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: | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest review score: | Lawnmower Game: Racing |
Score distribution:
-
Positive: 2,261 out of 5857
-
Mixed: 2,820 out of 5857
-
Negative: 776 out of 5857
5865
game
reviews
-
- Critic Score
Kunitsu-Gami was a real surprise. A solid blend of strategy and action that incorporates aspects of Shinto and Japanese folklore to create a visually stunning experience. It's a great showcase for Switch 2, even if mouse controls might not quite work for everyone.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 7, 2025
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
SEGA's had more than one stab at creating a comprehensive collection of its best Mega Drive titles and, as a result, SEGA Mega Drive Classics does lose some of its impact due to sheer familiarity; for example, we already have an immaculately-ported version of Sonic on the Switch eShop right now. Even so, it's hard to argue with the 50-odd games that ship with this new compendium, and only a fool would contest the fact that it showcases some of the best games of the 16-bit era.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 28, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It's tricky to review games like this, especially re-releases where many will already know if they want it. The Telltale formula hadn't been scaled back to "interactive cinema" yet, so you're dealing with clunky puzzles and somewhat clunky delivery of clunky comedy, but you might love it. In a sense, each to their own. As a port it's difficult to fault, but as a game it's really no great shakes. But then again, if you dig that lagomorph, it doesn't need to be.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 5, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is another solid entry in the franchise, but it's also a very safe one. The core gameplay is still a lot of fun and that might well be enough for some players. For others, the distinct lack of modes on offer may result in a rather short-lived experience, particularly if you're not looking to dive into the Taiko Music Pass subscription service. Still, with a chunky amount of songs available from the start, Rhythm Festival is a no-brainer for fans of the series; you know what you're getting into, and we think you're going to like it.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Sep 28, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
VVVVVV feels every bit as fresh on the Switch in 2017 as it did on the 3DS in 2010; if you didn't try it back then you should definitely pick it up now. If you did, now may nevertheless be a good time to revisit. Mutliplayer makes the Switch version even more interesting, and this is a game that still serves up an intense and enjoyable challenge. VVVVVV is a fantastic value and a great addition to the Switch library.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 22, 2017
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
For those that haven't experienced the 3DS game, or simply want to dive in again in HD on a big screen, Resident Evil Revelations on Wii U is a worthwhile investment.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 21, 2013
- Read full review
-
- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 5, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection continues Capcom’s unbroken streak of excellent Mega Man remasters, presenting these DS classics in the best possible light and providing a compelling package. Not only do the included games each offer an enjoyable virus-busting RPG adventure, but new quality-of-life features, an addictive online battle mode, and smooth presentation all come together to make for a must-have experience for curious Rockman fans. Despite some design missteps in the earlier games, this collection shows that this trilogy stands strongly alongside other Mega Man sub-series, and I’d suggest you pick it up if you’re at all interested in Mega Man’s forays into the RPG genre.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 25, 2026
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Badland is as dark, brooding, and mysterious as the most sullen teenager, but this seemingly simple game is built on a foundation of ingenious design.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 12, 2015
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Nintendo Switch finally has its first great horror game in Layers Of Fear: Legacy. The creativity in its scares helps to keep you guessing about what’s around every corner, and even then, its unique set-pieces will most certainly surprise you anyway. Slightly lacklustre gameplay aside, the plot’s descent into madness, the title’s dedication to messing with your expectations to set up a scare, and the simple fact that this is a solid Switch port, means that this is horrific experience is one you won’t want to miss out on.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 15, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Minit is a perfect example of a game that introduces a creative new concept, explores it thoroughly, and then ends before things get stale. This may be a short game, but you’re almost assured to have a blast for every bit of it, with funny dialogue, creative puzzle design, and moderate amounts of replayability all being a plus. We’d recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different than the norm, along with anybody who’s looking for a title that takes after the older Zelda games.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 9, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Chess Ultra is a welcome arrival on the Nintendo Switch; it's a visual treat, while also soothing you with pleasant music as you engage in a tough match. There are plenty of options and variety for online and offline matches, with the former being particularly enjoyable if you're able to get into a real-time contest. With Tournament play and some well constructed Challenges on board, along with Tutorials for newcomers, it ticks most boxes. It's another checkmate for the Switch eShop.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 3, 2017
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
EA's NBA Jam revival is not only a ridiculously good time, but it's among the best arcade sports games on any platform this generation.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Oct 21, 2010
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
The Lara Croft Collection sees two excellent Tomb Raider spin-offs hit Nintendo Switch in an excellent package that offers up plenty of puzzles, slick combat, and fun local co-op action. There are a few performance issues in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, and the lack of online co-op for both games is a shame, but overall this is still a great double pack that we recommend picking up. They may initially look like watered-down takes on the main franchise but make no mistake, these are two of Lara's very best outings.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 29, 2023
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Indivisible is an ambitious game, and there are moments where it seems to buckle somewhat under that ambition. The oddly-paced story, watered-down RPG elements, and inconsistent platforming indicate that this one maybe could’ve used more time in the oven. On the other hand, the beautiful visuals, excellent voice acting, great writing, and top-notch combat prove to be strong elements of an argument in its favor. Indivisible may have some rough edges, but these don’t prove to overly hinder the generally enjoyable and charming nature of this adventure. It may not be perfect, but we’d still recommend you give Indivisible a look; this one’s certainly worth your time.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 9, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It's an excellent shake-up to the series, one that will satisfy long-time fans with an open mind while also able to ease newcomers into the series with a bang of bangs. It may not be the Citizen Kane of gaming, but it's still essential playing.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
