Shacknews' Scores
- Games
For 1,735 reviews, this publication has graded:
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46% higher than the average critic
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5% same as the average critic
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49% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0 points lower than other critics.
(0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
| Highest review score: | Resident Evil Requiem | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest review score: | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 |
Score distribution:
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Positive: 995 out of 1735
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Mixed: 688 out of 1735
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Negative: 52 out of 1735
1762
game
reviews
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- Critic Score
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is more somber than wistful, more grounded than nostalgic, and more realistic than fanciful. The 2003 setting feels circumstantial rather than deliberate as a storytelling device, and the autobiographical piece of it bleeds from every word of text. It’s not entirely a downer and has plenty of humor, personality, and hopefulness. But it’s not trying to make you feel good about looking back at the past and being a fun game. This is a story about what it’s like to be on your own for the first time, and everything that comes with that. The unforeseen complications, the relationships, the learning. You’ll be reminded of the things you regret in your own life just as much, if not more than, the things you look back on fondly. You might laugh, you might cringe a little, both on behalf of Mara and yourself. Above all, it’s a good reminder that you’ve always struggled, and you’re still here to reflect. And that’s pretty cool.- Shacknews
- Posted May 14, 2026
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Forza Horizon 6 isn’t trying to revolutionize the series. The game modes, customization, and even UI have a close resemblance to the franchise’s recent entries. Instead, Playground Games finds freshness in its Japanese setting, which paves the way for stunning new regions, dope cars, and an overall slickness to everything you do.- Shacknews
- Posted May 14, 2026
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When I finished Directive 8020, I immediately wanted to replay it. I was content with the ending I got, but was fascinated by all of the other possible endings and diverging paths that led to them. There are so many permutations of the storyline and secrets to uncover; I know for sure that I’ve got a couple more playthroughs in my future. It’s the mark of a great choice-based game.- Shacknews
- Posted May 11, 2026
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Memories of Celceta isn’t my favorite Ys game, but if you have a Switch 2, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is probably the best way to play it. It’s a Vita game very much of its time, with some growing pains as a Ys entry, but the extra juice you get from Nintendo’s new platform helps realize the original vision as a 3D Ys delivering a higher fidelity experience on a handheld. Playing on a TV or monitor just isn’t the same, as these handheld-oriented RPGs don’t hit as well when you’re locked in at your desk or on your couch. If you’re still using a Switch 1 this is harder to recommend, as you’ll still encounter performance snags that don’t exist on other versions. Regardless, if you’re looking to check out the whole series, it’s now easier than ever to play Ys 4. Hopefully we can say the same for Ys 5 sooner rather than later.- Shacknews
- Posted May 7, 2026
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When I rolled credits on Mixtape, I was sad that it was over so soon. But then, I was immediately excited at the prospect of multiple future playthroughs where I could toy with all of the quirky minigames and their outcomes en route to seeing everything the game had to offer. It’s how I knew that I truly love a video game. Like with many of the coming-of-age films it takes inspiration from and the timeless artists featured on its soundtrack, I know I won’t be able to resist the urge to come back to Mixtape again and again.- Shacknews
- Posted May 7, 2026
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Kiln is the latest example of one of gaming’s most creative studios executing well on a fresh idea. There may be a couple of aspects that could’ve used more time in the oven, but Double Fine’s Kiln is a cool and quirky addition to Xbox’s 2026 lineup.- Shacknews
- Posted May 1, 2026
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Invincible VS is a satisfying fighter when you learn its tricks, and while a few caveats keep it from being a perfect start for Quarter Up, I’m excited to see how it grows over time.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 30, 2026
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Coming into 2026, I knew that few games were a surer bet than Saros. Housemarque’s 2021 breakout is still one of the PS5’s best games, and Saros will now stand alongside it. I could see some players lamenting just how similar it feels to Returnal, but Saros was exactly what I needed from a spiritual successor.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 24, 2026
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Vampire Crawlers is fun. Like, capital-F Fun. I’ve spent many hours with it and will spend more, especially if there’s as much long-term support as we saw with Survivors. But while Survivors felt like a totally fresh kind of experience in a lot of ways, Crawlers steps into territory that has a long and dense history, which means it’s fitting into a framework with plenty of comparison points available. And where Crawlers is weak, it’s weak in the very spot that defines the new space it’s walked into. That’s a bummer. Where it hits is all in how its trademark style and systems translate, the snappy card combat, and of course the banging soundtrack I’m only just mentioning because I’m not great at talking about music. So a thumbs up from me, but one that comes with an acute sadness at how much more Vampire Crawlers could have been if it had true blobber bona fides.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 20, 2026
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Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream gave me a unique chance to create an ecosystem that would make a 2000s era TV producer weep tears of joy. I can’t say I ever expected a game to give me this kind of experience, but I guess that’s just what it’s like when you’re Living the Dream.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 15, 2026
