The Games Machine's Scores

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For 2,652 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 Real Farm
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,061 out of 2652
  2. Mixed: 568 out of 2652
  3. Negative: 23 out of 2652
2654 game reviews
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    • 72 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
    House of Ashes marks a change of pace from previous episodes of the Dark Pictures Anthology, offering a horror story that also focuses heavily on action. The plot, which incorporates elements of films such as Aliens, Predator and The Descent, does not shine for originality, but is overall enjoyable and sufficiently articulated. There is still some occasional uncertainty in the interactions between characters, but overall the dialogues are good and the narrative crossroads are numerous and lead to endings that have significant differences between them. The new gameplay features do not change the gaming experience, but improve it slightly, while graphics/sound remains on good standards.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    The Riftbreaker
    The Riftbreaker will throw you on an alien planet both lush and unforgiving, in what could be the perfect mix between a survival RTS and an action/shooter game.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    The Caligula Effect 2
    The Caligula Effect 2 is the kind of experience that works on paper, with a good basic idea and potentially intriguing protagonists. The game, however, is a hymn to banality and boredom without any redeeming traits. Fans (?) of the first game, with which it shares a weak narrative link, might find this game interesting. Everyone else should stay away.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Back 4 Blood
    Back 4 Blood isn't perfect and doesn't revolutionize zombie-themed co-op FPS, but it effectively demonstrates that, thirteen years later, the right ideas can revitalize superb but dusty gameplay.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Inscryption
    Inscryption turned out to be a small surprise, an indie title that breaks the rules of card games offering players something more elaborate and exciting, by adding in a mixture of roguelite, puzzle and horror. A pity that the game has no voiceover: it would have made its particular setting feel even more alive.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 73 Critic Score
    Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
    Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl tries to be a challenger for Super Smash Bros. and aims for the weak spot of his opponent, showing off a stable and solid netcode. A good multiplayer and tight controls, though, are not enough to reach the stars. The roster is good and varied, but a little scarce right now (maybe DLCs will fill the gap) and characters lack characterization (no pun intended): a pity, because Nickelodeon’s original voices and music would have added a lot of value to the game.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Alan Wake Remastered
    Alan Wake remastered is a good upgrade, both for old fans and new. The new textures and the modernized lighting system make the game a lot prettier to look at. A pity the cutscenes are 30 fps locked and their animations a bit sluggish, though.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Crysis Remastered Trilogy
    The Crysis Remastered Trilogy gives new life to three outstanding shooters of the recent past.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles
    When I look at Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles I keep seeing the usual formula that Cyberconnect2 has been using for years of anime tie-in fighters. It’s still an enjoyable and fun fighting game, if you care enough to get into its more obscure mechanics, but it could have been much better with more emphasis on a proper training mode and a more fleshed out campaign. Nonetheless, it’s also one of the prettiest game ever developed by the software house that created .Hack and a proper celebration of the bombastic action sequences of the original animated series produced by world-known animation studio Ufotable.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 92 Critic Score
    Lone Echo II
    Lone Echo II proves once again how Read at Dawn is a top-of-the-class developer when it comes to VR.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Metroid Dread
    Metroid Dread convincingly shows that Samus Aran is, after so many years, still at the (or very near to) the top of the genre it helped define. MercurySteam's creation is exhilarating, well balanced and beautiful to look at; even the somewhat atypical E.M.M.I. sections are competently integrated with the rest of the game.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    A Juggler's Tale
    A Juggler’s Tale tries to find its space in the wide spectrum of similar games by impressing the audience with a truly suggestive and inspired aesthetic, a gorgeous front cover for a solid game. In just a couple of hours, it tries to establish a dialogue with the player, pushing it to reflect on serious themes such as freedom and free will, at the same time being aware of the paradoxes embodied by its mechanics. A good debut for kaleidoscube.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bonfire Peaks
