PC Gamer's Scores

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For 3,862 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 50% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 45% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.7 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 72
Highest review score: 98 Crysis
Lowest review score: 7 NRA Varmint Hunter
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,078 out of 3862
  2. Mixed: 1,412 out of 3862
  3. Negative: 372 out of 3862
3876 game reviews
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    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers
    A neat story threads missions together and provided enough of a tug to pull me along. [April 2013, p.63]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Feb 28, 2013
    • 51 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Five Nights at Freddy's 4
    The biggest frights of the ever-expanding series without quite the same unease and variety.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Thing
    Too many rough edges ruin an otherwise smooth production: clipping problems, unexplained mission objectives..., save points strategically placed to artificially raise the difficulty of certain missions, and an emphasis on scripting over substance. [Dec 2002, p.102]
    • PC Gamer
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
    The Old Blood is a false start for Wolfenstein's life after The New Order, a creative step backwards that survives primarily because of the strong groundwork laid in the previous game. It will always be fun to fire these guns and MachineGames's presentation is still ahead of the curve, but this isn't the game you should play if you want to explore those qualities—that game was released a year ago.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Hatoful Boyfriend
    A one-of-a-kind glimpse into the world of anthropomorphic-animal Japanese otome, Hatoful Boyfriend is surprisingly entertaining.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Crypt Custodian
    A charming meowtroidvania.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Disney/Pixar Cars
    Unspectacular graphics and sometimes frustrating mini-games take away from Cars' short play, but even with these small problems, it's an enjoyable experience for prepubescent gamers. [Oct. 2006, p.108]
    • PC Gamer
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Zombie Army 4: Dead War
    An excellently-crafted shooter, especially with friends. Just don’t expect much in the way of brains.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    UFO: Extraterrestrials
    Given UFO:ET's $39.99 price tag, it's hard to recommend over the $5 copy of "X-COM: Terror from the Deep" on Steam, unless you're really itching for a minor graphical upgrade. [Aug 2007, p.68]
    • PC Gamer
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Vietcong (2003)
    Satisfies as a polished-looking shooter, but needs a more energetic design. [June 2003, p.70]
    • PC Gamer
    • 57 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Empire Earth II: The Art of Supremacy
    The real problem here is that the game's three new campaigns are so same-y and cookie-cutterish that they end up feeling like the sort of added content that you'd expect to get in a free patch or download. [Mar 2006, p.63]
    • PC Gamer
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition
    Today, Scott Pilgrim vs The World feels somewhat let down by its insistence on grinding, even if teamwork lightens the load, and the action is never too deep. Still, just like Scott himself, the game makes up for this with whimsical creativity, offbeat humour, and absurd storytelling.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
    It may be shorter, but it still packs a punch. Like a Dragon: Gaiden does little new, but its story is fascinating and heartbreaking in equal measure.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Quake 4
    This old-school shooter suffers from a lack of 21st-century game design. [Nov 2005, p.72]
    • PC Gamer
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Shadow of Destiny
    A cleverly written adventure game, and offers a thought-provoking twist on the ol' murder-mystery genre. [Sept 2002, p.76]
    • PC Gamer
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Praetorians
    Ultimately, the developer of "Commandos" has created an amalgam of the two styles, the result of which I will dub a stroke of near-brilliance. But not near enough. [May 2003, p.90]
    • PC Gamer
    • 55 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    X2: Wolverine's Revenge
    Its control niggles make it more suitable for console platforms, and it's nowhere near as enjoyable as last year's "Spider-Man" movie game. [July 2003, p.90]
    • PC Gamer
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate
    There were time when I felt more like I was playing an amateur mod than a professional expansion pack. [Apr 2006, p.51]
    • PC Gamer
    • 84 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Drifter
    The Drifter is a gorgeous and moody point 'n' click adventure with impeccable art, but its pulp leanings undermine its best qualities.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Covert Ops Essentials
    For the money, it's a worthwhile investment, but it could have used more missions. [Jan 2001, p.155]
    • PC Gamer
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Pillars of Eternity: The White March - Part 1
