Softpedia's Scores

  • Games
For 1,660 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 71% higher than the average critic
  • 10% same as the average critic
  • 19% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.1 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 79
Highest review score: 100 Red Dead Redemption 2
Lowest review score: 20 Robotex
Score distribution:
1662 game reviews
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Wadjet Eye Games is known for delivering exceptional, fun and very creative point-and-click games. Old Skies is certainly one of the best, although I still feel that Unavowed was better, at least for me. With that in mind, the gameplay, the amazing timelines we visit, but also the overall stories/quests they added into the game feel very special, and they are a blast to go through. Sure, Old Skies doesn’t have flashy graphics, they went with rather old school visuals, but for me, those stand out and make the game world very immersive. The voice overs are on point, and the dialog is very creative, although it can drag at times. All in all, Old Skies is interesting, exciting, and a breath of fresh air for the genre, especially with its time travel shenanigans.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Star Control: Origins perfectly combines exceptional writing, total exploration freedom, satisfying space combat, excellent voice acting and hypnotizing music. Although I felt intimidated by the importance of the journey ahead, the well written, humorous dialogues gently transitioned me into a state of pure excitement. No words can better describe Star Control: Origins than actually playing it. It's a masterpiece.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Kaiju Wars is the sort of video game that understands that huge monsters make for incredible threats, which in turn allows players to derive a lot of satisfaction from stopping them in their tracks. The game has the narrative, the mechanics, the scenario design, and the presentation to keep gamers always engaged, guessing how they can pick up an extra medal or tackle a mission on Hard. The development team has been quick to react to player feedback, adding more options. And I hope that they will also introduce more scenarios and, maybe, a few extra mega-monsters to deal with. Kaiju Wars is not revolutionary, but it delivers a tight strategy package that celebrates its inspirations while spoofing them.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Lumines Arise is one of those games that will automatically make a great impression, thanks to its visuals and music, but also the engaging gameplay. This iteration of Lumines Arise might be its Ultimate version, since you get to enjoy those amazing levels with a brand-new presentation along with a variety of game modes for you to check out. There’s also VR support, which I didn’t get to try, but many players already consider that the best way to play the game for excellent immersion. Even without playing in VR, it’s clear that a lot of care and attention went into creating this modern version of Lumines. Visuals are exceptional, the soundtrack is along one of the best I’ve listened to in recent times, and the gameplay is great, albeit a tad repetitive as you get towards the latter part of the Journey. Still, if you have even the slightest interest in Tetris, Lumines or similar games, this is a must-play.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is really fun to play and the natural progression of the players is a fantastic motivator to keep on playing. I can really say that Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 provides the best multiplayer experience in the franchise, and it’s not going to be a surprise when the next iteration is going to focus even more on this aspect.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Howl is very good without being too complex. It’s turn-based tactical gameplay has depth, designed to satisfy fans of this genre, but is accessible enough for newcomers. And the narrative elements are strong enough to keep both groups engaged, trying to collect as much confidence and skulls to open up new options. If a battle becomes frustrating, try as many different approaches as possible first but don’t hesitate to activate the Assist mode before frustration sets in. Howl is a great experience because it blends strong narrative and engaging combat in interesting ways.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I can’t recommend Anno 1800 enough. I was legitimately worried that Ubisoft might try to bring the entire franchise into the present, but I’m happy to say that my fears were unfounded. The game is a love letter to the old city-building games, while still managing to innovate and surprise even veteran players.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you've played any of Wadjet Eye's games, you're probably used to the pixel art and the low resolution, but Unavowed is an exception since it has twice the resolution of a typical game released by the studio. Moreover, the jazzy and blues accords perfectly fit the supernatural theme and the New York City landscapes. Also, once again, the voice acting is top-notch, but wouldn't even expect less from Wadjet Eye.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The King's Dilemma: Chronicles manages to create a sense of place using a limited set of tools. The game does require quite a bit of reading but it rewards gamers with a deep narrative, a lot of artfully constructed events, and many complicated choices. The political simulation element is engaging and fun. If modding is possible it can deliver a great A Song of Ice and Fire experience. I do feel like the narrative is trying to juggle a few too many big ideas at the same time. The universe, which delivers a lot of names and concepts quickly, can be overwhelming. But immersion in King’s Dilemma: Chronicles will reveal a complex and intriguing narrative and plenty of tough choices. Be wary of anyone promising quick and painless immortality.