    Even if the controls sometimes just make you wanna scream, Bonfire Peaks is a nice and small puzzle game worth playing. Its compact diorama levels are brilliantly engineered, using small spaces to test the player’s cleverness. Voxel graphics, more that just being nostalgic, help the game in recreating the right atmosphere of old adventure games like the original Tomb Raider.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Far Cry 6
    Far Cry 6 is a very expansive first person shooter with a compelling story, full of entertaining things to do and missions to accomplish. The enemies are a little too predictable but the gameplay is always fun, with tons of weapons to find and customize, and the incredible “pets” you can bring with you are just the cherry on top. Graphics and sound are high quality and very immersive.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 58 Critic Score
    JETT: The Far Shore
    JETT: The Far Shore has so much potential wasted due to its abysmal gameplay, the same gameplay that hinders the overall experience and undermines what good has been done on the artistic and narrative sides of the game.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    ATOM RPG Trudograd
    I am pissed at ATOM RPG Trudograd, as it is made with love and competence in every feature, but it neglects and trivializes the fighting too much, which instead should be a big part of Fallout's legacy. The result is still a great game with excellent writing and dozens of side quests, but when a shootout feels like a bothersome interruption, something is amiss.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    ActRaiser Renaissance
    Actraiser Renaissance is a skilfully made remake, but it does suffer from a couple of major technical and stylistic uncertainties. If you love Actraiser I recommend giving it a chance: the strategic portion has been significantly expanded and even those who know the original by heart will find new elements to play with.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania
    Banana Mania delivers the best levels, mini-games and modes from the 20-years old Super Monkey Ball series... and it's more fun than ever.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    Although far from being revolutionary, Kena Bridge of Sprits is a compelling action-adventure game with an heart-warming hero and really cute creatures to play with. Ember Lab put in this game all their experience in character design and animation, giving us a splendid – but also somewhat repetitive – cartoon movie to play with.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Castlevania Advance Collection
    The Castlevania Advance Collection is a fine piece of game preservation, collecting three good games and a half-assed dud thrown in for good measure. Joking aside, the games haven't aged as well as the NDS trilogy, but put together they make a must-have package for fans of the Belmont family.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    In Sound Mind
    In Sound Mind is a well-done psychological horror, fun and stimulating from start to finish. It’s less scary than expected and could be improved from a technical standpoint, but the mix of gameplay elements knows how to stimulate the player by offering them a new element to use in each level.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Sable
    Sable is a fascinating coming of age videogame with an incredible art direction inspired by the works of the late Jean Giraud.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The First Cases
    Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The First Cases is a solid adventure game. Poor mouse and keyboard support detracts from the overall experience, but the product as a whole is a worthy rendition of Agatha Christie’s books.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Hot Wheels Unleashed
    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.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    UnMetal
    While being a good clone of the original MGS, UnMetal does something few other MGS-like games did in the past: it not only emulates the stealth mechanics, but it replicates Kojima’s metareferential design, and it does so in a way that feels both fresh and funny. UnMetal plays with 80’s stereotypes and the player’s mind at the same time.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Diablo II: Resurrected
    With its pros and its cons deliberately left mostly as sharp as they were, confirming itself as one of a kind not only for the nostalgia effect on which the Vicarious Visions have focused, Diablo 2: Resurrected has thrown the Blizzard masterpiece twenty-one years forward with a crazy care. It was not and is not a game for everyone, but what a pleasure to deal with the Devil again.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    FIFA 22
    FIFA 22 kicks-off of the football season with a renewed edition, with the much-awaited Hypermotion Technology playing the leading role. The (numerous) new animations shine above all, while the gameplay has a slightly lower pace, with skills playing a lesser role. An interesting choice, that works quite well despite some issues (goalkeepers) that we hope will be fixed as soon as possible. As always, there is a rich choice of game modes, with a range of options able to satisfy both those looking for a quick & simple experience and those looking for a challenge that can last for months... or even until the release of FIFA 23.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set
    CyberConnect2 knows how to develop and port games, no question about that. It may not run at 60fps, but this pocket-sized version of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is still able to live up to its counterparts on other platforms. A pity that the last DLC was not included, considering it would have made the game even more appealing.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Death Stranding: Director's Cut
