The Games Machine's Scores

  • Games
For 2,655 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 71% higher than the average critic
  • 7% same as the average critic
  • 22% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.3 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 79
Highest review score: 99 Baldur's Gate 3
Lowest review score: 30 Dino Dini's Kick Off Revival
Score distribution:
2657 game reviews
    • 78 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    A quality fighting games collection with some of Capcom's best beat 'em ups, including Red Earth (which makes its debut on PCs and consoles!), the complete Darkstalkers saga and lots of customization options.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Rockfish roguelite hybrid confirms all its qualities in terms of gameplay concept, graphic features and pure fun. The epilogue remains a little bit disappointing together with the not so excellent enemies AI, but the core of the game is great even on PS4.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a solid but unremarkable remaster. While the core gameplay remains engaging and fast-paced, the visual upgrades feel minimal compared to the PC version, and the new features—like high-speed mode—don't justify the full price for returning players. The soundtrack is still fantastic, and quality-of-life additions help accessibility, but this release lacks meaningful enhancements. If you’re new to the game, it’s a great way to experience one of Ys' best entries. However, veterans may find little reason to revisit this edition unless they specifically want it on Switch or PlayStation
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Stellaris is almost as big as the universe itself, at the point that you risk losing yourself in a galaxy of info, menus and gameplay possibilities. The new game from Paradox is truly captivating and challenging, despite some minor issues (especially with the AI). Stellaris is a new star, bound to grow bigger and bigger over time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Hyrule Warriors: The Age of Calamity is a well-made Musou, which tries to break the preconceptions with which the saga often tends to clash in the West, taking its cue from one of the best games ever. The result is ambitious and effective, albeit with some reservations mainly due to the Switch's technical limitations.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    X-Morph: Defense is an interesting experiment, a hybrid formula that combines the tower defense genre with the past-paced action of twin-stick shooters. The gameplay is great, but there are still some annoying technical problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible, in order for the game to reach its full potential.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Another old-school survival horror game, for better or worse. If you love fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds, limited saves, and constant tension, you can safely add half a point to the final rating. Technically, it's a step up from the previous installment, with excellent, detailed locations, atmospheric and crystal-clear sound, and responsive controls. Animations and poly-models aren't top-notch, but you can't have everything.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Project Diva X is a good rhythm game, filled with an interesting variety of j-pop music. Unfortunately, the tracklist is limited to 30 songs and the sense of grinding is strong even after a few hours.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Light-hearted as the flight of a butterfly, refreshing as water raised by the dart of a fish and relaxing as a sunny summer afternoon. Shiro and the Coal Town is an old-fashioned title that requires no special skills, but if played with the right spirit can awaken sweet emotions, welcoming you into a typically Japanese rural atmosphere.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The last tactical RPG from Tomohiko Deguchi deserves to be explored thoroughly, thanks to its variety of situations and the deep gameplay. The PS4 and PS Vita versions are almost identical, with cross-play support.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wuppo is the kind of game you kinda want to remove from your memory, just to be able to play it again, and enjoy it like the first time. Despite its childish graphics and some gameplay flaws, Wuppo is a truly entertaining, light-hearted experience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Scarlet Nexus offers an excellent combat system, paired with creative visual designs and with the courageous choice of having two different (but intertwined) storylines. Unfortunately, a general lack of attention to detail and less-than-impressive environments prevent it from excelling, but it’s definitely a safe choice if you’re into Japanese action RPGs.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Insurgency: Sandstorm is a convincing online FPS. It's not for everyone, but the hardcore gamers will find a satisfying tactical shooter where a good coordination with the team members is vital for success.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    After the first half hour in which nothing particularly interesting happens, System Shock begins to reveal its potential and detaching itself from the monitor before defeating SHODAN is not an easy task. Thanks mainly to the excellent gameplay, set in superbly designed levels, which Nightdive has transposed to current-gen machines for the pleasure of old and new players; it is undeniable, however, that the work of Nightdive Studios could have been even more profound in everything, including a not exactly flawless technical realization. That said, many hours await you in the company of a ruthless game, which does not provide any hints, in a continuous clash between human and artificial intelligence.