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Football Manager 2024 is a great experience for anyone who has played the series in the past 10 years. It refines all the core gameplay, adds some interesting new ideas, and gives players a lot of freedom to engage with the mechanics they like and delegate the rest.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Sludge Life 2 takes the best ideas of the first game and improves on them all. There are more interesting characters to have conversations with, more hotel rooms filled with small but effective narrative moments, more spots to tag, and more ciggies to collect. There’s plenty of dark water under the hotel and weird vistas to photograph. The game’s presentation serves it well, although I wished the world changed as players tag and find new secrets. Sludge Life 2 doesn’t have the deepest gameplay in its genre or the most complex story, but its anarchic-punk-nicotine vibe is immersive and fun.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Few fighting games offer enticing background stories without neglecting the multiplayer aspect. Injustice 2 provides a balanced gameplay experience for both single and multiplayer fans, which I believe is its strongest quality. The amount of content is huge and can satisfy just about any type of gamer that wants to try it out.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Beat Slayer’s core mechanic is good. As long as players stay on the beat and mix and match their attacks, kicks, and dashes, they can deal with a wide array of enemy combinations. The game also has a good variety of upgrades for Mia and two extra weapons to unlock. This futuristic version of Berlin is interesting, although her sidekicks can be a little forgettable. The title’s rogue-lite implementation does not impress, which is disappointing considering the opportunities for innovation its universe offers. Boss battles also lack the excitement of normal arenas. Beat Slayer has good music, a strong main concept, and is welcoming to newcomers while delivering a challenge for action-rhythm fans.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    While the main storyline doesn't exactly live up to expectations and it has quite a few smaller annoyances, it's still a blast to play and should offer hundreds of hours of enjoyment to any RPG fan.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Episode 3: Catch a Ride manages to continue the great showing of the adventure series made by Telltale. It's fun, intense, and manages to really develop not only its original characters but also some of the stablished Vault Hunters from previous games.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    WARNO is a great World War III strategy game. It takes the best elements of previous titles created by Eugen Systems and expands on them. Battles are realistic but also fun. The five Army General campaigns will keep a fan engaged for tens of hours. Multiplayer is robust, with a variety of maps and divisions to choose from. The game looks good, and the soundtrack is fantastic. The way maps are picked for Army general battles needs to be tweaked and, of course, there’s plenty of balancing for units and divisions to be done. WARNO will appeal primarily to players who already like Wargame or Steel Division but any strategy fan interested in alternate Cold War history should also pick it up.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Godbreakers was a great game for me, even if it’s quite short. Provided that you have a good team, it will take you 3 hours or so to do a full run as you beat the final boss. However, there’s tons of content to unlock, along with countless runs to unlock everything. That being said, if you’re ok with repetitive gameplay that’s normal for roguelites, I think Godbreakers will be right up your alley. The game worlds feel very immersive and rewarding. And the game continues to impress with the visual style and incredible attention to detail. I do wish there was more content beyond the 6 worlds, and hopefully they add more content in future updates and DLCs. But even for what’s there, Godbreakers delivers on its promise, and it’s a very rewarding experience, not to mention it feels great while playing, which is the most important thing.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Synergy puts an interesting new spin on some well-known gameplay mechanics. I like how alien the world feels and the way the systems encourage players to pay attention and discover ways to exploit the environment without destroying it. Sure, sometimes water is needed fast and gourds should be ripped out of the ground, but that doesn’t translate into a solid production chain. The game also looks great, with a unique art style and a lot of attention to detail. Tighter integration between the environmental analysis and the expeditions would have been cool. Synergy’s systems have depth, the scenarios are challenging, and the mechanics offer just the right mix of familiar and innovative.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Ni no Kuni II is one of those games that delivers a positive vibe not just through gameplay, but deeper stories, solid characters, as well as outstanding visuals and soundtrack. Moreover, it comes with fresh ideas that make it more engaging and fun, something that we rarely get these days from major franchises.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Hearthstone still offers the unlikely kind of blend of strategy and accessibility that made it a hit, and now it's even better, with more fun interactions to take advantage of.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you’re new to the game, Tom Clancy's The Division 2 will fill a void. The fact that it’s a PvE game shouldn’t be a reason not to play, even if only for the single player part. You’ll find it entertaining, and who knows, maybe you’ll also make some new friends. If you’re a Division veteran, that you’ll love Tom Clancy's The Division 2 for all the new stuff it brings, and for the way it fixed the gameplay from the first game. It never feels like a chore to go look for some better gear, and that’s pretty much the highlight of any loot shooter. Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is a winner for Ubisoft and proof that smart things can be done with loot shooters if they are handled the right way.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening perfectly evokes the original game's presentation on the Game Boy, while bringing the visuals up to date using ingenious toy-like character and diorama world designs. With a top-notch presentation and charming gameplay, Link's Awakening is the living proof that any good game, no matter how old it is, can be revived and brought to new audiences.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Expeditions: Rome knows how to make history exciting and engaging. The tactical engagements offer variety and challenge. Controlling a legion is makes the player feel powerful. Interacting with the likes of Mithridates through dialogue will appeal to history lovers but you don’t have to know the period to enjoy the narrative. I spend 40 hours with the game and plan on going back to try other ideas and other tactical setups. I would have liked to see a little more innovation in the tactical combat and, maybe, more mechanics for the legion side of the game. Expeditions: Rome needs a few hours to get going but once that’s done it has a lot of fun and cool historical moments for its fans.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I can’t help feel (that word again) that Call of Duty: WWII is a definite improvement in the series, and I can only hope that they will choose to remain in this time period. Now that Sledgehammer Games proved they are up to the task, it’s very likely they will continue with some great releases. The community was not expecting this kind of quality from the franchise, especially after the declining trend of the previous titles, but it’s definitely a nice surprise and worth checking out, especially if you’re a PC gamer.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    After Ninja Raiden Ragebound, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance continues to offer amazing ninja platforming. However, SHINOBI stands out with a modern, hand-drawn visual style, a more methodical battle system and longer levels. That being said, the cool part that comes from finding collectibles and secrets is still there. The action is great, and they never shy away from bringing challenging bosses.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The only thing I'm sad about is the lack of the other two expansions included in the Complete version.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Pillars of Eternity is a must-buy for anyone who has played classic titles like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights or Planescape, and it will certainly deliver the story, the conversations, the companions, the combat and the big themes that they are yearning for.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A great expansion for an already solid grand strategy title, and it feels like the first one to feel essential since Wealth of Nations.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Crusader Kings II: Conclave represents the best incarnation of the veteran grand strategy title from Paradox Development Studio, a great experience for any player who loves history and wants to explore the many what if situations of the past.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Football Manager 2021 is a very good management game. It offers more options than before, takes up more time than ever, delivers such an accurate take on the real-world sport that it is sometimes unnerving. It also makes it a little harder to create truly alternate worlds, like one where Wrexhman wins the Premier League. For those who want something that moves faster and is more focused on just tactics, the Touch version of the game is a better choice. I love the depth that the series has been adding and I don’t mind playing at the most 3 or 4 seasons in one run. But for those who want 20 year-long attempts at greatness, with plenty of regens and takeovers, delegation and quick matches are the right way to go. Football Manager 2021 is a game best enjoyed a few virtual matches a night, preferably with some real-world football in the background, wondering whether you can get Fulham out of that bind (maybe, in a season or three) or if you can be the one to lead 1. FC Koln to greatness (it might take a decade).
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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    • 79 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Fury Unleashed is one of those pleasant surprised where you never expected much from a game, but then had a blast while playing it. While the trailer may make the game seem all exciting, even it fails to do the title justice as far as how thriling it is. With that being said, grab your guns, strap on your axe, suit up your hero just the way you want him / her to, and become a comic book legend all over again! [Early Access Score = 80]
    • 82 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The Last Spell is a great package, integrating great core combat mechanics with both management and plenty of progression opportunities. Trying to take down mutant waves by using the minimum amount of resources, while pondering what upgrades can improve character performance never gets old. The title’s mix of chaos and control delivers plenty of tense moments. The meta-progression also works, although there were times when I found the pace a little slow. The Last Spell is polished, fun, and challenging, offering hours and hours of tough decisions and difficult yet enjoyable battles. [Early Access Provisional Score = 90]

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