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For 2,297 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 70% higher than the average critic
  • 8% same as the average critic
  • 22% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 5.2 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 80
Highest review score: 100 Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
Lowest review score: 25 Arcania: The Complete Tale
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,756 out of 2297
  2. Mixed: 512 out of 2297
  3. Negative: 29 out of 2297
2311 game reviews
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    • 84 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Dynasty Warriors: Origins
    So long as those flaws don’t seem like deal breakers, Dynasty Warriors Origin is the easiest recommendation I’ve had in the mainline series. It’s got a more substantial format, more potent storytelling, and more engaging combat than the series has seen before. While individual elements of other games may stand out, Origins is the most complete package currently, even though it’s not the full Romance of the Three Kingdoms story. It’s the starting point for a direction we’ll almost certainly be seeing more of, and it’s a direction we’re lucky to have sitting ahead of us. As it stands, Dynasty Warriors Origins is the top of the mountain. It’s not to be missed.
    • 50 Metascore
    • 41 Critic Score
    Xuan Yuan Sword: The Gate of Firmament
    The sad thing is, there are glimmers of something better. The four main characters have the potential to be appealing, with interesting backstories and some good interaction between them. This is aided by some competent performances by their respective voice actors, although undercut by the messy translation. There is a grandeur hiding behind the failure, like finding the gilt edges on some faded theatrical scenery. For all my displeasure, I would like to see this studio approach similar subject matter again, but this time with more respect for the audience. It would take some serious persuasion to bring me back into the fold. I cannot see that happening for a very, very long time.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 89 Critic Score
    Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana
    While the additions to Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana are slight, they make this already excellent action RPG marginally more enticing. For those who have played previous versions, I wouldn’t say the changes make this edition essential beyond the convenience of being available on modern platforms. But for everyone else, Oath in Felghana is a classic that deserves to be played, and it’s now more accessible than ever. So, take a pointer from Adol and go have yourself an adventure!
    • 77 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership has you covered if—and only if—Mario RPG mechanics are your favorite thing and you want the largest mass of them yet. If they aren’t, you’re probably going to struggle to get over the initial five-hour hump before the game truly begins. While I didn’t outright hate most of my time with the game, would I have even seen it through to its conclusion if I weren’t reviewing it, even as a fan of Mario RPGs who wants to see Nintendo make more? Possibly not. Perhaps the best thing to do about Mario & Luigi: Brothership is to hope Nintendo realizes the missteps here and has the resolve to try their hand at the franchise once more instead of abandoning it again.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated
    Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated is a delightful remake of a good game. The original Breath of Death VII is a favorite among indie game fans for a reason, and this version is even better. With lovely graphics, solid gameplay, fantastic music, amusing writing, a manageable length to fit into any busy schedule, and a satisfying RPG experience for half the price of a movie ticket, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated is worth your time.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Beloved Rapture
    Beloved Rapture is a memorable indie gaming experience that admirably captures the feel of classic traditional RPGs throughout its twenty-plus hour playtime. I especially enjoy the story’s focus on Aiden and Johan’s evolving bond and appreciate the underlying message of love and perseverance. The rushed components near the end lessen the impact the narrative might’ve otherwise had, but I still enjoyed playing Beloved Rapture by the time the credits rolled. Those desiring a traditional RPG homage should consider giving Beloved Rapture a try for themselves.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Paper Perjury
    Truthfully, there isn’t anything Paper Perjury does that’s inherently negative. It’s a solid VN experience, albeit with a more straightforward and relaxed gameplay loop than the Ace Attorney games. The script is error-free, and I like how the plot is mainly self-contained but still manages to hint at further stories to tell in Azure City. For those craving another Ace Attorney-like experience, Paper Perjury delivers. Justina’s sleuthing makes for an entertaining adventure in its own right.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 58 Critic Score
    Neon Blood
    It’s disappointing to say that Neon Blood is dripping with unrealized potential. Clearly, the developers put effort into the impressive visuals and the quicktime events, but equal effort was not extended to the writing in a game that so heavily depends on its narrative. It’s not like there’s so much cyberpunk-style media that there isn’t room for more, so it’s too bad this one doesn’t come together. Maybe someday, someone will flesh out Neon Blood to make it as human as it is machine.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Flint: Treasure of Oblivion
    Flint: Treasure of Oblivion has many sound strategic ideas, and its commitment to pirate themes runs deep. The combat revolves around using the terrain and ganging up on folk in all the underhanded manner you’d expect from a rag-tag bunch of criminals. The comic strip storyboards work really well, and Flint and the main characters become real personalities throughout the journey, which is a credit to the story design and artists. It’s a shame the game combat and crew systems are not well-explained and that its difficulty and progression systems can be frustrating as they currently stand. For those who like a challenge and don’t mind taking the time to learn some obtuse systems, hoist the mainsail and raise the Jolly Roger: it’s a pirate’s life for you.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