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    After nearly 25 years Bandai Namco gives us the opportunity to (re)discover two great classic platform games. A quite good remaster that could have been far better with some extra material, and the addition of the chapters released on portable consoles.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    There is nothing to say, Dotemu has a real nose for those games in which the nostalgia effect is not mere marketing, but a basis on which to build solid and satisfying gaming experiences. Who would have thought that the formula of the turn-based strategy would have adapted so well to one of the most famous run'n'gun franchises ever? Dotemu would have said it, that's who. And in fact, here we are singing the praises of Metal Slug Tactics, which only lacks a few additional bosses to add that variety that in a roguelite adds hours of longevity for players.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The only thing more difficult than making a revolution is to re-make a revolution. SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE is still a fun shooter, based on innovative and intriguing ideas, but no longer as effective as they had been in 2016. The roguelite approach certainly gives the game a more conspicuous length, but on the other hand ends up watering down at least part of the mechanics, making the overall experience less incisive than that of the original chapter. After all, as SUPERHOT has always taught, reality is all about perception.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Lost in Random would have been an interesting game even with a normal combat system, but developers were brave enough to dare and innovate, definitively not an easy task in late 2021. Maybe the effort spent on combining dice and cards has caused other features to be overlooked, and the game is sometimes a bit slow and with little interaction, but this does not impair the experience of playing an artistically very well done game, with a great story and the right amount of humor like I haven't seen in a long time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    No one would be surprised if GTFO was found to have been developed by the Devil himself. Punishing, frustrating and brutal, I can't recommend GTFO to everyone but if you like tough co-op shooters and you have three friends as crazy as you are then you'll fall madly in love with it.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    Project Warlock is a fast-paced, fun and challenging old-school FPS, with a hint of RPG mechanics.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 92 Critic Score
    Lone Echo II proves once again how Read at Dawn is a top-of-the-class developer when it comes to VR.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is a great second season that makes the already beautiful Oxenfree feel like a pilot episode. An intense, exciting and playfully aware narrative adventure, capable of perfectly integrating gameplay with writing. Artistically remarkable, thematically profound, full of tense situations, where to make decisions and direct the fate of our protagonists, playing the part that seems most suitable to us, without the story ever lacking in coherence. If this is what Netflix wants to do with the video game, the future looks rosy for lovers of this genre (success permitting). Radio chills.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is surprising: it’s extremely coherent with the setting created by Games Workshop, and the gameplay reflects the potential offered by the ability to command a cohort of the Adeptus Mechanicus. There are some undeniable flaws, but overall we are looking at a refreshing new take on the turn-based tactics genre.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    An immersive, immense MMO sandbox survival game that captures the fierce and mystical essence of Dune, with a merciless and seductive Arrakis. The combat system is subdued and there are technical uncertainties that limit its potential. But what fun.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Observer is a good sci-fi horror adventure, with a strong narrative, blessed by the amazing performance of Rutger Hauer. Some less-convincing elements (notably, recycling of assets and gameplay ideas from Layers of Fear, the previous game from Bloober Team) don't diminish the value of an intriguing experience, full of love for Blade Runner and the sci-fi avantpop.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme VS Maxi Boost on is an excellent conversion of a successful coin-op. The gameplay loop remains simple and straightforward, but fans of the original game will surely find themselves at home.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Songs of Conquest is a turn-based strategy game that fits into the mold of Heroes of Might and Magic, trying to fill the void left by the latter, now missing from our screens for almost a decade. Despite a few flaws in the single-player campaign, Lavapotion's video game features a near-perfect balance of the four playable factions, all of which are well characterized, as well as a huge amount of content, including full support for community-made stuff.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a game that exists in constant tension between what it is and what it could have been. It has moments where it recaptures the rarefied atmosphere of its predecessors, recovering that sense of isolation, wonder, and discovery that defined the series, but it quickly stumbles over choices that dilute its rhythm and identity. It's a chapter that's enjoyable to play and, in more than one instance, truly shines. Yet it never quite manages to shake off the feeling of having been held back, polished, and constrained by timid decisions, perhaps a legacy of an overly complicated development process. It's not the chapter that will mark a new direction, but neither is it a bitter disappointment. It's a game suspended between ambition and caution, imperfect but sincere, that deserves a chance: when Beyond finds its voice, even if only for a moment, it still reminds us why Metroid is Metroid.