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 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Lowest review score: 10 Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV
Score distribution:
1364 game reviews
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cris Tales brings all the classic JRPG greatness and modernizes it in its own fashion. While the repetitive battles and numerous bad twists make the game lose the momentum, if you know how to cherish all that is great about it, you will have a great time.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you haven’t played a good roguelite title in a while, here’s a chance for something new and original. While not perfecting the genre in any sense, Dreamscaper manages to be original and fun, yet a slightly repetitive game. An atmospheric roguelite experience that won’t blow your mind but may surely make your day.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you are into combining genres that include point and click adventures and card based RPG titles, yet are undeniably in love with dark and strange Slavic folklore, look no further. Black Book is a game you should not miss for the world. In any other scenario, you should at least give it a chance. It surely is not your everyday game.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Son of a Witch looks like a cute little game, but it quickly starts to show its true, challenging form. Great game with deep gameplay mechanics, optional multiplayer, and a lot of replay value.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Skyward Sword was and still remains to be one of the greatest Zelda titles of all time. Fans of the original formula might not agree, but innovative, intuitive, and different style of gameplay, always boldly stood their ground in face of the critique that yearns for the familiar experience. HD remaster is undoubtedly well earned, and while it hits many points on improving the sluggish aspects of the original, the very core remains intact. Yet even after it all, the biggest regret might be a missed opportunity to improve on the graphics that needed more than a resolution boost. But either way, it is an experience that is very easy to recommend, yet even easier to fall in love with. You may even find it to be just perfect - just for you.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you think that old games had the perfect gameplay and just needed some better graphics, this game is absolutely for you. If you believe graphics are equally important to gameplay - you may wait for a sale and just play the original while you wait for it.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Spellcaster University is a fun little experience where you can finally channel your inner Dumbledore. It has some design issues with its “too much rng, too little planning” gameplay loop, but it is an exceptionally fun game that makes it that much more worthwhile if you are an HP fan or just love some good fantasy managerial sim.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Solasta: Crown of the Magister is one of the best tabletop video game replications that successfully translates many of the famous tabletop mechanics into a video game. It has some problems, but despite its lower budget, lacklustre story and weirdish character models, it is worth your money and time, especially if you are an RPG or tabletop fan.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    SGW: Contracts 2 is another relatively mediocre title in an overly long franchise of sniper sim games. It has some creative level design and great sniping moments when assassinating long-range targets, but it still remains an overly generic FPS game with lacklustre mission design and terrible AI.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Red Solstice 2: Survivors is a game that wants to be an RTS, Twin Stick shooter and XCOM but does all three poorly. The game was clearly designed for 8 player co-op, and it plays best in that way, but the solo, single-player campaign is not worth it. The AI is troubling sometimes and the little control you have over your marines makes this a dull experience.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Necromunda: Hired Gun is a fantastic FPS set in the 40k universe. Doom Eternal influence is prominent throughout the game like in the gunplay, verticality, and mobility, but with a much lower budget – and that shows. However, Hired gun is a competent FPS that delivers on fast-paced shooting but is marred with technical problems.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you are looking for an intriguing story, told through the style of a bizarre colouring book, you are in for a treat. It's more an experience than an actual game, but there is no doubt Minute of Islands is not your everyday adventure.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Full of Nintendo charm but lacking in content, this is an easy to play but hard to recommend the title. Unless you have at least two more friends to play and share the price of the game with.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Guilty Gear -Strive- is an astonishing example of masterful visual fidelity, quality fighting gameplay and weird multiplayer design decisions. It comes with a not that great array of characters and some seriously slow server connection, but being the complete visual masterpiece and possessing one of the best gameplay the series has to offer, it is hard not to recommend it to any fighter or anime fan.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Grindstone is an awesome arcade puzzler in match-3 style. Its cartoonish visuals with refreshing gameplay are more than enough to make it a must play for every fan of arcade games.