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Set in a gritty noire story told through rubberhose animated-characters, Mouse: P.I. takes players into the seedy underbelly of Mouseberg, and while I often felt like more of a “Mouse Mercenary” than a P.I., the look and feel of the game had me hooked throughout the twisting and turning adventure.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 14, 2026
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Pragmata dug its hooks into me in ways I didn’t expect. While I knew from the demo that the gameplay would be something special, it’s the story and characters that I can’t stop thinking about. This could be the birth of a new tentpole IP for Capcom, but even if it isn’t, Pragmata won’t be leaving my mind anytime soon.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 13, 2026
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In an increasingly digital world, I find myself longing for the days of Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. Unfortunately, I don’t think those days will ever come back, but Retro Rewind is a fulfilling trip down memory lane.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 9, 2026
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I once again have to point to Minishoot’ Adventures succeeding where it matters most: execution. Genre mashups are plentiful these days, and sometimes the math is off, or there’s something incongruous the developers struggle to overcome. I think of games like TMNT: Tactical Takedown or Pac-Man World 2’s bizarre Sonic DLC as recent examples of mashups going hard in the paint and nailing premises that sound odd on paper. Minishoot’ Adventures definitely stands among them as a new stellar example of presenting a strange-sounding concept and nailing it at a base level.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 3, 2026
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The beauty of Marathon is that it’s not a game for everyone. It’s a game for a specific niche. Bungie knows this and Marathon excels because of it. Bungie has been intentional, hyper-focused, and utterly conscious of what it has delivered with Marathon. It is a brutal and challenging game with an art style that demands attention. The shooting feels superb, the factions are dripping with personality and meaningful upgrades, and the systems and gameplay converge into an experience that sinks its teeth into your subconscious. I’m thinking about Marathon every waking moment. Bungie has once again shown why it’s the king in the shooter space.- Shacknews
- Posted Apr 2, 2026
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I had much more fun with Last Man Sitting than I ever expected I would. Part of it comes from gameplay systems I’m familiar with. The roguelite elements, character and weapon selection, perks, and other unlockables in and out of a match make Last Man Sitting go from decent game to excellent game. When you hit that perfect assembly of weapons, perks, and upgrades that carry you to a victory, it feels excellent. This might look like a silly game about white collar workers fighting a robot uprising from the comforts of their office chairs, but once you add some fire, poison, lightning, and a large caliber rifle to the mix, Last Man Sitting blooms.- Shacknews
- Posted Mar 31, 2026
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Xenonauts 2 is quite impressive in its faithfulness to the oldest form of X-Com. I appreciate how far it goes to capture those old-school vibes, and I can very easily see what Goldhawk Interactive improved upon from the first game. This is a shamelessly difficult alien invasion tactical strategy, where every success or failure rely on careful, timely decisions and a bit of luck. I wish the aircraft game was a better piece of the overall puzzle, but it’s hard to be too sore about that when I’m just outright relieved to get all of my squaddies home in one piece and ready to prep for the next contact.- Shacknews
- Posted Mar 30, 2026
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As a new entry in an old-school racing series, Screamer hardly bears resemblance to its origins. But at the same time, it shoots for a similar target. This is an over the top spectacle of a racer that needles in an interest in sim-adjacent car physics and handling. The target just looks a lot different these days, as the definition of “over the top” is subject to inflation here in the video game world. Three decades later, a realistic setting with cool, intense animations has translated to realistic physics in an epic-length anime story with similar production values and style to something like Dispatch. It’s absurd, but that absurdity is executed with such confidence that it sells the whole package, warts and all. Prospective fans who are more on the casual side will struggle, but in this case that struggle has an excellent reward system in the form of a storytelling strength you almost never see in this genre.- Shacknews
- Posted Mar 22, 2026
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I dig how Monster Hunter Stories’ monster collecting spinoff has evolved over the years. Twisted Reflection has enough juice to be a good RPG for most players between its charming story, interesting characters, and engaging combat. And then when you get to the monster management, it opens up like never before with a wide variety of improvements, discoveries, and stat swapping to make your party as cracked as you want them to be. This game’s hairiest encounters put your party management and pattern recognition to the test in big ways. I wish more of the weapon classes had made it over, and that monster collection didn’t feel so tedious once you’re deep in it, but Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a fine benchmark for how far these spinoffs have come, and whether you’re returning from previous games or cracking a Stories game for the first time, there’s a lot to love here for stat-loving RPG fans.- Shacknews
- Posted Mar 9, 2026
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I enjoyed WWE 2K24 and WWE 2K25, especially the Bloodline-driven Showcase mode in last year’s entry. But WWE 2K26 stands tall over them. Even though some elements are recycled from last year’s (and the year before that, and the year before that), 2K26’s fun Showcase mode, compelling MyRise story, and strong presentation and gameplay systems make this my new favorite installment.- Shacknews
