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
    • 74 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    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
    • 78 Critic Score
    Sometimes, Seasons After Fall is a pleasant, engaging and delicate experience, with some nice and well crafted design ideas. Sometimes it's flat and boring, with a chaotic exploration and basic puzzles. It could be worthy of your time if you like the wonderful art direction and you're not looking for a challenging experience.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    JDM: Japanese Drift Master is the result of boundless passion, and as is often the case this leads a bit to overdoing it. The driving model is very good and overall the experience is fun and evocative. However, the game could have used a bit more refinement: it is still rough in some parts. Overall, however, JDM: Japanese Drift Master is spectacular arcade racing and definitely recommended.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Pathfinder Kingmaker is an incredible game full of content, capable of entertaining for a countless number of hours, especially considering the Definitive Edition includes all expansions. The porting, unfortunately, suffers from very poor optimization, and managing combat on a pad might prove a bit of a hurdle.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The new Battletoads is a convincing return for the historic Rare brand, characterized by excellent art direction and writing. Some pacing issues ruin the overall enjoyment of the game, but it is still a very satisfying experience.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    WWE 2K18 is very similar to the previous installments of the series: the gameplay is still somehow slow, but approachable and easy to learn. If you were hoping for a radical change, you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're looking for a game with a solid roster and full of spectacular moves, well, WWW 2K18 is the right answer.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Ministry of Broadcast has some weaknesses but also a lot of style. So much it feels original even if you can clearly see Ponce of Persia, Flashback or other classics inside his shell. All of this wouldn’t be possible without his strong narrative and his on-point irony: there’s nothing better than laughing to force your brain to work.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Despite an old-gen graphics engine and some balancing issues, Tales of Berseria is an ambitious title, with rock-solid writing and a rather deep gameplay. It could have been bolder, but the new installment in the Tales saga is an enjoyable experience, one that the fans of the saga will definitely love.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    After many years of waiting, Assassin’s Creed finally lands in feudal Japan. However, although Shadows’ gameplay is engaging and the setting visually satisfying, Ubisoft Quebec’s work is penalized by a particularly invasive live service structure and a plot that gradually loses its bite, until it reaches an unsatisfactory conclusion. Despite everything, the experience remains enjoyable, thanks to an open world full of activities without ever being oppressive and a combat system that fully enhances the peculiarities of both protagonists.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The epitome of fan service: Project x Zone 2 is a must have for all fans of the series. Everyone else should carefully ponder the purchase of a game that's too easy, and incapable of shaking off some of its well-known flaws.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    While not having the quality and personality shown by the greatest boomer shooters, Dread Templar is a fast-paced, fun and deep enough retro FPS that knows its stuff.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Stranger Things 3: The Game proved to be a much more mature and complex title than what could have been expected.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Lone Ruin is an action roguelike with an intense gameplay loop, the kind of game that you want to keep coming back to. A shame that, even for an indie game, it’s not particularly rich content-wise.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Bleach Rebirth of Souls is a solid fighting game based on Tite Kubo's manga, perhaps the best production related to the franchise. It's not a perfect fighting game and there are some problems with online matches, but it's a solid base to start from.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Ace Attorney Investigations Collection revives the fan-favorite spin-off series with a fresh take on the classic formula. The collection introduces Western audiences to the previously unreleased second entry, but long-standing series limitations may still feel dated. Despite this, the collection’s charm and the return of beloved characters should delight fans who crave more of what they love.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Len's Island is a distinctive mix of survival, ARPG and dungeon crawler. It makes you feel like an explorer grappling with a world that can't wait to be discovered. There are some flaws such as a technical sector that could be improved, but as a start to the adventure it's not bad.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Sol Cesto is a roguelike that transforms probability into pure gameplay: you choose a row, but the outcome is random, with percentages shifting every turn. The system—initially simple—grows in complexity thanks to modifiers, abilities, and items that allow you to bend the odds in your favor, creating a surprising depth of strategy. Its true limitations, however, lie in a slow progression and a heavy reliance on chance—factors that can lead to frustrating runs, even with solid builds. Nevertheless, it remains an original and intelligent experience, capable of standing out within the dungeon crawler landscape.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    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.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    A new Serious Sam game! And guess what? You get exactly what you’d expect! Siberian Mayhem is a mindless fragfest that does not overstay its welcome. Just a shame that graphics also seems to be coming from 10 years ago.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Redout: Space Assault is an aesthetically brilliant rail shooter, with a casual-gamer oriented gameplay but a lot of sci-fi appeal. Pleasant graphics, good soundtrack and low price.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Killsquad is a game that evolved significantly since it first arrived onto Early Access two years ago, and the result is a solid twin-stick shooter with looter elements. When it comes to loot drops, the balance is unfortunately a bit off, but overall the game is a fun mix of genres.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Spirit of Justice is exactly what you're expecting. The merits and the flaws the series is usual to embody are massively present, so you know what you're going to buy.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    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.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The first episode of The Council is a pleasant surprise. Big Bad Wolf has succeeded in inserting a snappy roleplaying system into a historical investigative-style narrative adventure, and the implications are surprisingly original, brilliant and ambitious. There are minor flows in the script and technical-wise it's quite clumsy, but it’s a good opening episode indeed.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a good and well-made remastered, It does not make who knows what changes to its game design, although we would have preferred more attention to the aspect of the TPS dynamics, however good and well made. Packed with gadgets, the work allows you to base yourself on the situations to be faced in often complete ways, and tends to be constant in the atmosphere.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Speed Limit is a kaleidoscope of pixels, bullets and ever-changing gameplay. It's very short and not that deep mechanically, but speed runners and nostalgic people will love it because it’s an intense challenge and an inspired love letter to the 80s/90s.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    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.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie may not mark the beginning of a new narrative arc, but it serves as a celebratory culmination of a beloved RPG series. With its well-crafted characters and intricate political storytelling, it offers a final chance to revisit the rich Trails universe. While visual aspects may show their age, the engaging gameplay and memorable interactions make this a worthwhile experience for dedicated fans. For newcomers, starting with earlier entries in the series is recommended for a proper introduction.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Swamps of Corsus is an excellent excuse to keep exploring the fascinating universe of Remnant: From the Ashes. The new marsh area is quite elaborate, while the additional enemies are well thought out. What is less convincing, however, is the Survival mode. In this case too the new mode is certainly welcome, but being completely disconnected from the campaign, it does not make much sense within the overall experience, and that’s because the cosmetic rewards are almost negligible.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    It's really not easy to recommend a roguelite with classic gameplay at this precise moment in history, yet Shadow of the Depth manages to entertain and offer a good level of challenge, so why shouldn't we consider it? The various classes offer distinct gameplay, and the ability to equip a warrior with a mage's items and successfully field test them opens the door to different builds to explore. Skill trees are lacking, and perks are not as crucial, but the growth of heroes run after run is evident and invites one to throw in the classic "last try." Nothing new, but all well implemented.

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