    On the PS5 Death Stranding is as beautiful as ever and this Director's Cut gives players a bunch of new and (quite) interesting content, but not enough to make it feel really new and fresh.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Sheltered 2
    Sheltered 2 follows the dynamics of video games on the managerial survival genre, improving on its predecessor but still not being without flaws. The new look is maybe a little rough, but not without its charms.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom - Prince's Edition
    Ni no Kuni II is a good game, rather on the easy side but blessed with a unique charm. This Switch version comes across as the least performant of the bunch, but the inclusion of DLC and portability are good reasons to consider it if you really don't have any other platforms to play on.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Rustler
    Rustler has some obvious technical and structural limitations but it is the first to laugh at them because it knows you should never take yourself too seriously. That's what it does and that's how it goes for the player too, who cannot avoid to be captivated by the absurd medieval setting, by the old style gameplay and by mountains of elegant vulgarity.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Gamedec
    Gamedec was a nice surprise: a cyberpunk detective story with a progression system that rewards intuition and perseverance without holding the player's hand. The dense network of questions and answers, together with the different endings available, guarantees robust replayability.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 67 Critic Score
    Tormented Souls
    Tormented Souls tries to capture the magic of the good, old Resident Evil titles. The game delivers a genuine scary atmosphere and decent storytelling, sometimes overwhelmed by poor graphics and some technical issues.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Lost Judgment
    Lost Judgment is a high quality sequel. It’s fun to play, despite the few gameplay changes compared to its predecessor, and has a very engaging and well-acted story. There is never a moment of boredom when playing in the role of Takayuka Yagami, moving between Kamarucho and Yokohama in search of the truth, with a thousand doubts in mind, a thousand enemies to defeat and a thousand extra activities to try.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Encased: a sci-fi post-apocalyptic RPG
    Encased is an old school RPG with lots of content and an exciting story. However, it is perhaps a little bit too faithful to the classics.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    WarioWare: Get It Together!
    WarioWare: Get it Together is a clever game: true to itself but incredibly fresh thanks to a simple yet ingenious intuition that revolutionises the axioms of the series without distorting it. It won't last long for lone players aiming solely for the end credits, but those with friends to challenge or collaborate with will find it a great party game.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Deathloop
    Deathloop is an unusual but fascinating game to be experienced in one breath as a superb noir thriller in which, however, we are the killer. The AI is out of place compared to the rest of the game and it's not a perfect game, but it's not afraid to dare, it has style in spades, shows the creative team’s burning passion in every corner and when finally get that perfect loop, the satisfaction is immeasurable.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    The Artful Escape
    The Artful Escape is a hard to define game. Light platform and rhythm’n’game elements are diluted inside a narrative driven gameplay that tasks the player with life and artistic choices. While the gameplay is bent to the main thematic of the game, visual and music take the mind of the player through an epic, psychedelic journey in a rock, sci-fi, over the top space opera.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Lost in Random
    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.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Life is Strange: True Colors
    Life is Strange: True Colors catches up with the original Life is Strange on a narrative level and, unsurprisingly, improves the experience with superior graphics quality, remarkable voice acting, and a beautiful soundtrack. Once stepped out of the bus, it will be easy to totally identify with Alex and be carried away not only by her search for truth but also, more simply, by the everyday life and warmth that only a place like Haven Springs can offer.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dice Legacy
    Dice Legacy is a competent strategy/survival game with some neat and well-implemented ideas; the random element is there, but generally easy to handle, and good planning trumps sheer luck. However, it isn’t particularly rich in content, and it might get grindy if you’re aiming for the hardest difficulties.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Tales of Arise
    Tales of Arise is a great game and a significant step forward from its predecessor, a wonderful mix of bright narrative and excellent gameplay.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Golf Club: Wasteland
