PLAY! Zine's Scores

  • Games
For 1,364 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 55% higher than the average critic
  • 8% same as the average critic
  • 37% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.6 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
Highest review score: 100 Returnal
Lowest review score: 10 Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV
Score distribution:
1364 game reviews
    • 91 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Alongside Football Manager, Out of the Park Baseball 16 stands as the best sports sim at the moment.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Perfect remake for a perfect game. Bluepoint outdid themselves with the remake for a game that will always be remembered as one of the greatest pieces of art ever created.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Paradox brings you an upgraded and improved version of one of the most famous strategy games ever made. Crusader Kings III is a game that allows you to alter history in your own way by creating the greatest dynasty the middle-ages have ever seen. While the game lets you do anything you want, it still creates a tough challenge, making it even more enjoyable.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Split Fiction is an explosion of creativity that does not compromise fun for anything. The story amazingly compliments the various gameplay styles and approaches that never go stale. If It Takes Two was revolutionary, Split Fiction is an amazing step up in the genre and a showcase of amazing gameplay ideas. It’s proof that when creativity is allowed to flourish, exceptional games follow.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Persona 5 Royal is the ultimate way to experience the renowned game. It may be worth a lower price upgrade if you already have it on the PlayStation 4, but for newcomers, it is hands down the best edition to get. And you should.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is nothing short of a masterpiece. Words can’t fully capture just how remarkable this game truly is. Play it ASAP and let the experience speak for itself.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Resident Evil 2 is an old school game with modernized gameplay and graphics. Changes work wonders and it really feels like a fresh new game. With its terrific atmosphere and interesting story, RE2 is a big step forward for the franchise. This is a must buy, but not only for the fans. Everyone should play it.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Donkey Kong Bananza delivers a wildly inventive 3D platforming adventure full of chaos, creativity, and charm. Mining mechanics, massive levels, and transformative Bananza powers make exploration exciting, while gorgeous visuals and strong pacing keep the journey engaging. Performance dips, underused abilities, and a forced Donkey–Pauline dynamic hold it back from perfection, but its sense of discovery and explosive fun shine through. An instant classic that proves sometimes too much fun can still be just right.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    Satisfactory is one of the greatest automatization games ever made. It is a remarkably fun and complex experience that gives the sense of a scale that no other game from the genre managed to reproduce. It is brimming with content, looks beautiful and is incredibly addictive.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Even though it suffers from a few graphical downgrades being a Switch port, the Definitive edition truly is definitive. Packed with content, it's what you should get if you are even considering trying the Dragon Quest XI out.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a definitive Animal Crossing experience, no fan should miss. Lots of great additions, make for the most customizable game the series ever had. Build homes and furniture, but also change entire island landscapes, in this everlasting source - of things to do.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Was the wait worth it? Absolutely. This is Hollow Knight — and then some. Playing as Hornet feels like an entirely new experience, offering a level of speed and finesse the Knight never had. Add in the wealth of new skills, tools, and traversal options, and the gameplay reaches incredible new heights. And once again, the world is as breathtakingly beautiful as it is haunting.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is truly a result of great power used with a great responsibility. It is one of the most enjoyable and fun games I have ever played. Even with its predictable story, it is an audio-visual masterpiece that is full of love and passion for what this superhero represents. A truly great experience.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VII Rebirth works really well on PC but heavily relies on DLSS to run smoothly. With no FSR support (yet at least), only DLSS makes the game look nice. The TAA and the TAAU make the game look blurry, especially on the Steam Deck where the Verified badge is underserved. However, if you are lucky to have a DLSS capable PC, the enjoyment this game provides cannot be overstated.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    The Last of Us Part II Remastered is not a remaster at all. At best it has some new features that should have been free. No Return roguelike game mode is lackluster and there is no point in playing it. TLOU combat was complementing the story, and it did so very well – unlike No Return which is basically hide and seek with extra steps. For a layman, the graphic improvements are unnoticeable, especially if you haven’t played it in a while, and there are a bunch of new bugs that were previously absent (falling through the ground, missing limbs on character models, etc). The lost chapters are neat to get some dev insight, but are almost unplayable, as they are mostly alpha. This should have been a free DLC for the fans and not a quick money grab. Naughty Dog, take a note from Santa Monica Studios.