    Serpentcoil Island, for all its systems and quality-of-life features, can feel stale after a while. At the end of the day, this is a roguelike on the simpler side. If you’re like me and love meaty, dense, and complex systems in your roguelikes, this isn’t it. That said, it’s still fun and engaging when played in spurts. I praise the developers for making an accessible yet strategic roguelike because this subgenre often has a steep learning curve and barrier for entry. While I’ve beaten the game, I can tell that I’m going to do my routine 90% completion on this game, even after investing 20 hours. The post-game is the game.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Fairy Tail 2
    Fairy Tail 2 is a decent action RPG in many respects, though the game’s appeal will probably be limited to shonen anime fans and Fairy Tail fans in particular. It’s a shame that the game’s scope is limited, because the content here shows a lot of heart and appreciation for the source material and its colorful cast. I’d still argue there’s magic burning in Fairy Tail 2, especially for fans of the anime/manga, but one could say it feels more akin to a candle’s flame than a bonfire.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    FANTASIAN Neo Dimension
    Whether or not you choose to invest time in Fantasian: Neo Dimension comes down to your priorities. Are you willing to sit or speed through a bland story to get to the meaty gameplay? Or is a more gripping narrative necessary to get you through a game that clocks in at a few dozen hours? It’s hard for me to say what I personally find more important, but I ultimately came out of Fantasian glad that I’d played it. And if I had to guess, I think that its flaws are forgivable enough to be worth it for most others.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged
    Broken Sword – Shadow of The Templars: Reforged takes a game that has always deserved its status as a treasure and polishes its jeweled facets, making it ready to go on display once more. In a developing medium, we need to take the time to revisit our most important titles, so we can better know how our history informs our future.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 68 Critic Score
    VED
    VED deserves credit for its gorgeous graphics, workable combat, and underlying lore, but there are significant caveats. Although it proposes to take you on a journey between two worlds and at every point in between, the game makes staying on any path difficult, and trying to find the links between them takes more work than it should. You can find a dozen or so hours of playtime with VED, and many more to explore every possible route or action of consequence. (And if you’re on the fence, there is a free prologue, VED: Purification, available on Steam.) Perhaps with a few patches targeting the script and the wonkier translation, this could be something quite pleasant in the genre. But much like Cyrus, you just might find yourself struggling to understand what’s going on in either of its worlds.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Farmagia
    Overall, when Farmagia succeeds, it does so in spite of itself. The story has its moments, though you have to do some digging to discover the best ones. Whatever the deal with combat is, it’s at least functional. It’s disappointing that farming, of all things, is treated as an afterthought. But the concept is a weird one. Marvelous may have been better off leaving sleeping monsters where they lie (in the ground, where they were grown).
    • tbd Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE+
    When all is said and done, I thoroughly enjoyed Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus. Hearing my colleague Peter talk about Rain Code last year as he worked on his review made me want to play it, and I’m glad I was finally able to. Except for the mediocre music and some gimmicky gameplay elements, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus lived up to my internal hype and is worth playing. I hope to see more Master Detective Archives games in the future.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 39 Critic Score
    The World of Kung Fu: Dragon and Eagle
    World of Kungfu is the kind of bad game that wastes your time and makes even its best qualities hurt you in the end. As it stands, the only audience I can imagine for it consists of those actively seeking out janky messes. I thought I could occasionally find enjoyment in overcoming the broken parts, but doesn’t make the game good. Plenty of other great RPGs, new and old, will give you so much more back than this one. This is one fight that just isn’t worth it.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
    In a word, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is stunning. If you missed this title because you didn’t have a PlayStation 4, then this is a worthwhile purchase. Don’t expect this to be Forbidden West-caliber, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’ve already played Zero Dawn, this is much harder to recommend unless you’re a super fan. The remaster undoubtedly looks better, but I’m not sure this warrants shelling out the cash or investing precious time, unless you’ve been meaning to give this game another go.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
    When I finally beat the superboss, when I finally finished doing everything I wanted to in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, I hesitated to turn it off. I walked around. I grinded. I tried to picture my grandparents playing through it, tried to replicate how they’d play it. I couldn’t, of course. They are gone. But what a treasure it is to remember them with this lovingly crafted, faithful, and pure remake of a game in a series we cherish so much. Square Enix got it right, and I’m excited for the families who get to share this experience for the first time.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Horizon Adventures
