Softpedia's Scores

  • Games
For 1,661 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:
1663 game reviews
    • 60 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Edge of Eternity oozes the enthusiasm and passion of its developers. The exploration is mostly rewarding, the combat system is engaging, but the lack of focus when it comes to gameplay elements and the uninspiring story make it ultimately unremarkable. It is a big achievement for a small team, but it is not a game I can whole heartedly recommend. If you are a JRPG fan you already saw everything this game has to offer in other places with a superior implementation. Edge of Eternity offers plenty of content, but it feels like it was released at least a decade too late for its own good.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Waterborne can offer hours of new excitement for those who loved the original Tropico 5, but most gamers are better off picking the title up when it goes on sale and then deciding how they feel about it before exploring the idea of extra content.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Hindsight 20/20 aims to draw players in with the focus on moral choices and keep them engaged using its combat. But the former lacks enough context and narrative punch while the latter becomes repetitive and does not encourage more than one run-through. The development team does have some names from studios like BioWare and others, but they clearly need to further hone their craft. Their past successes might have left them overconfident. Their chops for decisions and choice creation might be better suited to another genre or require a more established functional setting. Wrath of the Raakshasa has some good ideas but it never delivers on its potential.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Knight Crawlers had the good idea of mixing ragdoll physics with a set of classic action game mechanics. And it is fun, for the first few hours, to learn how enemies move and then find the best way to use the environment and the knight’s attacks to eliminate them. The entire experience is solid given that it was created by one developer. But there’s no narrative hook linked to the mechanics and both the levels and the combat situation can become repetitive. The presentation also doesn’t impress. Knight Crawlers will satisfy action fans that like the idea of adding traps and physics to classic combat but could have done more with its unique combination of ideas.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is an enjoyable strategy experience that takes players to one of the less popular theaters of World War II. Both campaigns will test the gamers’ tactical acumen as well as their ability to quickly understand a situation and find a good solution using limited resources. The equipment system adds an interesting layer to the classic mechanics, but the game is otherwise very classic in its approach. Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is a strategy title that appeals to fans of this genre who really want to test their skills leading Finnish forces against the Russian juggernaut.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    When I started playing Antro, I didn’t have any idea what to expect from it. Antro certainly feels like a weird indie game, but as you follow the story and get engaged into its marvelous gameplay, its beauty unravels. I found myself playing it without wanting to stop, just seeing what challenges are onward and whether I can pass each level during my first try. Sure, it’s not a long game, nor does it need to be. Antro manages to tell its story in a way that’s memorable, with amazing Spanish music that seamlessly integrates with the gameplay. The game is innovative, while also bringing us the tried-and-tested speedrunning mechanics for a platformer. It’s quirky and weird, but in a good way.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Blood Bowl 3 is a great video game adaptation of a popular board game, using an updated set of rules and great presentation. The 12 featured teams offer variety and plenty of surprises on the field. The mix of careful planning and chaotic execution means each match is filled with surprises and reversals. But the tech side of the game is in rough shape and might take some time to fix. Fans of the franchise who cannot wait to play with the new Games Workshop rules and are willing to tolerate some issues will find great fun in Blood Bowl 3. Newcomers and those still having fun with previous installments are better served by waiting for patches.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Flint: Treasure of Oblivion has some interesting ideas when it comes to gameplay mechanics but struggles to fully explain them quickly and efficiently. After some experimentation, tactical battles, especially when they involve a lot of pirates and enemies, become intricate and tense. Just one piece of equipment or a well-played card can change an outcome. The narrative isn’t innovative enough to capture the attention, even with its solid use of comic book interludes. But fans of a classic pirate tale with an interest in complex tactical engagements will have fun with Flint: Treasure of Oblivion if they are willing to give it the time to fully reveal its core concepts.