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bleak Sword DX could be deceiving with its "mobile game" air, but underestimating the merits of the experience it offers would be a mistake. Frustration is real and there are some limits, but when the essential is so clearly visible to the eye and fascinating, it becomes easy to accept them and enjoy what is there.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    This low-budget adventure from Daedalic, based on the uber-popular Ken Follett's novel, kicks off very slowly, but it gently gets under your skin. Don't expect too much point'n'click gameplay, but soon enough you'll find yourself engaged in a compelling story (well, congrats) and challenged by a series of choices that will impact the rest of the story.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    A fitting "Yakuza" that takes the old Kazuma Kyriu and launches him into a new life - how long and happy we are not yet allowed to know. On the gameplay side Like a Dragon Gaiden relies on well-established mechanics that still work well, adding a couple of new tricks that seem to wink at what we will see in Infinite Wealth.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Visual Concepts has finally created a beautiful chapter of NBA 2K, balanced, rich in content, aesthetically true next gen.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    In Other Waters caresses the senses, stimulates curiosity and hits hard with an extremely deep story. An alien ocean to explore, discovering an incredibly fascinating ecosystem, to be protected at all costs.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens learned from the mistakes and delivers the best LEGO videogame so far, and one truly fine Star Wars tie-in. A real new beginning for the franchise, with a lot of new ideas, and the usual set of characters and unlockables that will keep the players busy for a long time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It's not the most difficult platformer ever made, but Unravel manages to deliver a truly sweet, gentle and tender experience. It's a delicate, red ball of yarn that will twine around your heart.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Classic but stylish, Battle Chasers: Nightwar has a truly inspired art direction and tons of good ideas; unfortunately, some bugs ruin the experience of a pretty unique RPG. Airship Syndicate needs to fix this, as soon as possible, so that the game can reach its true potential.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Sonic Collection is not only a (guess what?) collection of the first games featuring the blue hedgehog and friends cleverly remastered and with an improved gameplay, but it’s also a long platformer – if we consider the Story mode which will take us by hand through all four chapters – which I would recommend also to those who are unfamiliar with the franchise and are simply looking for a fun and fast paced game with colorful graphics and an awesome level design where there’s always something new to discover. Highly recommended both for Sonic lovers and newcomers.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    The Procession to Calvary is a blasphemous, cynical and rad point&click adventure set inside a collage of Renaissance paintings. Brilliant dialogues and gorgeous animations are the perfect frame for Joe Richardson’s dark humor and his funny homages to the Monty Python.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Keeping the original structure intact, Days Gone returns to PlayStation 5 in a version that — thanks also to an appealing price tag — stands out as a purchase well worth considering for open-world enthusiasts. Visually polished, lengthy without becoming tiresome, and quite entertaining, it also features a range of new game modes alongside the main adventure that add variety. The epic tale of Deacon St. John still fully deserves high praise today.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Despite the lack of variety over long playthroughs, The Persistence is a sci-fi survival horror that all PS VR owners should have.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    With its gorgeous, minimalistic visuals, Forma.8 is a cool metroidvania game with something to say. Backtracking is well-implemented, while the lack of a detailed map could be considered one of the few weak points of an awesome production.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is still an excellent FPS today, almost thirty years after its first publication. The many improvements introduced by the developers, both on the graphics and gameplay side, manage to modernize the original to make it enjoyable both by the older ones and by those who have never had the opportunity to experience the adventures of Kyle Katarn.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a game with a lot of charisma thanks to an exceptional characterization of the world and the characters that populate it. Unfortunately, the mix of turn-based tactics and stealth isn’t always working as it’s supposed to, but the game developed by The Bearded Ladies is still able to entertain for about fifteen hours. Maybe next time it would be appropriate to give to the gameplay the same care given to the narrative aspects of the game.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    An almost impossible game to evaluate with objectivity and using "standard" rules: the gameplay is truly basic, and the story can be as touching as your personal sensitivity to a very delicate and serious matter.