Nintendo Life's Scores

  • Games
For 5,857 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 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Lowest review score: 10 Lawnmower Game: Racing
Score distribution:
5865 game reviews
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    It's pretty clear to us that Decathlon 2012 is a rushed cash-in.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    In its launch state on Switch, much of As Far As The Eye is unplayable. For us, neither Quick Game or Custom Matches would last long before we got booted to the Switch’s dashboard. We waited several days for some kind of update to fix both the UI and the egregious crashes and get a better idea of a game that is not without promise, but a patch still hasn't arrived at the time of writing. If or when one does come, As Far As The Eye has the potential to become an intriguing little strategy game with that Civilization-style ‘just one more turn’ effect. But for now, do not get sucked in by its soothing mood and the cute little Pupils.
    • 21 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    There are plenty of other — more talented and deserving — fish in the sea.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    This is one Princess that's quite simply not worth rescuing.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    It's difficult to review My Zoo Vet Practice 3D as a form of “entertainment", as there really isn't anything remotely entertaining to be found while playing.
    • 27 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    There's no two ways about it - this is an embarrassing WiiWare release that lacks any of the fundamental elements of enjoyable, rewarding gameplay.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Buyers are better off looking elsewhere for their adrenaline fixes.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Learning how to make games is an incredibly fun experience, and one that we suggest any fan of the medium at least take a crack at, but even the $1.99 price tag of Arrow Time U is too high to justify paying for what feels like a failed homework assignment in game design.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    We advise you not to buy this game, simply because there are far better ways to spend both your time and your money.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    There are glimmers of what made the original board game so well received in this DSiWare adaptation, but poor controls, limited multiplayer, and grainy presentation undermine the experience in the realm of video games.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    The developers certainly had their hearts in the right place when they put Draft Circuit together, but something went terribly wrong along the way.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    We’re sure there are people out there that would get some enjoyment out of this game, but quite frankly, we’re struggling to believe that might be true. Its gameplay is sluggish, the graphics are poor, and the general premise is just baffling. It may be cheap, but we’d much sooner encourage everyone to save their pennies and go for the real deal instead. This game is a load of poop.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    So try out some demos from the Nintendo eShop; download any number of free games on your phone of choice; maybe take your corgi for a walk and remember what it’s like to breath fresh air. Whatever you do, don’t waste your life playing Working Dawgs: Rivet Retriever.
    • 18 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    WiiWare is two years old now and frankly we shouldn't be seeing games of Blood Beach's quality these days: horrendously obsolete design that went out with the Ark, laughable attempts at scale and realism as well as some of the poorest graphics and sound on WiiWare mark this one out as a real dud.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    DSiWare gamers should be outright insulted by Panda Craze.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Don't waste your hard earned money on this budget title when there are better games out there. Brave Tank Hero for the Wii U makes the 3DS version look like a decent game. Unfortunately, it's a disappointing port of a mediocre game.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    There is absolutely nothing wrong with casual, easy-to-play games, but they should still have plenty to do and demonstrate genuine creativity. This title does neither of these things, and this particular ninja should bow out.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    If The Binding of Isaac didn't assuage your desire for whining, crying, pooping babies, this won't satisfy your strange craving. If it wasn't associated with such a high-profile streamer it wouldn't even have cause to exist. Who knows, though? Maybe Poopdie - Chapter 2 will be amazing. And monkeys might fly out of our butt. If you laughed at the word "butt" just then, definitely buy this game.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    The horrid visuals, wonky controls and extraordinarily dull gameplay all ensure that it's as lacking in entertainment value as seems possible; stay off this one's track.
    • 43 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    There's a moderately clever concept buried somewhere in here, but it isn't worth digging out.
    • 38 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    In its current state, PixARK on the Switch is a poorly optimized, unenjoyable, and otherwise weak approximation of the Minecraft experience that in no way delivers value equivalent to the money you’re paying for it. Considering it comes with a $40 price tag at the time of writing, this unfinished and unpolished game is borderline robbing you of your hard-earned money and time that could be so much better spent on just about anything else you can think of. We would strongly urge you to take a hard pass on PixARK, as it offers a lacklustre survival experience that’s not even worth the memory it’ll take up on your SD Card; life’s much too short to be wasted on poorly made games such as this.
    • 40 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Johnny Hotshot is more than just a bad game; it's a bad game that demands perfection, so that even those adventurous players who are willing to give this a shot are unlikely to see most of it. With a terrible control scheme, absurdly plentiful loading screens and an interface that seemingly keeps trying to shrug you off and discourage you from playing it, this is definitely a download you'll want to let ride into the sunset without you.
    • 18 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    At least Pong Toss is aptly named. After a few minutes of this game you'll definitely want to "toss" something.
    • 46 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    The long and short of it is that anybody looking for a fun multiplayer experience already has dozens of stronger examples to choose from, and anybody who isn't would be wise not to make an exception for Gravitronix. We cannot recommend this shabby excuse for a game to you in good conscience.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Steer far clear of this one; there's absolutely no reason to drop money on a game that fails to get even the most basic elements right — elements that were perfected three decades ago on far lesser technology.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Renzo Racer could have been worth a look if its handling had been greatly improved, it's collision system wasn't a mess and its characters didn't have you terrified for your life. If those three simple things had been fixed we'd be recommending you fork out the $20 it asks of you. Instead, we recommend you put that money towards fitting a nice strong lock on your bedroom door in case Renzo ever finds out where you live.
    • 23 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Bounty Battle is one of the very worst video games we've ever played. It's got an amazing premise, for sure, and Dark Screen Games' has somehow managed to procure the use of all of these fantastic indie characters, but that's as far as the positivity goes. Everything else about this appalling mess is absolutely broken. Janky menus, awful combat, a shocking framerate, crude animations and poorly explained mechanics leave this one in a hole that's surely impossible to climb out of; a hole that should be boarded up and forgotten about. If you're considering picking this one up on the strength of that enticing indie Smash Bros. premise, trust us, run away.
    • 21 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    If you've got a balloon popping fetish you'll probably love it, but fans of quality puzzle games have a large selection of far better games at the same price point to choose from.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Although Hurry Up! Bird Hunter functions, it's just not any good. For a 2016 Wii U eShop release, there is nothing wrong with a player expecting a better quality experience than what is provided here. The 1984 NES title Duck Hunt may have set an exceptionally high standard for the light gun genre, but after 32 years we expect a little more. Stay away from this and buy Nintendo's classic instead.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    The clunky and generic presentation feels both lazy and uninspired, making this one we'd suggest you pass on.

Top Trailers