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Curse of the Sea Rats has a familiar approach to gameplay, with platforming pushing exploration and combat that can be tricky but satisfying in victory. Players will die a lot but even boss fights are mostly fair as long as players are willing to observe and learn. The narrative offers a decent if not impressive scaffolding for the action. Metroidvania has become a very popular genre. Curse of the Sea Rats understands that and executes on its ideas well but with limited innovation.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Taken individually there are some aspects to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League that are enjoyable. The problem is that cloning the same few basic gameplay mechanics seen in most live service games creates a negative overall experience. As a result, even if playing alongside your friends as a full party, you will feel like participating in a chores marathon. The monotonous endgame can be fixed by adding new content, but seeing the already existing one it is hard to believe that we can expect a major improvement. It is a shame that such a fresh and unexpected take on the superhero universe is wasted on a live service model that fails to fix the mistakes of the genre.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Despite its generic story, the worldbuilding is great and so is the soundtrack. The art style is pretty good as well. One thing that I’d recommend to fans of the action-adventure genre is to avoid playing Stray Blade like a soulslike game because they’ll have a frustrating experience. Stray Blade is a thing of its own and can be enjoyed without being associated with the Dark Souls series.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    The combat is beautiful and flashy enough to make any fighting game or JRPG fan feel satisfied and while the graphics may seem a bit stiff, none of that matters during the fast-paced matches where you'll probably pay more attention to the ratio between your HP bar and your enemy's. Jump force allows players to finally answer those age-old questions, such as Who would win in a fight between Goku and Naruto Uzumaki?, which have been the subject of debates in forum discussions, memes or video commentaries, and that alone should be enough of a reason to make fans of the genre interested in the game.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Skull and Bones spent seven years in development, but still feels like an unfinished beta version that was released way before it’s time. And while many expect this kind of patchwork from Ubisoft, it is still a reprehensible industry practice that is in no way fair to the players, who despite all the warning signs have waited and hoped for the game’s release. Just as another live service game recently released based on the DC universe, Skull and Bones feels like a cash grab attempt that maybe fixable in the future with many patches and updates but even in its ideal form is far from an AAA title. At best it could be a relaxing and engaging, albeit repetitive activity, but in its current form is a beta version sold at full price.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria tries to take a well-known license and connect it with the already classic ideas of the survival crafting genre. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t quite manage to deliver on either. There are some nice callbacks to the books and TV franchise but nothing to keep its fans engaged in the long term.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Unknown 9: Awakening may not be a groundbreaking title, but it offers a fun and engaging journey through an imaginative world that fans of mystery and light fantasy may enjoy. Clocking in at around 10 hours, it offers just enough intrigue to encourage players to see it through to the end, even if it doesn’t spark an immediate desire to dive into all other Unknown 9 media. While the game isn’t flawless and doesn’t belong among the year’s best, it provides a pleasant surprise, outshining initial expectations. The biggest shortcoming is that it often feels like a limited budget production, that would have needed more polishing to hide the rough edges.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cross of the Dutchman is a fun history lesson that not only attracts through its source material and the alluring visuals but also through the simple yet entertaining combat. You'll have fun learning about the story of Pier Dosia while rampaging through Saxon soldiers in medieval Frisia.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Aaru's Awakening has a serious difficulty curve, but when you combine the twitch-based controls, the confusing art style or the camera zoom, you end up with an experience that, once completed, doesn't offer a feeling of joy or accomplishment. You just feel like you've finally completed a tedious task.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Overall, Rustler is a success story, a light-hearted and satirical game that does not take itself seriously at all. It tries to be an homage for both the classic GTA games but also to the comedy of Monty Python. It is a bit rough around the edges, sometimes it drowns you in Monty Python references and it could have used some more polishing, but it’s a fun experience. You have no real replay value here, but Rustler will keep you entertained for a weekend or two.