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
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tokyo Dark Remembrance is a really interesting dark indie game that mixes point-and-click with visual novel story telling. Its rather casual approach will easily grab even new players. And its only faults come in the form of it being too short.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hot Wheels Unleashed will take you on a nostalgic ride back to your childhood days. You will get a fun, unforgettable experience, the same one back when we were playing with real Hot Wheels toy cars!
    • 74 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Atomfall blends post-apocalyptic survival with British folklore in a unique narrative-driven open world. The game features exploration, NPC interactions, and challenging inventory mechanics, with impressive graphics and an immersive atmosphere. It’s a promising start for a potential new franchise.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Master of Orion manages to do exactly what we expected from it - to modernize a well-known game we loved, making it even grander, balancing between accessibility and depth with so many possibilities.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    One of the most interesting choose-you-own-adventure style games we've played so far, where each of you choices has actual consequences. You will want to play Stories over and over again, discovering all its secrets and branching paths until you get the full picture. And that is one of its greatest powers.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Even though it brings nothing new when it comes to the traditional JRPG gameplay, The Cruel King and The Great hero blows away anyone in love with cute storytelling and intriguing fairytales. The only cruel thing is how charming the game is. Or gets to be, if you can overlook its slower pace.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    One Piece Odyssey surprisingly captures the charm of the show. The world is great, and the action looks superb. Even though the story is shallow and predictable, with too much backtracking, and the battles are far too easy, this is one of the best One Piece video games ever made. If you like the show, don’t miss out on grabbing this treasure.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Set in a vibrant and colorful world, the game plays on the safe side with its known setting and plenty of familiar action that goes around. Story and characters are weak and microtransactions are present. At its best, New Dawn can be fun and relaxing. At its worst, it can be very repetitive with annoying new main antagonists and a déjà vu feeling.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Extraction has some really great ideas, but it unfortunately just comes off as a very chaotic, unfinished and very grindy Siege spinoff.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Darwin's Paradox! is somewhat creative, yet still fails to realize the game's full potential. Uneven pacing, shallow gameplay and clunky controls manage to hold it back from greatness. A memorable experience - sure. But one that is plagued with inconsistencies. Almost like a true paradox.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 67 Critic Score
    If you’re not looking for something new in the field of 3D platformers and you just want to scratch that itch with a genre we don't see often anymore, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara might be a perfect new release for you. On the other hand, if you want something unique, polished and unforgettable... You might be in the wrong place.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Sons of Valhalla had some great ideas, but it’s ultimately a disappointment. It flourishes its mashup of typical 2D ARPG and Kingdom Two Crowns strategy style, but it banalizes its approach to each stage with the same copy-paste mechanics and lackluster boring combat. It seems as if the developers tried to keep the game monotonous in its entirety.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    LEGO 2K Drive manages to capture the essence of kart games, and most importantly, lets your imagination roam free. You can create and alter vehicles indefinitely, then let them race on numerous tracks and finally, enjoy it all with your friends. Has a really charming story too.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Developer’s inexperience hinders the game enough for it to not be an instant recommendation, especially to newcomers. But, for experienced MMO players, Black Desert Online offers months or even years of content. Considering that's how long it takes to just see everything that's on offer.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    This remaster hits a few major points when it comes to refreshing an old game. But blurry, upscaled backgrounds and a missed opportunity to go from 4:3 to 16:9 aspect ratio, leave much to desire here. Yet, it is still as great game as it ever was. It's just easier to see it, this time around.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Stalker 2 is an immaculate game, riddled with so many technical issues that it sometimes becomes unbearable. Despite the issues, the game below the surface is spectacular, providing you with some of the most immersive survival FPS experiences you can have. Its mystical setting and stellar shooting mechanics are enough to transcend the technical issues and provide you with an unforgettable experience.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Very addictive yet simple game with intense arena shooting mechanics. If you are a fan of Tesla, Lovecraft, or simply want to play one of the best twin stick shooters, we definitely recommend Tesla vs Lovecraft, you won’t regret it.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Dancing on the very edge of a recycle bin, Just Dance revamps what's so great about it every year. But the formula might just be losing its momentum, due to repeating.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Even though the campaign is extremely predictable and the multiplayer is plagued with tones of issues, Call Of Duty: Vanguard is, after all, still a Call of Duty title, and will appeal to all hardcore Call of Duty fans.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Crysis Remastered Trilogy works well on old-gen platforms and almost flawlessly on current-gen. I was not expecting it to run this well and have so many details and improvements on a PS4. Even though the first game of the series is a bit of a bore, the complete package is really good value and will fit your PS5 in this gaming drought we call 2021.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    If you are looking for a game with great atmosphere and unique design, and you don’t mind shorter experience with a few bugs, then Apocalipsis is the right game for you.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Amnesia: The Bunker is a return to the roots of the original series instalment. Even though it sidestepped a bit from the overall mythos, the story was never as important as the sense of constant dread the game provides. As I’m not a horror fan, I had an awful time with this game, which is maybe the best compliment I can give it. Horror fans, rejoice!
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Gears of War: Reloaded is not a remake, but it’s a good re-release for Steam and PS5. I guess they are preparing the public for E-day, which is a prequel to this game. Now, this is not a critique, since I’ve relived my old Xbox 360 days with this release and I could not be happier. The biggest improvement from my point of view was the audio, which was assaulting my ears in a good way throughout the campaign. The multiplayer revival was also fun, and it did bring back the old-school feel of this game. The only things this release is missing are the second and third game.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The formula wears off quickly but the fans of the movie will have their Mad Max fix.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Except for the expected technical advancements, the sequel did not really develop in any other of its segments. One could even say that it got degraded in certain aspects. The main mechanics of the game stagnated and brought nothing truly fresh to the table. When everything is taken into account, this sequel is a game just slightly above an average experience.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Lightmatter is created as a spin-off to Portal games, but with very unique and challenging mechanics of using light sources. Using aesthetically pleasing high contrast graphics, players will learn to navigate through levels and solve puzzles that get more complicated with each passing level.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A definitive revival that finally fixes the original's clunky camera, transforming a gothic cult classic into a fluid modern experience. While the linear level design shows its age, the haunting atmosphere, legendary voice acting, and inclusion of the lost Dark Prophecy demo make this an essential masterpiece for fans of LoK series.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a high-octane love letter to 80s action-horror. By blending the chaotic scale of the Swarm Engine with satisfying arcade gunplay and heavy-duty vehicular combat, Saber Interactive has crafted a co-op experience that prioritizes pure, unadulterated fun. While it leans heavily on genre tropes, its infectious energy, neon-drenched aesthetic, and pulse-pounding synth soundtrack make it an essential play for fans of cooperative shooters.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    We have yet to see how much the choices really matter, but if you focus on storytelling and the acting, the music, and the fresh approach to these types of games – you're in for a treat. Secret society, famous historic figures on one island, a couple of big mysteries and a rather interesting way of decision making are definitely a good foundation for the beginning of this journey.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Even with some slight adjustments to the formula, Hard Reset still holds up quite well. Rebalances and small improvements in the Redux version are life-savers, making it one of the most satisfying shooters of 2016.

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