- Posted Mar 5, 2026
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I’m sad CiNG isn’t around anymore, but I’m glad Arc System Works makes more than just fighting games, and is willing to take risks and greenlight projects like this. The spirit of visual novels that find beauty in the mundane CiNG captured in titles like Hotel Dusk is very much alive in Dear Me, I Was… and I’m grateful for that. In many ways, this experience has made me feel kind of uncomfortable, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. A lot happens during a life, and when it’s my turn to look back like this, I hope the colors are just as vibrant.- Shacknews
- Posted Mar 4, 2026
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The Scott Pilgrim universe has a naturally good vibe that captures the urban brawling and traversal of a River City brawler better than most of them. It’s a nonstop gauntlet of funny little refrerences and in-jokes, but it’s carried by such a solid cast, fun moves, and ridiculous fights that it’s easy to appreciate whether you know much about Scott Pilgrim or just want to punch goons.- Shacknews
- Posted Mar 3, 2026
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If you haven’t played the original version, Tales of Berseria Remastered is a must-play. It tackles revenge in a way you don’t see often, especially in games that look like this. Violet is an all-timer of an anti-hero protagonist, and the supporting crew of misfits are great to spend time with as well. The combat system is fun too, although it’s not as strict or expressive as others in the series. If you already know Berseria well, there isn’t really a great reason to show up outside of convenience and a new set of trophies if you’re not already hankering for a replay. I’d love to see older Tales games get the re-release treatment instead, but I can’t deny Berseria’s banger status, either. An enthusiastic but slightly confused thumbs up from me, then.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 26, 2026
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Resident Evil Requiem is a crown jewel in Capcom’s survival horror crown. Its characters develop realistically, its rhythm between action and horror should more than satisfy fans of both styles, and its story gripped me from beginning to end. This is Resident Evil at its finest, and I can’t wait to see where Capcom takes the series next.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 25, 2026
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There’s nothing out there in video games quite like multiplayer Bomberman. And with the Super Bomberman Collection, we’ve righted a historical wrong, with over half this series previously unavailable in North America without importing carts that wouldn’t fit in a Super Nintendo without taking a pair of pliers to the poor thing. This is a respectable collection that includes multiple new localizations, high quality museum assets, and a dope, new unboxing feature. It doesn’t have the same production value as Konami’s other collections, and it’s a bummer the big sign of that is no online play. But if you can get your friends together in a room, I guarantee you’ll have a megaton blast.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 24, 2026
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If you’re someone who finds themselves complaining about the state of modern games, you owe it to yourself to play Love Eternal. Even if platformers aren’t your go-to genre, the story is a strong enough motivator to see it through. If you do like platformers, well, you’re in for a treat. There are some major swings here, and while they’re not all home runs, I know one thing for sure: I won’t be able to shake Love Eternal for a long time.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 18, 2026
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BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is one of those “pure gameplay” roller coasters that offer you tons of value just in terms of how awesome it feels to press buttons and really dive into what you can do. If you like BlazBlue already, great! Pick your favorite (hopefully they’re here) and dive until you want to throw up from the excess. If you aren’t into BlazBlue, it doesn’t matter - if you just like dope combat systems in 2D action games, that’s what’s on the table here and in heaping piles. Even the roguelikey build-crafting stuff takes a backseat in terms of relevance once you get your first few upgrades. It’s really just all about Ragna the Bloodedge fighting ninjas with his demonic blood powers. And that’s plenty.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 11, 2026
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Mario Tennis Fever is a strong rebound from an era of Mario Sports games that left plenty to be desired, even if there are still some glaring shortcomings. The actual on-court gameplay, wide character roster, and abundance of Fever Rackets were enough to keep me experimenting every time I fired the game up. I’m itching to jump into Ranked and see what I’ve really got once the rest of the world can join in on the fun.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 10, 2026
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Between a vast open world and new combat styles, Nioh 3 is the series' most ambitious title yet, even if the changes don't always strike true.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 4, 2026
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Perhaps it’s okay that Dragon Quest 7 is a bit of an odd duck. It’s because of that struggle that Dragon Quest found itself more in later entries, and became a series that could thrive and stand out as more than the funny, old school RPG with the goofy monsters. Perhaps this is a case of trying to cram a square peg into a round hole, making Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined feel “forced” in some ways. While it’s a gorgeous and fun adventure that feels quite good to play in a mechanical sense, it’s not one that’s leaving an impact on my soul the same way other entries have. It’s been nice to see these characters again in such a fascinating visual style, and some of the new additions are cool, but there’s a palpable Cliff Notes energy to the scenario that I can’t see resonating well with newcomers. I can’t speak for what actually happens when people play it of course, but my curiosity to see how that plays out is stronger than my actual emotional response to playing it myself.- Shacknews
- Posted Feb 2, 2026
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