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Once Upon a Climb is the new installment of a series that started big, stumbled in the second episode, and rose again in this third episode. A few puzzles, a lot of humour, some occasions for deeper thoughts, and excellent writing and dialogues. Good work, The Odd Gentlemen.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mass Transit is an excellent expansion, with just one problem: the content isn't that much. Everything else improves over the original, adding depth to an already rich gameplay. And the support for Steam Workshop is just the cherry on top.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Green Hell is a wild and spectacular indie survival because there is so much to do and a lot to risk at every step. It has intriguing mechanics, solid gameplay and extreme realism that blend well with the deadly Amazonian context, forcing the player to engage himself to not dying every 15 minutes. Some minor bugs and technical issues cannot ruin one of the most exciting experiences on the survival scene.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    After playing Adios I felt like I did when I first saw No country for old men, and I can’t imagine a greater compliment. Graphics are definitely not its strongest suit, but they do a decent job at supporting Adios’ touching story, that shines thanks to its fantastic voice acting. A couple simple minigames add a little variety to this walking simulator. All in all, Adios lasts a little more than an hour, but it’s an hour that is totally worth experiencing.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    What a ride! Riders Republic gives you an amount of freedom that you can hardly find anywhere else, and lets you choose your own path within a happy community that’s keen to celebrate your successes.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    When I was young, my parents told me that patience is a virtue: I never believed them. WWE 2K22 taught me that was true. The two years hiatus gave Visual Concepts the time to make things right, tuning all the parts of the game that weren’t good enough in the past. You can always do better, so some aspects (like the MyGM game mode) could be improved, but WWE 2K22 feels like a fresh new start.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    In Hell Pie there was the risk that all efforts made in the creation of a crazy and irreverent storytelling could detract energies and resources from the actual gameplay development. Luckily, devs did not get lost along the way and what we have here is an excellent 3D action platformer, which also entertains us with its demential humor without falling into the trap of being little more than a collection of crass jokes. There are some minor flaws, but nothing major.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A "radio" horror game in full 80s style. As a DJ you will have to follow the tracks of an elusive serial killer, trying to save his next potential victims and put together the pieces of an impossible puzzle. All while remaining seated at your console... or almost! Brilliant with some minor flaws and multiple endings to lengthen an otherwise poor longevity.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    An action-platformer that revives the flames of a genre that disappeared for almost two decades. Abathor isn't a perfect title and doesn't invent anything new, but it does what it has to in a balanced and polite manner, with an entertaining co-op mode capable of attract players of all ages.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Beyond Galaxyland surprises you from start to finish, it is brilliant and full of well-blended ideas. The audiovisual section does its job incredibly well, rarely have I felt so often the desire to stop to take a screenshot or listen to the OST of a game. The various souls - JRPG, platform, puzzle, creature collection, crafting, progression system - are not particularly deep individually, but put together they manage, as if by magic, to give life to an immersive, convincing experience, with delicate but successful balances. It soon becomes difficult to detach yourself also because, one planet at a time, you end up becoming fond of the characters, getting in tune with Doug and making his air of a fish out of water catapulted into worlds that do not belong to him your own. If there really is life in the universe, let's hope it is as EnrightBeats imagines it.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    MotoGP 25 continues its streak of victories in the motorcycle simulation genre, presenting itself as very solid in its Pro mode and fresh in the new Arcade, which simplifies without trivializing a riding model that is now refined, physical, exhilarating from the start until you take it to the limit, getting the best out of it.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    If attempting to describe what Tomodachi Life: A Life of Dreams actually is proves complicated, venturing to evaluate it feels like an almost subversive act. It can be one of those games that ends up sneaking its way into the routine of daily life, or an experience that feels immediately off-putting. I found it both adorable and challenging—challenging in the sense that its particular brand of humor would put anyone to the test—though I happen to be the kind of person who enjoys being destabilized by a bit of culture shock.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Dragon’s Dogma shines on the new consoles in its final form, free from the limitations of old hardware. It aged pretty well, and still manages to offer a challenging and intriguing gameplay. Content-wise, there's really nothing new compared to the first release of 2012.