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
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you missed the crypto craze in its starting days, Crypto Miner Tycoon Simulator lets you relive it in a realistic way. You need to manage your GPU farm and maximize profits, but don't be tempted to sell everything right away. Prices are historically based and you can influence them in later stages.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    If you are looking for a short yet fun 3D platform game for your PSVR, its humble library just got a bit bigger with one such title. Lucky’s Tale can be easy and it can be hard, but for the entire length of its short campaign, it never fails to stay charming and fun.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Recursive Ruin is an impressive game with an awesome combination of visuals and puzzle mechanics. It can be divided into two parts - puzzle and story. Story is worth following, but the puzzles give an immense sense of satisfaction when solved.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It seems like this year’s edition of eFootball needed to take more risks. There is too much invested in licenses and petty makeup and next to nothing to improve the core and the heart of this beloved game. It may be free to play, but it is also free to pass. EFootball fans deserve more than this.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    This is an amazing nostalgic collection for any TMNT fan, but also for anyone who wants to experience a bit of gaming ancient history, especially the difficulty.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If I had to put it simply, Valkyrie Elysium is a great classic action RPG. With great art direction, inspiring music and very fluid and agile action, it’s a spicy cocktail for players that enjoy some fast-paced gameplay.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    A great and refreshing spin on the FPS genre. Out of Bounds is a puzzle shooter in which you are tasked with creating a game and fixing bugs in a very novel way. The game is pretty short but has excellent replayability potential, which finds a balance.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Santa's Gifts is a Christmas-themed, physics-based puzzle game. With only 15 levels to play, the experience is concise but is still a fun way to spend a few snowy, tea-sipping evenings, especially if you’re in a festive mood.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    BROK the InvestiGator is a definite surprise in the point-and-click genre. On top of its surprisingly good story, world design and accessibility options, the addition of beat ‘em up mechanics really takes the cake in the best way possible. A great spin on the classic point-and-click gameplay.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Mato Anomalies is an interesting mix of multiple different JRPG styles and their respective gameplay mechanics, as well as some visual novel elements. Sadly, it falls down to the PS2 era with its lacklustre voice acting and visuals but is still an ambitious and very enjoyable game.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Otherwar is a hidden gem for any fan of Tower Defense or Bullet Hell games. Its unique blend of genres makes it stand out from other games on the market. Its retro graphics are well designed, the gameplay is smooth, and the soundtrack is great. On top of that, it has a lot of replayability, which is always a plus.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Goblin and Coins II is a great nod to old-school platformers. It adds some fresh elements to the well-established formula, giving the already challenging (and sometimes frustrating) gameplay more depth and making it more enjoyable. If you're a fan of games such as Disney's Aladdin or The Lion King, try this one.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ghostlore is an enjoyable and engaging ARPG that brings a fresh spin on the genre. While it may appear relatively straightforward initially, it offers a refreshing experience by drawing inspiration from Asian mythology. Its skill and glyph systems add a touch of novelty, enabling players to experiment with various builds and making the game’s replay value sky high.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Lifespace Traveler is a game that is hard to praise but easy to recommend. While its most impressive trait is the fact that it was made by a single person, this also stands as its biggest weakness. The lack of polish and size may drive you away from playing it, but you should give it a chance nonetheless. It is a challenging game made with love, which is so very obvious every step of the way.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten is the first fully-fledged Utawarerumono JRPG title. It follows the standard ‘’JRPG recipe’’ but still has a decent cast of lovable characters, and you can truly feel the developers' passion. If you are a fan of the original series, don’t miss out on this one.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express is a great detective game, and the best part is that you don’t have to read the source material to enjoy it. It has some issues though - the choices in the game don’t really matter in the long run, and the setting is very, very bizarre - if you’re a long time Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot fan, you will probably find it to be pretty jarring.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 64 Critic Score
    The most attractive feature of eFootball 2024 is its free price tag. The rest of it is a package that seems to get little to no improvements with each new iteration. It’s a solid football simulation, but I wish Konami would put some more effort into the development.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged is a great continuation of the iconic series that adds a story mode, better way to get cars, and more tweaks and fixes. Despite that, it didn’t really bring anything new or revolutionary to the arcade racing genre, making it somewhat underwhelming. The nostalgia factor is still there though.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Super Bomberman R 2 is a decent game that might appeal to some fans or casual players, but it brings almost nothing new to the table. Overall i would say R 2 is a massive downgrade, especially considering the previous game was free to play.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Once again, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio gives us a Gaiden game that’s almost as good as the main series titles. The gameplay is spiced up with a few fun gadgets that turn Kazuma Kiryu into a proper secret agent of the 007 caliber. Even though it’s not a main title, The Man Who Erased His Name still has one of the smallest maps in the series and the game itself is a little too short, but is insanely fun nonetheless.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Last Recollection refines the well established formula with a more fluid, flashy and fun combat system and finally gives us a conclusion to a long running arc, but the lack of visual improvements is so jarring it just can’t be overlooked.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    How many spin-offs are we going to get before Persona 6? Jokes aside, Persona 5 Tactica is a great addition to the series, mostly focusing on tactical gameplay, as its name suggests. The only downside is the lack of some core Persona mechanics and features that have been a staple for the series for years.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Highwater takes us on a new adventure across a flooded post-apocalyptic Earth, presented in a distinctive style Demagog Studio is known for. With its unique approach to turn-based combat, road trip-esque vibe, amazing visuals, soundtrack and immersive atmosphere, Highwater is living proof that video games are an art form.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Let Bions be Bygones is one of the most immersive and fun cyberpunk adventures I have ever played. It absolutely flourishes with its vibrant and gorgeously crafted dystopian world. It gives so much choice to the player, and even with some small pacing issues and weird bugs here and there, it is a must-play for all adventure enthusiasts who love a good story, dialogue, and choice-driven experiences.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Sand Land is by far the best open world game in a long time. Not only because it’s the perfect open world game in and of itself, but because it's genuinely fun and filled with great characters and stories. A great homage to the late Akira Toriyama.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Super Dungeon Muncher is a cute little roguelike puzzler that will test your reflexes (and your frustrations) in a really creative way. Even though it is a bit lacking in additional modes, it will provide you with a lot of fun.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    X4: Timelines is probably the weakest expansion of X4 to date. While offering an excellent experience for new players trying to learn the ropes of the complex space sim, providing separate campaigns with interesting isolated missions, it doesn’t have much content to justify its price for returning players and veterans alike.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Factorio: Space Age might be an expansion for one of the best games of all time, but it looks more like a fully fledged sequel worth hundreds of hours of your time. It captivates you, making you explore multiple planets, increasing the complexity and creativity possibilities almost tenfold, while maintaining the high level of quality and satisfaction with each factory built. A masterpiece.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Hironobu Sakaguchi is back with a game that feels as close to Final Fantasy as it gets. While it introduces fresh gameplay mechanics that set it apart from other JRPGs, be aware that the combat might prove challenging even for the most seasoned veterans of the genre.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    As a co-op game, Ravenswatch offers a fantastic opportunity for you and your friends to spend hours grinding and fighting formidable bosses. As a solo experience, however, it can feel like an almost insurmountable challenge or devolve into a monotonous slog.

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