In many ways, it feels like Shantae and the Seven Sirens is the culmination of everything WayForward has learned since that initial release a little less than two decades back. Shantae and the Seven Sirens pulls some of the best elements from the titles that came before it – such as the dungeons and fast transformations – while adding in several cool new ones too, like the collectable cards and lovable new characters. A short but sweet runtime, well-drawn visuals, a catchy soundtrack and a well-designed map make this one an easy recommendation to anybody looking for the next must-have Metroidvania for their Switch.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 29, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Valfaris is a much better game than its predecessor, introducing new systems and ideas to help keep its action-platformer formula engaging and interesting. The hand-crafted pixel art style and the brutally joyous soundtrack really elevate the whole experience, even if it ends up falling back into some bad habits. An unpredictable difficulty curve mixed with an occasionally messy approach to enemy spawning can make some levels a blood pressure-spiking experience, but when it’s not trying to undo its own achievements, you’re left with a linear side-scrolling shooter that delivers a mosh pit of monsters, mayhem and metal.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Oct 9, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Baddest of the Bands sticks with the same formula seen in the previous two episodes and it's still as entertaining as it ever was. Sadly, this episode doesn’t offer any improvements and if you didn’t like any of the other titles then it's not likely to make the entire 'Strong Bad' concept suddenly appeal to you. On the other hand, if you giggled your way through the other two episodes and had a whale of a time, then you simply cannot go wrong here.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Arriving mere months after its predecessor, we’re happy to report that Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden proves itself to be a satisfying and endearing sequel. It’s mechanically almost an exact copy of the first Voice of Cards, but things like the new setting and Mark Atherlay’s narration help to make it feel like a distinctive entry that stands well on its own. We’d give Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden a high recommendation for anyone looking for another ‘cozy’ game to add to their collection or for players who want to try an engaging, but not overly demanding JRPG. For all its brevity and minimalism, Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is an unforgettable experience.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 18, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Hot off the heels of Layers of Fear: Legacy, Detention is yet another horror classic that deserves a place on your Nintendo Switch. Its story has an important message behind it as it introduces themes that seem almost unfair when viewed through the eyes of a child, but that only helps to escalate the horror. Through a terrifying atmosphere, chilling ghouls, and a soundtrack that will sink its teeth into you, Detention is a suitably horrifying title that needs to be experienced first-hand.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 26, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
With its cute and delightfully grotesque exterior, Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut is an easily accessible and addictive puzzler that throws in '80’s references where it can, by the bucket-load. It’s jam-packed with unlockables, host to some brilliant synth-heavy music and doesn’t shy away from some truly gruesome but equally hilarious murder sequences.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 20, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While its difficulty spikes can be a little tough at times (and the sheer amount of information presented quite overwhelming, especially to genre newcomers), it’s impossible to not appreciate just how much has been crammed into Tangledeep’s roguelike crevices. From taming monsters and turning them into pets to the ever-changing layout of its dungeons, this is a roguelike RPG for players who yearn for a return to SNES games of old. It’s smart, deep and rewarding, but be warned: this is an adventure designed almost exclusively for seasoned players.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 1, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Wreckfest is one of the more impressive Switch ports we've seen, taking a game that already had performance issues on more powerful hardware and delivering a relatively stable version with reasonable loading speeds and all its debris-flinging carnage fully intact. Handheld play is a little less visually acceptable, and the Switch tax rears its ugly head again, but just like the rough-and-ready roadsters in the game, we ultimately had a great time behind the wheel.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 27, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While the package is innovative, polished and fun, often-terrible controls throw a clumsy wrench in the otherwise well-oiled machine and prevent this from taking on "must-have" status.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
An addictive, beautifully presented experience that will bring you hours of joy/frustration, GoNNER seems a perfect match for the Nintendo Switch console – offering a gameplay style suited to both quick bursts of play and longer, dedicated sessions. Possibly too tricky for some players, this game requires a lot of determination, offering little respite - expect to be thrown back to the start countless times as you try to progress. If you’re the type who enjoys a serious challenge we recommend giving this title a go; it is one that will reward those who stick with it the most.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 29, 2017
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Thanks to some welcome changes to its core systems – mainly the improved battle mechanics and the great onus on story content – Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto is the most accomplished and enjoyable instalment in the series yet. While it’s certainly more for the hardcore Naruto crowd, it’s nevertheless a meaty package with an impressively vast roster, a huge amount of unlockable content and the addition of the film-tie in for the Baruto storyline. If you love all things Naruto, this fourth instalment is a must-have addition to your ninja collection.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 17, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It's fast, loud, bright and bold, and a recommended slice of high speed action.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 16, 2010
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Its wide array of modes offer different depths and lengths of play, although overall there's a slight sense that it lacks a truly meaty challenge for expert fighters. Still, it's an excellent first showing for the Dead or Alive series on Nintendo formats, and sufficiently different from Capcom's fighter to warrant purchase.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 18, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn offers a tough and enjoyable return to this NES classic, expertly building upon what came before without erasing what made the original release great to begin with. Though it is a bit on the short side, there’s enough replayability here to stretch out the experience for another few hours. We’d recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a callback to the tough challenge of early Nintendo games—Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn has retro charm in spades and still stands tall even among modern 'neo-retro' platformers like Panzer Paladin and Gravity Circuit.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 29, 2024
- Read full review