    • 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.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dying Light Platinum Edition is the top shelf bundle for this game. It includes all DLCs whether they are cosmetic, or expansion based, so you can kill and run away from zombies as a stylish Viking. However, the non-discounted price is a bit steep. Dying Light has proven that it is a competent zombie survival FPS game, and we are extremely excited for the sequel.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    In order to stay entertaining, Disgaea 6 had to drop some of its prior mechanics and go for easier grind but more over the top moments. While this can disappoint some of the fans of the long-running series, it is at the same time essential as it makes this title as great as any other game in the franchise. An absolute must-have for anyone who enjoys a funny story, crazy mechanics and absolute madness when it comes to levelling up your characters.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Chivalry 2 is pure fun with limbs and heads flying on medieval battlefields. It is refreshing, easy to learn but hard to master, combat makes it one of the best multiplayer experiences of 2021.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    In an audio and visual sense, this DX remaster is absolutely amazing. But when it comes to gameplay and core design, it is exactly the same as the original. In other words, Alex Kidd has aged poorly and when it comes to reintroducing it to the modern age, it requires much more than a facelift. Fans of the original may enjoy it being true to the first game, but in truth, it simply should have been improved much more when it comes to its ancient mechanics and gameplay design.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It may not be flawless, but it is still amazing just how good this trilogy stands despite the test of time. A compilation of Sigma and Razor's Edge games, you could call this a definitive collection of sorts when it comes to the 3D Ninja Gaiden titles. And even though the Switch version sacrifices resolution in order to achieve a perfect frame rate, it is such a joy to be able to take these games on the go.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Odyssey is a terrible, unoptimized and buggy experience that has immense potential to become something great in the far future. Now, it is just a wreck with its basic combat, unplayable multiplayer and disappointing interface and mission design.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wreckfest remains one of the best demolition racing games of the newer generation, made with love, grit and grind. It has a bit of a bland map design and a few tweaks here and there could make the career mode much more interesting, but at the same the time it is one of the most fun racing experiences, especially in multiplayer and with an excellent PS5 upgrade.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Invisible Hand offers insight into the world of stock trading, with some interesting turns. You can gain an unfair advantage by browsing the dark web and manipulating it, but freedom of choice exists as an idea, rather than a feature.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    The Definitive Edition is an attempt at a quick cash grab while there is still some love for the franchise. The limiting two-player couch co-op, the lower resolution visuals and no new features are not something to fault the Switch console for, but at least you get all of the DLCs.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    RE: Village is a mixture of almost all previous Resident Evil elements, making the most of both survival horror and puzzle intensity, but with the primary stage being left for the more action-like nature of Resident Evil 4. It has some great story moments, sprinkled with a few lacklustre characters that are still overshadowed by its most notable characteristic – most detailed environment to date.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Reknum Cheri Dreamland is an action platformer with a couple of quality elements that are simply sedated by the rest of the game. Nothing motivates the player in this poor man’s Cuphead wannabe title, so all that is good about it simply serves as a reason to torture yourself some more by playing it. Not all is bad, but seeking quality is hardly worth all the trouble.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    We would not usually note this, but to pay the asking price for this game and not be absolutely in love with the Pokémon franchise is close to insane. There is plenty to love here if you are a fan of slow-paced, relaxing and pretty puzzle games, but if only that is the case - do wait for a discount. In any other case, better invest that money in a real camera.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Miitopia is a real utopia for all the Mii lovers out there. If you love to be in control though, there’s not much to love or control here. The game is a random set of events between characters you choose and create yourself. If you lack the number of characters you’d love to see interact, this is probably not a game for you. Otherwise, no matter how repetitive, there is a high chance you will fall for its undeniable charm.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The most complete edition to a famous franchise to this date, with improvements on almost all levels is the showmanship of how you remaster a video game. Exceptional work and a stellar upgrade for a masterpiece of a trilogy that is Mass Effect.

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