    Golf Club: Wasteland is a masterpiece in the art of telling a big story in a tiny game. Ruins of our Earth, devastated by climate change, speak to the player through the music and the chats of the great Radio Nostalgia and the ironic neon signs of Alphaville. In the meanwhile, the silent Charlie from Mars plays an intense and challenging arcade golf game, where you can never tell what happens next. It’s rare to find so much greatness in a small indie game.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    The Medium
    The Medium on PS5 is pretty much as good as it was on Xbox Series X, despite some graphic flaws and loading issues. Luckily, the DualSense features manage to fill the gap.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    WRC 10 The Official Game
    The franchise doesn’t make the hoped-for leap in quality, it just takes a step in the right direction: this will hardly be enough to satisfy the most demanding drivers or those who already own WRC 9, but several off-road enthusiasts may still consider it more than enough to have fun.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions
    Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is like a 90’s game: good for short sessions of play, with only few modes, a cheating AI and a lot of pressing the same button over and over. Despite all that, it manages to be entertaining for a few hours, but you’ll soon get bored of fighting the same boxer but with a different skin. The strange, over the top narrative Arcade is enjoyable, but with just one more mode (Versus), there’s no way to get to the twelve round without getting tired of its basic mechanics.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Baldo: The Guardian Owls
    A complex, amazing Zelda-style action adventure set in a beautifully crafted world with plenty of towns, creatures, buildings, shops and NPCs. There’s a lot to discover and a lot to play, although some mechanics might feel dated to younger players. The game suffers from some still-to-be-fixed bugs which can be annoying. Overall, NAPS Team did a great job, and brought us a game that Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli could have done themselves.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Dreamscaper
    In a crowded roguelike landscape, Dreamscaper tries to stand out by adding a narrative, advendure-like mini section, which is so well-crafted and interesting that it almost overshadows the action segments. The game offers good graphics and a cool soundtrack, but also repetitive puzzles and unconvincing enemy design. Luckily, the combat system is excellent, which makes a great pick for any action roguelike fan.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 67 Critic Score
    Madden NFL 22
    Madden 22 is not a huge step forward in a series that needs to shift gears to return to its former glory. There is no shortage of interesting ideas, too bad that there are quite a few gameplay issues and that some game modes (Face to the Franchise, for example) are way too boring and uninteresting.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Lake
    Lake is a truly beautiful narrative adventure. The sound design is excellent and the story progresses in a delicate way, with feeling. An oasis of relaxation in a chaotic world that is always in a hurry.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Sonic Colors: Ultimate
    Sonic Colours: Ultimate improves on the fine game released many years ago on Wii, but after all this time it was fair to expect something more, especially for the hedgehog's 30th birthday.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    No More Heroes III
    No More Heroes 3 is a glorious sequence of boss fights, spectacular, fun and crazy, but surrounded by a really bland open world. If you're a fan of Travis it remains a recommended game, especially considering the previous games adopted a very similar structure, but everyone else would do well to wait for a price drop.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Twelve Minutes
    Twelve Minutes takes advantage of a time loop to tell us an intricate story, managing to motivate player's creativity in trying to prevent seemingly unavoidable situations. Featuring a breathtaking voiceover, it lacks in credibility when it tries to amaze and horrify at any cost, while successfully managing to blow the audience away. It will give you a fulfilling afternoon, and if you love point and click adventures you shouldn't miss it. You can easily see the first two or three endings, but unlocking them all needs quite an effort.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Axiom Verge 2
    A remarkable sequel to one of the best Metroidvania ever made. Despite some minor flaws, Axiom Verge 2 represents a new building block in the fascinating and growing universe crafted by Thomas Happ. Can't wait for the next chapter.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    RiMS Racing
    Incredible attention to detail, an impressive physics model and a focus on the bike maintenance make RIMS Racing a strong first entry for a new IP; however, the erratic AI and self-harming design choices reduce the overall enjoyment of the game. Also, day one DLCs are never a good look.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 94 Critic Score
    Psychonauts 2
    The very existence of Psychonauts 2 demonstrates that good ideas have to overcome a thousand difficulties before being realized, but in the end they somehow impose themselves. It took years for the first chapter to overcome people’s skepticism but, day after day, it has built up a fan base so large that we were finally able to play with a full-fledged, high budget sequel. And it's beautiful. Pleasant, original, colorful, compelling. Do you need more adjectives to be convinced?