    More of the same, but with an increased focus on combat and dungeons. If that appeals, The White March may be worth a visit.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    kill.switch
    A lot of fun in the short term. It's just a shame Namco didn't put more work into the graphics and more creativity into the mission design to give it some legs. [July 2004, p.73]
    • PC Gamer
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dying Light
    Despite a clunky story and technical performance, there's a lot of fun to be found in dashing and dodging through a zombie-filled city.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Paper Beast
    Paper Beast's origami animals delight, but the resulting game is less than the sum of its parts.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Surgeon Simulator 2: Access All Areas
    Surgeon Simulator 2 is a clever, funny puzzle game that renders its "surgery" mechanics almost ancillary to the final product.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Zombie Driver
    It's short and simple, which is just as well. [Mar 2010, p.83]
    • PC Gamer
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    RAGE 2
    Some of the best first-person shooting on PC, but the rest of the game struggles to keep up with it.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    DiRT 4
    An accessible, customisable off-road racer let down by a half-hearted career mode.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Aion
    Rewards long-term play with interesting PvP combat. [Jan 2010, p.82]
    • PC Gamer
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Costume Quest 2
    Adorable, amusing, colorful and well-animated, but the combat is too simplistic and repetitive to remain interesting throughout the game.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Blasphemous
    Lack of depth and variety, and some platforming missteps, stain an otherwise great, oppressive experience.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Perimeter: Emperor's Testament
    Another beef: no tutorial levels, which would have been a good idea, given the cryptic story. [Holiday 2006, p.78]
    • PC Gamer
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Poker Night at the Inventory (2010)
    Poker Night is weak on the fundamentals of card playing, but it's worthwhile for several hours of comedy dialog. [Feb 2011, p.78]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Jan 7, 2011
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Far Gate
    A good value-priced game saddled with a clumsy interface. [Mar 2002, p.72]
    • PC Gamer
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    StarDrive 2
    Both land and space combat lack punch, but there's a fun if predictable 4X game waiting underneath.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Neighbors from Hell
    Brevity is the main drawback here: you can beat the whole game in just a few hours. But it's funny while it lasts. [Nov 2003, p.126]
    • PC Gamer
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Terraria
    Repetition and trial-and-error learning can be numbing. Only dedicated explorers will unearth its interesting gameplay. [Sept 2011, p.80]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Jul 14, 2011
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Back to the Future: The Game - Episode II: Get Tannen!
    Even with these improvements, it's held back by n incredibly small game world that too frequently revisits its few sets, and makes being stuck in the '20's for a second episode monotonous. [July 2011, p.77]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted May 18, 2011
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy
    A solid game that feels like an add-on. This series needs a 3D overhaul. [Jan 2001, p.157]
    • PC Gamer
    • 62 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    F1 Race Stars
    The whole thing feels a bit bland. [March 2013, p.73]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Feb 1, 2013
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Mortal Kombat 1
    There's the skeleton of a good Mortal Kombat here, but it's lacking in meat. Low on personality and half-baked in its attempt to reboot the story, it feels fated to be remembered as the least interesting of the modern MK games.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition
    Heretic's innovative design deserves applause. [July 2005, p.73]
    • PC Gamer
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Hero Generations
    Some flaws in design, but playing heroes with a limited lifespan provides interesting decisions and choices.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Battle Realms
    Offers some definite innovation in terms of unit creation and resource management, but the wretched unit AI and lackluster missions left me wondering what we were waiting all this time for. [Feb 2002, p.78]
    • PC Gamer
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Inkbound
    A clever yet frustratingly muddled follow-up to Monster Train.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis
    True, few games let you play as a soldier, tank commander, and pilot in the same sitting, but in order to enjoy yourself you must be able to feel comfortable with your controls and navigate the in-game menus intuitively.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - The Final Season
    An otherwise strong season drops the ball at the death. Clementine deserved better.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
    It's a lot of fun. [August 2002, p.72]
    • PC Gamer
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Prey: Mooncrash