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    After the heartwarming Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons, Josef Fares extended the scope of his unique co-operative gameplay, addressing a much wider spectrum of players. There are many gameplay opportunities that, together with a top-notch narrative, create a highly engaging and original experience. The execution may not be perfect, but it's a deep and bold work.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    The idea of enjoying Dragon’s Dogma wherever I go makes me really happy, but if you have already played it you won’t find anything else to justify a new purchase.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    MLB The Show 21 lands on the new generation of consoles with a limited amount of changes compared to last season. Those who expected a revolution spearheaded by the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S will be partially disappointed. That said, MLB The Show 21 is also an extremely refined title, full of options and fun, able to entertain those who want to face a few innings in total relax and also those who are looking for high-level competition.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Remnant: From the Ashes is, in all honesty, a breath of fresh air. A solid and alluring co-op action RPG with a good lot of innovations. Don’t call it a “souls-like with guns”, it’s much more than that.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a narrative-driven isometric stealth game set in an early 20th-century Nordic country. It stands out artistically for its excellent character acting and magnificent environmental representation. Gameplay revolves around infiltration, noise management, and cooperation between three characters with unique abilities. The lack of traditional cones of vision makes for a more realistic approach, but the instadeath mechanics hinder improvisation. The level design is vertical and labyrinthine, with paths that are often linear but full of secrets and micro-puzzles.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Players beware: it is really hard to stop playing Redout 2. It's more a simulator than an arcade, but it will still keep you hooked and wanting to race again and again on amazing tracks located in beautiful environment. It would really need a training mode, because damn it's tough.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Cowabunga Collection is a masterful work of preservation, and the best way to contemplate the rise of the Turtles in Konami's heyday while contextualising it within a historical framework created with the taste and expertise that only Digital Eclipse can boast.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader treats the Games Workshop board game license with respect, granting the opportunity of fully immersing into a universe that fully meets the expectations of franchise’s fans. Owlcat Games has crafted a role-playing video game that guarantees a fair amount of freedom of choice with concrete consequences both in the development of the plot and in the balance of power within the Koronus Expanse. It's a shame for the technical state it is in, otherwise we’d have a masterpiece in our hands.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    A great metroidvania game amazingly combining exploration and combat, with frenetic action, original graphics and compelling sounds.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Our expectations from guys like People Can Fly and Epic are usually a little higher, however Fortnite is a good game, a good mixture of the shooting genre and the tower defense genre, with a focus on building stuff. Not too rich, content-wise, and maybe the price is a little bit too high.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    This collection only makes sense if you didn't play the original Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls on PlayStation 3. Beside some technical improvements (and few adjustments to the gameplay for the latter), the games are basically the same, and that means two great experiences that should not be missed.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Does the “Zeldalike” genre exist? If it does, Rogue Heroes would be the perfect example: easy to pick up, but deep and complex enough if you try to go for 100% completion, with a top-down perspective view, pixel-art graphics and a story that leads us to travel in a big, hostile open world. While it does not achieve the excellence of its mentor, it stands out for it interesting gameplay choices such as the village management and an open world-oriented approach. To be played on your own digging up one secret after another, or in chaotic runs with up to three friends. Some repetitive sections and a few glitches only partially cloud what is overall a satysfying experience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Solid, no-nonsense roguelike with a comparatively rare sci-fi setting. Too bad it doesn’t deliver the badass power fantasy that its inspiring material source (Doom) does so well.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Although driving is super fun, the design of the career mode feels boring and samey after the first hour. Hopefully the multiplayer will be able to lend the game some more longevity.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The first episode of Vader Immortal shows all the potential of this VR series: a new way to immerse in the Star Wars universe, perfectly inserted in its narrative canons. The interactive experience is very short but the level of immersion is incredible, far beyond what a simple 360-degree VR movie could ever do.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st] is a sublime fighting game, with a lot of content to enjoy, a varied gameplay and a generous roster. The graphics show their age, but the art direction is still pretty unique. Despite the fact that several fighting games were released in the past few weeks, this one should be on top of your list.