    • 63 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    King's Bounty II
    King’s Bounty II is a decent turn-based RPG, but it’s also one of the most derivative games out there.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Aliens: Fireteam Elite
    Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a valid cooperative shooter, one where you can just drop in and shoot stuff with glee, or put your coordination and teamplay to the test if you’re looking for a challenge. There are friendly AIs, but they aren’t great and solo play only works at the lower difficulties. Finally, while the game is competent and fun, it also shows its low budget.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
    A year later, Ghost of Tsushima is still a great game, and this Director's Cut is the definitive version, especially if you own a PlayStation 5. It's a great experience, but it's mainly for newcomers: the improvements are welcome, but hardly enough to tempt veterans of the original.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Humankind
    Sadly, Humankind isn’t Amplitude Studios’ magnum opus. Its interesting concept of civilization mix-matching is constantly let down by an uncompetitive AI and all sorts of balancing issues.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Road 96
    Road 96 is a nice revelation. The slow start gives the wrong impression of a game similar to many recent narrative adventures: well written, but without that peculiar something that can make it shine. Instead, its formula based on the repetition of the paths and on the procedurality of the encounters proved to be a great strength in the long run, capable of adding depth to the game and distinguishing it from its (valid) predecessors. More than this, it's the perfect game for summertime: a good song on the radio, the long road ahead of us, sunglasses on and a future where plenty of choices await.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    Greak: Memories of Azur
    One of the most intriguing action-platform games of the year. Greak: Memories of Azur is artistically gorgeous and its gameplay is simple but engaging.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Foreclosed
    Foreclosed manages to condense in a single game a decent shooter, a basic role-playing game and, why not, even a bit of science fiction thriller, which doesn't hurt. The problem, however, is who exactly this game is meant for: it is too light as an FPS, too basic as an RPG, and the puzzles aren’t deep enough for an adventure. It needs someone who wants to simply live a cyberpunk experience, as long as your expectations aren’t set too high.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 67 Critic Score
    Carrier Command 2
    The underlying gameplay is still so brilliant that it is painful to see it brought it down by obtuse and ancient systems that make the overall experience frustrating.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Hades
    Hades on PlayStation 5 is the essential masterpiece we all know, embellished by the 4K resolution and a mild use of the DualSense features. A real must-have.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Jupiter Hell
    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.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Boomerang X
    Boomerang X is a frantic and challenging arena shooter made to satisfy the needs of those interested in speedrunning the game or unlocking every single one of its achievements.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Orcs Must Die! 3
    Orcs Must Die! 3 does not innovate significantly – some might even call it lazy – but is an effective recollection of everything that made Robot Entertainment’s franchise so great in the past, turned up to eleven.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Silver Case 2425
    The Silver Case and The 25th Ward are both testament to the talent of one of the most picturesque, brilliant and punk directors of the videogame scene, capable of amalgamating, no one knows how, a series of themes, influences, styles and characters that in the hands of others would have turned into a disaster.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Vesper (2021)
    At a first glance you might think Vesper is something like Limbo with robots, but it's actually a great puzzle platformer with a bit of stealth. Thanks to the generous amount of checkpoints, it can be played as a casual game, a couple of screen at a time, or trying to beat the best time in a speed run, thanks to the embedded stopwatch allowing you to record and publish your game sessions without further editing. Great graphics and sound, with a gentle difficulty curve balanced by achievements not that easy to unlock. A debut with a bang for the guys from Cordens Interactive, who were able to mix a compelling story with a great gameplay.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    The Ascent
    The Ascent is a fast-paced twin-stick shooter immersed in an impeccably designed cyberpunk world, yet its plot fails to fully take advantage of this wonderful setting. Luckily, the shooting mechanics are quite satisfying, while the many different character customization options guarantee a fair range of approaches to the shootouts. There are also a bunch of technical issues that can be easily circumvented, but are still annoying.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fuga: Melodies of Steel
    Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a role-playing game focused on storytelling and combat, cutting out usually fundamental elements like exploration: an atypical but successful recipe, drawing strength from a cast of young heroes that are impossible not to love.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
    Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a solid turn-based tactical game, but also quite generic. That's because the developers did almost nothing to differentiate their game from other titles in the same genre. Recommended if you're a WH40K enthusiast, but demanding turn-based tactics fans might want to look somewhere else.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Chernobylite
    Chernobylite is an interesting game, full of interesting ideas and with a good amount of content to offer; unless you go straight for the ending, it will entertain you for a good twenty hours. It’s not perfect: the AI isn’t brilliant, the horror atmosphere isn’t quite there, and there’s some repetetiveness. But if you’re looking for something to satiate your hunger for trips in the Exclusion Zone, Chernobylite is a solid choice.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 91 Critic Score
    Microsoft Flight Simulator
    Microsoft Flight Simulator confirms itself as a true masterpiece on Xbox Series X as well, regardless if you are a fan of simulators or not.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 91 Critic Score
    NEO: The World Ends With You
    NEO: The World Ends With You is the worthy sequel to one of the most unique JRPGs created by Square Enix, and takes the strengths of its predecessor reformulating them as needed. The result is a unique game in style, mechanics and setting intended to keep completists busy for over fifty hours within a story full of twists and turns.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Samurai Warriors 5
    Samurai Warriors 5 represents the state of the art of the Musou genre: a game with divisive mechanics, yet refined and ready to give hours of fun to those who can appreciate this long-lived series. The others are unlikely to change their minds, although a demo is available on all platforms that I recommend you try.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
    The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is perfect for those who want to take a break from high-paced action games and want to spend a few hours between deductions, clues, evidence and interrogations. Ryunosuke Naruhodo's legal adventures are engaging, boasting excellent writing with imaginative cases (sometimes almost too much), a good dose of twists and great characters. Graphics are alright, but the lack of an Italian localization could make the game almost unplayable for those unfamiliar with the English language.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Hell Let Loose
    Although Hell Let Loose can undoubtedly be improved in some aspects, the prerequisites for long-time fun are all there, as long as you’re looking for a war simulator full of immersion, action, strategy and collaboration. Black Matter's WWII is harsh and unforgiving, but also stunning in its depiction of war.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Nemezis: Mysterious Journey III
    If you liked Schizm and its sequel, you will simply love Nemezis as well. However, 15 years later, we’d expect something more, with a slightly enhanced gameplay, while Nemezis is just a harder, shorter “more of the same” of Schizm 2.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Death's Door
    One of the most surprising games of the year, Death's Door delivers a frantic and greatly enjoyable action-adventure experience with an ipnotic noir mood.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    F1 2021
    F1 2021 incorporates (and improves) all the features of the previous F1 games developed by Codemasters. Driving is fun and can be adapted to suit both newbies and those looking for a sufficiently complex experience, although players who look for a full simulation might be slightly disappointed. Game modes are numerous, varied and well structured. Both those who love to run alone and those who prefer to compete with (or against) other players will find something that will keep them busy for months.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
    Skyward Sword is still not one of the best Zelda games out there, even after improvements added to this new Switch port, but it deserves to be played thanks to a great cast of characters, a good narrative and some interesting gameplay ideas that Nintendo developed further in Breath of the Wild.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
    Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a successful and must-have Japanese RPG for Adol fans, but it's not the decisive step forward that a legendary series like Ys deserves. The Switch version is plagued by too many technical uncertainties.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
    Monster Hunter Stories 2 turns out to be a good JRPG that will delight fans of the saga, especially those willing to turn a blind eye to its undeniable ease and a narrative held back by avalanches of fetch quests and a disappointing protagonist. Those who have played the first game should keep in mind that this is a more of the same, with all the pros and cons that this entails.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    PULSAR: Lost Colony
    Pulsar: Lost Colony is a bold title, especially for an independent studio that formed it from a Kickstarter project. Leafy Games developers have cleverly decided to embrace the technical limitations of their production, choosing to offer many small moments from a science fiction anthology, with solid management of their spaceship through well-defined and specialized crew roles. The overly spartan graphics and some environments that are too empty risk breaking the immersion, but if you have a couple of good friends to cross the galaxy with, you've found your game.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    GreedFall: Gold Edition