    Mooncrash feels like it was never intended for everyone to enjoy—instead it reaches out to a certain type of Prey player that will appreciate its systems in a purer form. For me, the slow progression holds it back a bit, but this is an innovative expansion that still captures much of what I enjoyed about the base game.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix
    While better than its predecessor on almost all counts, SOF II still does little to turn heads in the genre. Instead, it blows them clean off. [August 2002, p.66]
    • PC Gamer
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Medal of Honor: Allied Assault - Breakthrough
    What we do get are new levels in North Africa and Italy, in which we slog through the same old objectives and firefights we've been executing since January '02. [Dec 2003, p.108]
    • PC Gamer
    • 70 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Tokyo 42
    An intricate, beautiful playground for some enjoyably open-ended assassinations.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    The Bridge (2013)
    It's lovely to look at, but the process of puzzle-solving feels pedestrian. [May 2013, p.61]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Apr 24, 2013
    • 75 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Heavy Rain
    Heavy Rain is poorly written and not as smart as it thinks it is, but has a genuine sense of choice and consequence.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Bit.Trip Fate
    FATE has all the touchstones of a BIT.TRIP game--the hunt for flawless execution, the grueling score optimization. It serves up the same boiled-down punishing appeal. [Nov 2013, p.74]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Sep 13, 2013
    • tbd Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Ford Racing 2
    Many of the game's varied track environments are on par with those in A-list arcade racers. [Mar 2004, p.80]
    • PC Gamer
    • 79 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Minit
    The problem with this is that death, rather than some looming, ominous, ever-present threat, becomes little more than a minor inconvenience. And sometimes, when you’re stuck on a puzzle, it can be annoying too. Minit has no real stakes, which cheapens the timer system and makes it feel somewhat arbitrary.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Blitzkrieg: Rolling Thunder
    A rehash with a flawed engine, but its sense of battlefield tactics is appealing. [Feb 2005, p.53]
    • PC Gamer
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for Windows 10
    Gears of War is fun as ever, but the technical flaws and limitations of Ultimate Edition are disappointing.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
    Cold War is an inessential distraction from the best Call of Duty on offer.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    DayZ
    DayZ has the power to create incredible stories, but the twitchy, weightless combat and buggy zombies let it down.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Chaser (2003)
    The one major card it brings to the table is its size - I've never experienced levels as expansive as these. Many of them can take a couple of hours to blast through. [Nov 2003, p.130]
    • PC Gamer
    • 69 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Outcast: A New Beginning
    A pleasing world and satisfying jetpack exploration aside, Cutter Slade's return is rarely out of this world.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
    Sadly, I can't score the game based on what it might become. Right now, Vanguard requires that you turn a blind eye to too many nagging issues to fully enjoy it. [May 2007, p.68]
    • PC Gamer
    • 69 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Fate of the World: Tipping Point
    A wonderfully detailed and terrifying sim. Expanded and slightly improved, but still an opaque and cruel game. [Apr 2012, p.78]
    • 75 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    X3: Albion Prelude
    If interacting with it weren't such a pain, it would be a tremendous achievement. [Apr 2012, p.73]
    • 74 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    The Secret World
    The weak combat and MMO padding hurt the experience, but The Secret World has innovation, atmosphere and charm.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Strangeland
    The narrative is strong and dark, but the game beneath it struggles to keep up.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Eagle Island
    A refreshing hybrid of Metroidvania and roguelite, unfortunately hampered by inconsequential power-ups.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Code Vein II
    Weak characters kill loftier ambitions, but a brisk pace keeps the combat lively.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Perimeter
    Most interesting when you're diddling with the terrain, but it gets old fast when the missiles start flying. Not the breakthrough it could've been, it'll appeal only to experimental-RTS fans. [July 2004, p.62]
    • PC Gamer
    • 71 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Hunting Unlimited 2
    I was pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of the hunt. [Holiday 2003, p.105]
    • PC Gamer
    • 62 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Take On Mars
    A varied, atmospheric space simulator with beautiful Martian sunsets, challenging survival, and frustrating controls.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Star Trek: Armada II