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Inkuinati is a rediscovery of who we were in the Middle Ages, of our long lost attitude about games event in serious context. A great strategic game full of jokes and farts diegetically inserted in the game experience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Witty political satire? Check. Lovely Latin music soundtrack? Check. Solid city builder gameplay? Check. Is this Tropico 6? Tropico 5? Tropico 4? Loyal Penultimo would struggle to spot the difference, and players might decide at some point to ditch El Presidente for a new one bringing some fresh air... if only there was one in sight.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Sonic Origins Plus is the best way to play 16-bit Sonic video games. Skill challenges, modes specifically designed for speedrunners, and the ability to play each level with all the series' main characters make this collection a must-have for Sonic fans, despite the quite high price. The museum, once all the entries have been unlocked, is a great source of information, and the platformer action is still able to entertain after thirty years. The Game Gear section is unlikely to spark interest, but the more the content, the higher the value.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    When you want to get rid quickly of level bosses just so you can get back to running down ramps and trampolines, there is something amiss with the balance of the game. And this is exactly the issue with Solar Ash: common enemies aren’t a big threat and boss battles break the flow, and not a in a great way. Exploring the game's bizarre worlds, on the other hand, is extremely fun, and requires above average amounts of skill and timing. If you are looking for a fast-paced 3D action platformer that also offers a good story, Solar Ash is a solid choice.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    UFC 5 is a decisive leap forward compared to the past as well as a game that takes the discipline it tries to simulate into very high regard. The approach is profound and requires both commitment and concentration even in the least simulative mode. On the other hand, it can be very rewarding once you have mastered the mechanics. The transition to Frostbyte was positive not so much in the graphic leap, which was still evident, but in the animations and the links that connect them.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    With its unique system of buying perks with hit points, Revita can reward the ones who dare or punish the reckless ones. A twin shooter roguelike in which to experiment in search of the best powerup combos, fast paced and suitable both for those who want to try and try once more for the perfect speed run, and for those looking for a game to play in short sessions, almost in a casual way. Unfortunately, bad luck can be a decisive factor when it comes to success or defeat, since only a handful of the more than two hundred available upgrades are real gamechangers.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Crisis Core Reunion is the prequel that if you haven't played, then you absolutely have to recover and this operation is just for this, to aesthetically insert this chapter in line with the modernization work of the remake of Final Fantasy VII and add a piece for the future of the relative remake. The defects it carries with it are those of a game that - on balance - was released in 2007 on a portable console.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    The gap was wide and had to be absolutely filled: after 6 years we see the arrival on PS4 of one of the most influential horror game of the modern times, Frictional's Amnesia: The Dark Descent, along with the expansion and the valuable spin-off by The Chinese Room. Grab it, if you love first person horror experiences.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    Hell is Others is a mix of genres mainly including survival horror and looter shooter, but once acquired the right equipment comes into play Free for All mode too. Skimpy inventory slots, permanent loss of loot and a quite high difficulty, especially at the beginning, make us move circumspectly, gradually becoming more swaggering as our character’s stats grow. But it's a snap to die and find yourself back at the beginning, and the feeling of perpetual vulnerability ensures constant tension. As in all PvP games, its future will also be decided by the amount of updates and events added by the developers, but for the first dozen hours the fun is assured.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Little Nightmares is just blowing smoke. A wonderful and charming smoke, since the mood and the aesthetics are awesome, both for style and inspiration, but the gameplay lacks depth and the game is nothing more than a far-too-simple and linear platformer with some stealth and puzzle elements.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 68 Critic Score
    Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is a nice RPG, not too difficult nor too complex. This title has the best alchemy and combat systems in the series, and it's a perfect fit for the newcomers.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Death Squared brings the trial & error concept in the world of puzzle games. Nothing new, really, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless. If you’re looking for a game that will rack your brain, this is something worth your while. Be sure to have a friend to play with and, most of all, a lot of patience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Operator, developed by Bureau 81, is a video game of very good quality due to the many options it offers in solving the various puzzles it puts into play, also demonstrating a remarkable attention to discovery and reading, which Bastien Giafferi himself has never hidden as his great passion. The title, capable of engaging, could lead you to reflect on society and what really matters.