenging with smart AI and strict time trial targets (which we’re told will be slightly altered in a patch, along with various other tweaks to visuals and performance), and is perfect if you’re after a fun, easygoing arcade driving experience.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    As with any roguelite, Synthetik: Ultimate requires an abundance of playthroughs in order to progress further into the game. Its overall length very much depends on your own commitment, but the strong gameplay is more than enough incentive to keep coming back, despite the poor menu system and less-than-stellar graphics. The addition of an Arena mode on top of the main ‘Citadel’ mode is welcome, though it doesn’t offer anything particularly new, so you’ll likely just stick to the main mode.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The problem is the end comes fairly soon and doesn't offer much incentive to return, which is a terrible fate for a puzzle game like this.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Despite its light and colourful exterior, The Legend of Dark Witch manages to be an entertaining platformer that can be difficult enough to hold the attention of even the more serious gamers out there.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    For what could easily be written off as a lackluster casual puzzle game, Puzzlebox Setup is as interesting as it is entertaining.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    There’s no denying the quality on display with Sons of Liberty, and rarely has a sequel demonstrated such a drastic improvement with its visuals and gameplay. For all its indulgent quirks, Sons of Liberty is another seminal video game that fully deserves its reputation as one of the greatest of all time. It’s just a shame that Konami couldn’t max out its potential for its release on Switch, as this is a game that deserves all the love and care in the world.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you’re looking for a retro shooter that isn’t actually a 25-year-old port of a N64 game, then Ion Fury is the time-travelling love letter from the past you’ve been waiting for. While its weapons and boss fights won’t leave much of an imprint on your memory, the speed and intensity of its gunfights and the intricacy of its level designs more than make up for it. If you want to be punished and rewarded by the shooter principles of old, this is the new/old FPS for you.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Arzette does a great job of aping the look and feel of the CD-i Zelda games, but it relies on the player being familiar with them. Without that knowledge, what remains is a perfectly serviceable platformer but one that isn't revolutionary in any way. If you’re in on the joke, though, it’s just about worth sticking around.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While not a revolution in the point-and-click adventure genre, the crude humour and amusing story keep Demetrios feeling fresh and fun. While it won’t be to everyone’s tastes, if you’re a fan of cynical commentary and games that self-satirise, then you won’t go far wrong here.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Urban Trial Freestyle is a good game with a few blemishes that keep it from greater things. It’s nowhere near as good as the Trials series on XBLA, but it’s a solid handheld alternative that offers up plenty of fun for the price.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Persona 4 Arena Ultimax may not be the Persona game everyone’s been clamoring for on the Switch, but we’re certainly not complaining. P4AU offers up an approachable, yet incredibly deep 2D fighting combat system, a neat RPG-lite mode that guarantees solo players will have lots to do, and all this is presented in Arc System Works’ signature and striking hand-drawn art style. While the story mode is a complete bore and there’s no rollback netcode in this version, we think P4AU on Switch is still absolutely worth your time, although if you're going to be playing online, you'll likely want to investigate the game on other platforms first. For portable fans, however, we’d give it a recommendation whether you’re a fighting game enthusiast or you’re just looking to give the genre a shot; this is definitely one of the better fighting games on the Switch.

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