    GreeFall: Gold Edition is an update that offers more defined textures and adds 4K and 60fps support. A good addition to Spiders’ best game yet.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Wildermyth
    Wildermyth is the best turn based strategy game out in the latest months, and also a great RPG. I would have preferred a unique big campaign rather than small stories that aren't even that tied together, but smaller episodes could be more attractive to a casual audience. Artistically beautiful to the eyes, with a very particular style, capable of keeping you glued to the monitor for a long time, although there isn't that much to do when we aren't engaged in turn-based combat. To be played at a high difficulty level, turning the game into an epic chess battle.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 73 Critic Score
    Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny
    Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny follows closely in the steps of the excellent Disgaea 5 – perhaps too closely, considering it shows a distinct lack of interest into innovating its formula. The new stylistic approach also fails to convince.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Minute of Islands
    Minute of Islands is an adventure where the story and its themes get the main stage, while the gameplay is mostly there to get the story going, but it stands among other games thanks to the depth of its narrative. The added value are the outstanding illustrations, sort of a mix between Attack on Titan and Adventure Time, that manage to create a fresh, colourful, intriguing, but at the same time disturbing world, just like Mo's adventure.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
    Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance is a double-edged sword. The setting and the characters are sure to appeal to an R. A. Salvatore fan, and there are hints of a fun, entertaining game here and there. But they are often overshadowed by the many issues, such as extremely poor enemy AI and questionable design choices.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mario Golf: Super Rush
    Mario Golf: Super Rush transforms the most relaxing sport into a frantic race across the courses of the Mushroom Kingdom! Many modes, many ways to play golf, between battles and classic matches, adventures and boss fights, all relying on a great control system.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 71 Critic Score
    Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe
    Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe is a small, arcade soccer game that is super entertaining to play, at least for the first hours. As almost every other arcade sport game, when you learn to master all of its mechanics it gets a little less entertaining, but you can always use it as an old-style 1vs1 couch game with friends. Few rules, a fast pace and hilarious names are everything the Euro (or Copa America) summer needs.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Scarlet Nexus
    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.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Legend of Mana Remastered
    Legend of Mana is back on modern consoles after more than 20 years, and it's still quite enjoyable despite some gameplay wrinkles.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 61 Critic Score
    Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game
    Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games fails to revive the glories of the multi-event classics of the past. The development team's surprising choice in disciplines didn't pay off, with so many events lacking in appeal and quickly becoming boring. There are definitely successful moments (athletics, swimming) and with friends you can spend some pleasant hours, but in the long run there are no real reasons to keep playing and winning gold medals.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Red Solstice 2: Survivors
    Although I am convinced Red Solstice 2: Survivors will find its niche fanbase, I can’t really say the hybrid action/strategy gameplay impressed me. The single-player campaign is nice to have but it doesn’t stand out - the core experience here is definitely the multiplayer co-op.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood
    The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood feels like an expansion developed with a different degree of maturity. Rather than adding new classes or skill lines, it focuses on improving the new player experience, while also adding intriguing new story content and world events. The addition of AI companions also makes the solo experience much more appealing, although obviously you’ll still have to look for flesh-and-bone teammates if you want to tackle tougher trials and events. Overall, a solid expansion pack, although we wish we could have had a better look at the Seal of Endeavors system.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 58 Critic Score
    Open Country
    A brave outdoor life simulator in which you have to explore, hunt, and carry out repetitive tasks and missions completely devoid of appeal. The result is a game that is beautiful to look at (for its price) but rather boring to play; only recommended to the most motivated players.
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