    The crux of the problem is that it’s just plain dull. [Feb 2002, p.74]
    • PC Gamer
    • 76 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Mortal Kombat X
    Fine fighter with an enjoyably daft story, marred by wobbly port to PC.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    SteamWorld Build
    Relaxing and brisk, but lacking in the substance needed to please genre fans and live up to the SteamWorld name.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
    Luckily, there are no real game-ending bugs, so you can satisfy your appetite for destruction if you're willing to pay for an unpolished game. [Dec 2008, p.64]
    • PC Gamer
    • 75 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Reus
    But the world simulation isn't particularly deep either, and juggling resources makes you feel more like a manager than a god. [Oct 2013, p.65]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Aug 16, 2013
    • 80 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    SEASON: A letter to the future
    While its overbearing narrator robs Season of the wonder and meditation it so clearly aspires to, I still managed to find a little of my own. I just wish its letter to the future was one I got to write, rather than one I only got to carry.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Marvel's Avengers
    A well-told campaign and story do their best to mask a rather scrawny service game beneath.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
    The lack of any real challenge makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hard to recommend for all but the very young set. [Mar 2004, p.75]
    • PC Gamer
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Episode 1: Penal Colony
    A so-so start to this new series. The multiple character stuff is interesting, but weak shooting and bland environments let it down.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Child of Light
    A beautiful game to look at, and wonderfully polished, but a thimble-deep RPG.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    The Typing of the Dead
    Genuinely fun – for the first 10 minutes or so, before it gets repetive. [Holiday 2001, p.68]
    • PC Gamer
    • 76 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Pro Evolution Soccer 2016
    PES finally finds the balance between stout sim and accessible arcade, but a poor port cast shadow on an otherwise great game.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    S.W.I.N.E.
    If you can get past the painfully unfunny "humor," S.W.I.N.E. offers some solid fun for action-RTS fans. [Mar 2002, p.68]
    • PC Gamer
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Space Run
    Space Run is a fairly fun twist on tower defense, but it lacks much of the genre’s interesting experimentation.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Ninja Gaiden 4
    Bloody good combat carries Ninja Gaiden 4 through its more granular and extraneous "modern" additions.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Pathfinder: Kingmaker
    A good RPG with some unique ideas, but one that ultimately plays it too safe to really stand out from the crowd.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    The Beginner's Guide
    A peculiar experience that’s personal, sincere, and full of questions to unpack, though it asks them far too bluntly.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Europa Universalis III: Divine Wind
    A handful of changes don't go far enough to differentiate East from West. [April 2011, p.77]
    • PC Gamer
      • Posted Feb 26, 2011
    • 85 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Inscryption
    At its best when it's strangest, Inscryption doesn't know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Mahokenshi
    If you found Slay the Spire's oppressiveness off-putting, Mahokenshi's easier and dressed up in a pretty kimono.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Hi-Fi Rush
    Despite it's killer opening act, Hi-Fi Rush fails to sustain its blend of rhythm and action all the way until the end.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    South Park: Snow Day!
    A charming but slight co-op action game where a basic combat system is elevated by clever bonuses and abilities, and half the pleasure is the world's incidental details.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Tell Me Why
    Despite the craft and heart, Tell Me Why feels like a game at odds with itself.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Exoprimal
    The beginnings of a PvPvE cult hit. Extinct animal slaughter is fundamentally fun, but the foundations are sparse.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Crusader Kings
    A cool new twist on a grand strategy, hampered by technical problems. [July 2004, p.74]
    • PC Gamer
    • 58 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Highland Warriors
    Lacks the polish of a quality title. It's not a bad game - it's just got nothing under it's kilt. [Apr 2003, p.108]
    • PC Gamer
    • 64 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    SimCity
    As a simulator, SimCity advances the achievements of SimCity 4, SimCity 3000, and SimCity 2000, but as a product, it is inferior to all of them. Constant connectivity does have benefits, such as leaderboards, worldwide challenges, and the Global Market, but it’s not even close to being worth the hassle for those features, and hardly touches the essence of what makes SimCity so diabolically addictive and engrossing.
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