    All in all, LEGO Horizon Adventures is a cute and fun experience that I think both LEGO and Horizon fans will enjoy. The story is an amusing adaptation of Zero Dawn’s plot, the characters are often hilarious, the gameplay is entertaining — if a little repetitive — and it definitely nails the feeling of playing in a large Horizon-themed LEGO set. It is fairly short, and there aren’t a ton of things to do once you finish the main content, so your mileage may vary regarding how much you feel it’s worth the $60 price tag. But if you’re really into LEGO or Horizon, you will probably find plenty to like about this unexpected but welcome spin-off.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 67 Critic Score
    Crown Wars: The Black Prince
    Aside from the bears, there’s little to recommend here on the game’s own merits. Great strategy RPGs aren’t hard to come by these days, but it’s generally a time-consuming subgenre, and Crown Wars comes across worse in their shadow. Bearing that in mind, even if you’ve exhausted all other options, you may be better off firing up another run of XCOM, Jagged Alliance, or Fire Emblem.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 63 Critic Score
    Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire
    When all is said and done, the negative headwinds are too strong for Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire to navigate successfully. The earnest story and varied, if simple, setting assets can’t make up for the obtuse systems and vapid, repetitive combat. The raft of graphical glitches and plotting bugs only adds to the terminal altitude loss. For the very committed, there may be enough content and exploration for a week or so. But with many better retro RPGs available, from indie to triple-A, the turbulence on deck is too great to warrant a recommendation to hire Glenn and his crew this time.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 91 Critic Score
    Slay The Princess - The Pristine Cut
    Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut is a work of video game art that should not be missed by anyone fond of this form of the genre. It takes you down the stairs, traps you in the basement, and forces you to confront yourself in a dark mirror that wears a tiara. Pick up the blade. You’re going to need it to face what’s down there.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Rise of the Golden Idol
    Fans of The Case of the Golden Idol will find their itch for more demented mad libs scratched but not sated by The Rise of the Golden Idol. Despite my issues with the game, existing devotees of the Golden Idol will find something to like here. Everyone else should start with the first game and its two expansions, which are better and provide vital context for fully enjoying the sequel.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Death of the Reprobate
    While Death of the Reprobate is not a perfect experience, this brief journey doesn’t overstay its welcome. I’m a Joe Richardson fan, and I can’t wait to see what he does next, even if it’s nothing like his previous works. Clearly, he’s a talented individual who deserves success. If unique experiences are your wheelhouse and you don’t mind some potty humor to go with your high-brow language, then please support this developer.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    Metal Slug Tactics
    Metal Slug Tactics tends to play it safe while simultaneously encouraging players to not play it safe. With few bells and whistles, everything just feels slightly different, rather than a mind-blowing change in gameplay. Even in an old-school SRPG like Shining Force, characters feel starkly different from each other—except the centaurs—though in this title, everything just kinda runs together. It feels like Metal Slug because it looks like Metal Slug, and the sound effects help in that respect, but in no way does this game evoke frenetic joy like its forebears.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Dragon Age: The Veilguard
    Dragon Age: The Veilguard has cemented itself as one of my favorite DA games and is easily the best BioWare outing we’ve had in a while. It has heart and plenty of emotion alongside a found family cast with some of the best personal character questlines I’ve experienced in a game. It’s evident that there’s a deep respect for the DA lore and titles that came before, and I love how The Veilguard takes vital points of so many BioWare games and builds upon them. Rook’s journey contains several devastating choices, but opting to give Dragon Age: The Veilguard a chance should be a surprisingly easy choice for RPG fans.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 67 Critic Score
    Life is Strange: Double Exposure
    Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a game that fails to capitalize on its premise. Although the soundtrack and occasional moments of intrigue are commendable, they are overshadowed by poor character development, confusing plot choices, and a lack of polish. The technical issues, combined with the short length and unresolved storylines, make this entry feel rushed and incomplete. Longtime fans of the series might find themselves disheartened, as they may genuinely dislike the narrative choices that diverge from what they loved about the original. While some may find enjoyment in revisiting the world of Life is Strange, for many, this game could feel like a disappointing misstep.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky
    It pains me to say this, but SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky is a subpar Memories: Off game and a mediocre-at-best visual novel. Visual novels live and die by their storylines and characters, which fall flat here. Lovely graphics and Takeshi Abo’s stellar music are not enough to save SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky from being one of 2024’s biggest disappointments.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
    In my eyes, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is the ideal RPG remake. The game makes great use of the expanded scope and presentation afforded by more powerful hardware. However, the core tenets of the game and systems design remain largely unaltered, preserving the unique experience of guiding Gerard and his descendants across centuries of conflict against an imposing, interdimensional force. Square Enix has successfully delivered the definitive way to experience one of the best games the SaGa franchise has to offer, and in the process provided the best introduction for new players curious about the 35-year-old franchise. I know there are so many other RPGs releasing this October competing for player’s time, but Revenge of the Seven is a triumph, and I urge any fan of RPGs to give it a shot.
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