The Games Machine's Scores

  • Games
For 2,656 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:
2658 game reviews
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    There's a bit of everything in Luto. Wandering through its endless rooms and corridors that only appear to be the same, you will perceive visions of Silent Hill, references to the legendary P.T. and many other echoes from other psychological thriller games, from Layers of Fear to the underrated Reveil. A brief descent into the depths of the mind, but one that will linger in your memory even after the credits roll.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Vampire Crawlers attempts to recapture the sensations of playing Vampire Survivors through a turn-based roguelite hybrid of dungeon crawler and deck-builder. The experiment can be considered largely successful, although the game's pacing suffers from a mid-game phase that leans too heavily on grinding, while—as it currently stands—replayability is quite low. In this regard, the situation could improve with the updates that have already been announced; however, the nature of these new additions remains an unknown quantity.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Disney Epic Mickey is back, this time as a multiplatform title. The game formula is still enjoyable thanks to the magic brush mechanic and the graphic facelift operated by Purple Lamp is appreciable, as are the improved camera system. Unfortunately, the longevity remains quite poor, also due to secondary activities that are not particularly stimulating.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Best Served Cold is a graphic novel set in a speakeasy with decadent charm, located in a city in an alternative Eastern Europe. With a strong narrative and investigative component, the game places us behind the bar, mixing cocktails and confidences. Twenty-two characters each with their own personality, branching dialogues, noir atmosphere and inspired art direction make for a deep and engaging experience. The approach is slow, thoughtful and entirely based on listening, intuition and careful reading of details. For those who enjoy complex stories, subtle moral choices and conversations that can change the course of events.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Steel Seed is definitely not a perfect title: it suffers, in particular, from a combat that is not very clean, from occasional glitches, and from a story that has very few high points. It remains, however, a game of average quality characterized by spectacular settings and a soundtrack with some nice moments. If in the future Storm in a Teacup manages to fix the feel pad in the hand of its games, it is not impossible that in five years from now the Roman group will be able to surprise us with some nice things.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Might & Magic: Chess Royale is a decent representative of auto chess games, taking most mechanics from existing competitors. The hybridation with battle royale genre is only taken so far, which is a true pity.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Blood & Truth is the macho simulator par excellence. The tracking is reliable and accurate, while the abundance of crazy scenes guarantees an explosive and varied adventure, at least while it lasts. It has a serious need for extra content, but its heart is in the right place, in the midst of a thousand explosions and a shower of bullets and broken glass.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Ea Sports UFC 3 is a pretty good mixed martial arts sim, deep and spectacular enough. The gameplay feels a little bit unbalanced, the Career has some unconvincing moments, and the multiplayer forces the Ultimate Team mode on the player. The game is intense and satisfying, but there's still room for improvement.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    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.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Capcom Arcade Stadium provides a generous bunch of golden-age arcade titles (with a little too much Street-Fighterism), paired with a vast assortment of options and gorgeous presentation.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    If you've always wanted to emulate a kung-fu action movie actor and have a few pounds to lose, you've come to the right place. There's a bit of repetition and an anachronistic rail setup to digest, but beating one bad guy after another relentlessly is a challenge that will test you both physically and mentally. Just like the real kung-fu masters admired in the movies, yes.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Although the gameplay of My Memory of Us might seems simple, or even trivial, I can’t help but notice that this game could be an excellent device to bring the younger ones acquainted with one of the darkest pages of human history. Using smiles and touching words, My Memory of Us ends up being the best method for us to understand our past so that the mistakes of our fathers won’t be repeated.