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    To put it bluntly, if you haven't played the classic yet, Warcraft III: Reforged is definitely worth your time, otherwise, wait for a deep discount. The remaster feels rushed with too many things missing or not up to par with what I had expected in terms of improvements. In this state, the best way to describe Warcraft III: Reforged is “serviceable.” Taken as a whole, just like the original, the remaster offers a great gameplay experience for newcomers, but there's not much here that would justify a purchase if you've already played the classic.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Lifeless Planet seems to have a ton of potential beneath its lackluster surface, always seeming like a better game is lurking in there, just beyond your grasp.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark is a good puzzle platformer that manages to innovate and deliver a hilarious time. There are some issues, however, that weigh it down, from the slight platforming quirks, to the camera or some visual elements. Even so, if you're a fan, you can certainly have a great time with it.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Necromunda: Underhive Wars is a mixed bag of assorted delights and horrors. The story is well put together, but it fails to completely explain the rules. The combat can be fun, but the AI is completely retarded. There is a lot to do in the game, but you also need a lot of time even to do little. As such, just as the tabletop game is based on, Necromunda: Underhive Wars proved that it is not for everybody. You need patience and you need to have passion for the deep tactical approach, to enjoy what the game offers. Still, despite all its shortcomings, the game can be fun for the right audiences and has a lot of potential that shines through especially in multiplayer.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Crown Wars: The Black Prince creates a decent mix of tactics and history, with some management elements thrown in. The game does mixes actual history with low fantasy elements in ways that often work. The combat mechanics, with their focus on mixing ability use and good positioning, are engaging, especially for missions that feature bespoke challenges. But battles can also feel repetitive because of the small number of templates. The presentation isn’t always impressive. Still, anyone who appreciates a video game that uses history in some interesting ways and wants to customize a squad that can deal with any type of tactical challenge, Crown Wars: The Black Prince will offer many hours of fun.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Undead Inc. can deliver a decent management experience, as long as the developers continue to deliver updates that eliminate crashes, deal with the other bugs, and introduce better balance. It is fun to create a thriving pharma entity that manages to invest in weird research and fulfill major black-market contracts while deceiving everyone. Aside from technical issues, the big issue is that the game never feels as cool as it should. Managing rooms and staff is a bit too repetitive. The rogue-lite idea of extracting doesn’t feel satisfying. Undead Inc. shows how easy it is to have a killer idea while failing to find the right mechanics to realize its potential.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    VoidExpanse isn't a two-dimensional version of Elite: Dangerous or Star Citizen, not by a long shot. If you want an immersive space opera adventure that you can lose yourself in, you won't find that experience here...Instead, it offers a much simpler and lighthearted journey through space, focused on action, with some narrative fluff to act as padding, and with a couple of more fleshed-out quest lines to follow when you feel like progressing to the next stage.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Jagged Alliance: Rage! is the type of game that will surely bring back memories of the golden age of gaming, and for those of you that haven't lived through those days, this game will probably bring back memories you never had. Although it could use some tweaking here and there and the graphics are a dead giveaway for the limited budget the company had, the game is fun nonetheless, and you'll be spending a good couple of hours finishing all the missions with your first pair of mercenaries, and maybe a few extra hours with another pair.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I feel that it’s repetitive and that the loot is out of balance, but I also see that it has a good core. Maybe it’s a remnant of the original game, or perhaps it’s enough to build on. What I can tell you for sure is that it not a proper $60 game that’s been in development for six years.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While the story may be enticing for diehard fans, those who aren't familiar with the Little Witch Academia franchise will find a little bit stiff and probably uninteresting.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Zheros is a decent experience alone but it's a bit better with a friend. The chaos you unleash is quite satisfying and racking up bigger and bigger combos does much to alleviate the repetitive gameplay. Combat variety might not delight all players, but you can still have a bit of fun with this brawler.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Overall, One Piece: World Seeker captures the entire spirit of the franchise and compresses it into a new and unique story, on an island that you'll enjoy exploring and with characters some of you may have even grown up with.

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