Nintendo Life's Scores

  • Games
For 5,854 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 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Lowest review score: 10 153 Hand Video Poker
Score distribution:
5862 game reviews
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Those playing will certainly find some decent moments, especially those of a younger persuasion - that is, if they can maintain their attention through all of those dialogue boxes.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Fairune's a very simple game, but for such a low price it's pretty hard to go wrong. It might not be all that long, but it's enjoyable from start to finish, which is a what we hope for in a download.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    As an isolated product, however, this is a wonderful addition to the eShop; surreal, funny and huge value, it's definitely Guilty of being an excellent download.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 10 Critic Score
    Stay away from this miserable game and spend your hard-earned money and time elsewhere.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you’re searching for a pocket puzzler that will provide ample entertainment at a bargain price, look no further than Hazumi. This spin on the traditional block breaker has been crafted with a lot of care, and the result is an experience that’s as fresh as it is polished.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Repetitive gameplay elements and some occasionally awkward controls bring down the Dark Knight’s latest, and the lack of an explorable open world feels like a step back from its predecessor, but fun writing, excellent co-op, and lots of LEGO charm are more than enough to seal the deal for DC devotees.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Young players might love the idea of stomping baddies as their favorite Big Hero 6 characters, but be warned that there is nothing even slightly super about this one.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Pick it up for a fan this Christmas, they’re bound to enjoy its charms and well-rounded gameplay.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    We suggest blindly picking any other title with the words “Harvest” and/or “Moon” in the title — chances are extremely high you’ll have a better time than you would with this heartland travesty.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    GetClose is a ray of indie sunshine that displays remarkable ingenuity in both its aesthetic appearance and its simple gameplay. Its art style may lose a little bit of its lustre due to the blender-like speeds at which you're forced to battle, but that will soon be forgiven (and forgotten) thanks to an intuitive concept and ingenious no-frills use of the Wii U GamePad and Pro Controller.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The asking price is a bit steep, but if it’ll keep your kids occupied long enough to relieve that cluster headache, it’s worth every penny.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Younger children could easily stomach the experience enough to put countless hours into the game and will enjoy the references to the movies. Anyone else, on the other hand, will struggle to maintain any real determination to play past the first few missions, and will instead find themselves grasping for the "eject" switch fairly early on.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Avoid like a Christmas plague.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It's not an adventure for the faint of heart, but there's no reason that Xeodrifter should be overlooked by platforming fans – especially those missing a little Samus Aran in their lives.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    With over 80 levels to complete and an even tougher challenge unlocked upon completion of the story, this is actually one pretty memorable expedition.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    With Tetris Ultimate skipping Wii U, it may be tempting to get your console fix of the Russian classic through this cheap release, but remain steadfast — surely something will come along that beats Heptrix at its own game. After all, almost anything could.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Castle Conqueror Defender is an unfortunate game that, while not doing anything inherently wrong, doesn’t do anything to make itself stand out within its over-populated genre.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    A match-three puzzler with a pretty mediocre gimmick, Fishdom just barely manages to stay afloat thanks to some solid core mechanics.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It’s niche, but it works for those it's targeting, so only pick this up if you’re buying it for a small child, provided they’re old enough to use a 3DS.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you’re looking for something with a Mega Man feel that’ll quench your retro thirst, Mighty Gunvolt is short, sweet, and gets directly to the point.
    • 47 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    If you're a Sonic fan or you enjoy platformers, you can do an awful lot worse, and this may be one to grab should the opportunity or a bargain price arise.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    A little more effort on the part of the writers would have gone a long way toward making the narrative and characters less insufferable, but as-is most JRPG fans should be well-versed enough in this banality to look past it and enjoy the game for what it is.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a rare case of a game that feels truly designed — from the ground up — with the Wii U in mind.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    However, it's clear that the game - like the film - is aimed at a younger audience, and will certainly appease children with less demanding expectations. The more experienced gamers out there, however, will find limited enjoyment here, and anyone hoping for rip roaring ride should steer clear of this one altogether.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Snake Den borrows a well-worn game concept and makes a minimal effort to change things up.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The menus can be a touch too slow to navigate around, and choosing from only seven languages might feel a bit limited, but we consider this Phrasebook a real winner at what it sets out to do.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    If the Wii U is your only console, then Watch Dogs is certainly worth consideration to fill that sizeable open-world gap in your current gaming library. If you have other options, however, it's far tougher to recommend.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    In an age where the majority of us have regular access to electronic devices that handle these same tasks in a far better way, a 3DS application that's below par is a very tough sell.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you enjoyed any previous Picross outings and are craving more, you can't go wrong by grabbing this as well.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is an expertly crafted, deep fighter that is a pure joy to play no matter your skill level.

Top Trailers