    • 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.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo is a good rally game, although it doesn't live up to its potential. In some regards it's better than the previous WRC titles from Milestone, the amount of content is truly remarkable, and the gameplay presents a less realistic and challenging experience.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The Awakened is worth more for what it represents than for the game itself. Between graphics and gameplay it tastes old even if it is new, but it knows how to be a completely independent remake of the 2006 inspirer of the same name.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Pokémon Legends: Arceus is clearly flawed, yet courageous; it succeeds in the arduous mission of rejuvenating some of the clumsy axioms of one of the most conservative series around, laying the foundations for an eventual rebirth of the brand.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a well-written and content-rich RPG that pays the discount of a technical profile that is anything but up to date. An unmissable appointment for enthusiasts, but perhaps we should advise newbies to start from the previous chapter.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX brings new life to the original games, confirming it as a good entry point into the world of dungeon crawlers for a generation of young adventurers.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Can the introduction of a jetpack, with related upgrades and powerups, give new life to Vampire Survivors like, which constantly flood us with new releases? If the technical implementation is as good as in the case of Hive Jump 2: Survivors, the answer is positive. It would have been even more interesting if it had procedurally drawn maps; knowing in advance the location of the most dangerous hives takes away that thrill of the unknown that would have made the atmosphere even darker, but it definitely deserves a place in the collection of enthusiasts of this genre of games. The door is closing though, the next ones will really have to come up with something new.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    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.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Sometimes less is more, but other times it's just plain less. The streamlined city-builder mechanics keep the player focused on the zombie menace, but the few military units and lack of strategic combat make They Are Billions repetitive. Ah, the game is also tough as nails.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Rock of Ages 2 is a typical "more of the same" and provides a lot of fun, until you discover that the dish gets empty in a little bit more than an afternoon. Surely, such a fortunate architecture should have deserved more content.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Cozy Caravan applies the concept of cozy gaming to a solid game structure based on trade, management, and exploration. Gameplay revolves around the classic economic cycle of gathering resources, crafting, and selling at weekly markets, with interconnected quests and progression driven by social interaction. The absence of time limits or real penalties makes the experience relaxing, but the graphics don't always support the good design ideas: flat textures, overly low-poly models, and a fixed camera without pan and zoom penalize the visibility of the scenes, especially in crowded areas. The aesthetics are certainly consistent with the cozy tone, but at times they border more on technical simplification than conscious stylistic choice.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    A bunch of new maps sniper-oriented and a new game mode is the proposal of In the name of the Tsar, an essential purchase for Battlefield addicted players, but exclusively for them.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator simulates the life of a novice alchemist trying to pave his way to fame and glory discovery after discovery. As in real life, it requires dedication and perseverance, which do not always go hand in hand with casual game philosophy. The system of moving along the alchemical map will entice you to experiment for a few hours in search of the ultimate formula, but an uninspired endgame relying on grinding might turn away even the most ambitious alchemists. If you're looking for an original sandbox puzzler and aren't afraid of repetitive gameplay, it's definite-ly an interesting game.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The Necromancer's Tale is a narrative RPG set in an alternate 18th century, where black magic and political intrigue intersect. The gameplay in the early hours prioritizes storytelling over action: character creation takes place through a long interactive prologue, which affects stats, reputation, and relationships. The pace is slow, but it offers depth in dialogue and moral choices. The trust system heavily influences interaction with NPCs. Turn-based combat benefits from good artificial intelligence, and once the art of necromancy is discovered, the action becomes much more compelling. A fascinating title that requires a good deal of patience, ideal for those seeking immersion and storytelling.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    It could be argued that this is a collection of roms and that, in one way or another, the PC community has found a way to challenge each other online for years, but the rich dose of extras and the presence of rollback and ranked matches alone is enough to give the collection an edge, not to mention a great way to legally own seven excellent games. To be had, hoping that sales will prompt Capcom to challenge Marvel superheroes again in the near future.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Road 96: Mile 0 will appeal to those who enjoyed the previous chapter. Instead of taking up the formula in its entirety, Mile 0 introduces a variation in the form of musical sections. The combination works conveying anxieties and concerns of the teenage protagonists. From a technical standpoint, the game is a bit backward, but it does feel acceptable.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    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
    • 78 Critic Score
    Showgunner blends real-time action and turn-based combat very carefully, adding nothing to either genre but placing them within a brutal reality show in which surviving is everything that matters. The result is fun and the game is recommended for loyal fans of the genre, but those hoping for some new features may be disappointed.

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