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dave the Diver is an absolute must-play if you are in the mood for some sushi and relaxation. It has its tense moments, but with its beautiful surroundings, an absurd amount of activities, and just pure hearted and wholesome nature, you will be sucked into this magical lagoon of heavenly food and fun.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    The Stanley Parable is still an excellent, provocative and unique experience that any fan of narrative adventures and out-of-the-box game design must play. With great new content that adapts to modern gaming culture and industry, it is certainly a cult classic expanded and built upon in the greatest manner possible.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Good story, interesting characters, well written dialogue and new gameplay mechanics all make Hearts of Stone a must buy for Witcher 3 fans.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Subset Studio has once again proved that they are masters of gameplay, UI and style design. In moments when FTL was hectic and chaotic, Into the Breach is precise and tactical while preserving the same feel of tension, danger and adrenaline rush. Simply brilliant.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Sekiro redevelops genre on the well known basis, creating something similar but entirely different. This time, it calls for courage instead of fear. It calls for reconfiguring the muscle memory of the "soulsborne" veterans, and some really good and quality gaming time! A great starting point for newcomers, but a new beginning for old players as well, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game you should not miss - if you want quality yet fear no challenge.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Putting nostalgia aside, this might be the greatest sequel the Tekken franchise has ever received. Quite aggressive and visually attractive, everyone can find something to enjoy in this latest instalment. Add the simplified controls for the newcomers, and it is almost guaranteed everyone will have a good time with this game if they ever decide to give it a go.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    With Geralt's final adventure coming to an end, CD Projekt Red did a masterful job. Action, intrigue, love and Gwent - it's all there and it's better than ever. Truly a finale worthy of the legendary Witcher.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Devil May Cry 5 is an epic return to a true form of this franchise and the one that fans have been waiting for. Varied gameplay from all three characters will keep you on the edge of your seat and your controller in your palms. Linearity and the somewhat underwhelming OST aren't issues for the overall greatness of this game.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Beautiful cold world, magnificent monsters, and spectacular fights. It suffers from A small déjà vu feeling but for hardcore fans it’s a must-play.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    It isn't an easy task to bring a masterful end to a successful trilogy. Yet Dark Souls 3 does it flawlessly. A great "ending" to a great franchise, Dark Souls 3 might feel a bit easier than the veterans are used to, but don’t be fooled – it’s still a Dark Souls game at its core. Hard but fair and a joy to bear.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Forza Horizon 6 is the ultimate Horizon experience. It is a refined formula that reached its peak, putting players into a beautiful open world with an absurd amount of content. While it suffers a bit from lack of innovation, the atmosphere, vibes, and improved handling model it offers make up for it in the best way possible and will provide any racing lover with an experience to behold.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    An overclocked, moustached package of nostalgic goodies and refreshing, innovative greatness. While 3D World aged amazingly, and with a bit of polish shines strong again, Bowser's Fury could be the greatest Super Mario game of all time... When a miserable number of technical imperfections and shorter length of a game are its only flaws, be sure that we are talking about an absolutely mind-blowing title that should be a direction the series takes from now on. An Odyssey we were promised long ago, has finally reached us.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Phantom Liberty is a true redemption arc, more reflected in its free of charge changes depicted in the vanilla game, while still providing a very nice amount of content and espionage action to do with V in the new Dogtown district. Even though it is not as well written as the original, it has some great moments and stellar performances from its high profile cast, while diving more into the atmosphere that is Cyberpunk.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dead Space remake improves the original in terms of visuals and audio vastly, yet gameplay remains mostly the same. It may not have aged that great, but for fans that just want a major graphical overhaul and some new content, this is a dream come true.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you want an ultimate Final Fantasy VII Remake experience, it is not easy to deny this is it. Snappy loading times, many improved textures, 4K resolution and a bonus story, surely may seal the deal. Yet some of the improvements actually make the game lose details, making the fact that it runs on a PlayStation 5 hardware less impressive than it was a year ago on the PS4. Still, this is an extremely easy recommendation to all the JRPG lovers out there.

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