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    NBA 2K20 remains a beautiful and satisfying title, but this time the loot box case heavily influences the final vote.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    An excellent action-RPG that follows in the footsteps of God of War and The Witcher 3 while proposing a very different but equally fascinating setting and two really cool main characters. Net of a few technical stumbles and some design naivete, Don't Nod's most ambitious project hits the mark rather well.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Hell is Us is a third-person action adventure that combines semi-open exploration and Souls-like combat. There are no maps or indicators: the level design guides the player through areas connected by environmental clues and dialogue. The combat system relies on stamina and light or heavy hits, and as hit points decrease, so does stamina, creating a vicious cycle that can be broken with the Healing Pulse, a technique that converts damage dealt into healing. The KAPI drone adds variety with support functions, while fights against Hollow Walkers and Haze offer a mix of interesting but not always varied patterns. The highly evocative atmosphere is marred by monsters that don't live up to the setting.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    There's a lot of potential that was only partially exploited in the Xenomorphs' VR debut, but there's no doubt that Part One has laid the foundations for something important: let's hope Survios takes the feedback to heart and delivers a spectacular Part Two.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Going Under perfectly combines the Rogue-lite genre in an irreverent and sarcastic environment. The frenetic and immediate action with a good level of difficulty without ever being frustrating goes hand in hand with a fun and ridiculously original story, a real breath of fresh air for those looking for a solid dungeon crawler without necessarily having to rescue a princess or recover fragments of some cursed artifact. A must-play if you love this genre of games, and also highly recommended if you want to give a try to a nice action game able to make you laugh between one kill and another.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Putting aside a limited amount of genres, SNK 40th Anniversary Collection includes an educational value that is unrivaled in the history of retrogaming, offering the definitive learning tool for all SNK fans.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Headquarters World War 2 is a seemingly poor strategy game, which opens up to beautiful gameplay as soon as you start a new game. A title to try if you love games similar to XCOM.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Beneath the wacky cover of The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles lies an old-school pixel art RPG that surprises above all with its meticulous level design, which blends procedural generation with hand-designed elements, giving each floor of the dungeon different puzzles, action, and personality. The hybrid turn-based and QTE combat works properly, and all the typical role-playing game elements are in place, suitably simplified. In between the quests, you can also have fun finding all the pop culture references from the last few decades.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Eastshade is a wonderful surprise. A videogame in which violence is not contemplated and which gives free rein to the exploration of the world, as well as the discovery of the characters that populate it. The artistic direction is also fantastic, lending itself perfectly to the protagonist's brushes. Despite some small technical issues, Eastshade is an incredibly deep and relaxing experience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Abzu is a videogame to love, live and relive. If you loved Journey, this new masterpiece from Matt Nava will astonish you, and will make your eyes sparkle. An underwater adventure that can be enjoyed on many levels, a love letter to the ocean and its wonderful seascapes. Not everyone will love it, but those who do will cherish the memories for the rest of their lives.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    No empathy and no rhythm are just two of the issues that prevent Before the Storm to reach our hearts in the same way Life is Strange did, two years ago. Let's wait for Episode 2 and let's hope for a deeper friendship between Rachel and Chloe, disconnected from sexual logic only.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    A never-ending masterpiece: Pac-Man CE 2 follows the main path of the previous episode, but it shows the cards in a different, thrilling way.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    RoadCraft sets out to do one very specific thing and it does it very well: it’s amazing how quickly the hours fly by when you’re busy paving roads, moving heavy loads, finding creative uses for mobile cranes, and cursing the mud. Sure, it could use some tweaking to some of the minor things, like the interface or audio issues. But otherwise, it’s hard not to be satisfied. Bringing a few friends along isn’t a bad idea, though: some tasks can seem downright daunting for a single operator of heavy machinery.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Pokémon Legends: Z-A is fun, but it's clearly light-years behind industry standards and what one would expect from the most profitable franchise in video game history. The good ideas are completely drowned out by shoddy graphics and dialogue that still believes children need to be banal and simple, ruining a plot that works at its best and finally gives dignity to the characters and the plot holes that Game Freak missed in the sixth generation.

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