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
    • 96 Metascore
    • 99 Critic Score
    Baldur's Gate 3 is incredible, proof that in 2023 it is still possible to be amazed by a video game. It is deep, flexible, and engaging, but most importantly, it is able to tell an immersive story dictated by the player's smallest choices. Pioneers like Richard Garriott or Robert Woodhead can finally breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy a well-deserved retirement, because their legacy is safe in the hands of Larian Studios.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 99 Critic Score
    Red Dead Redemption 2 was fantastic on PlayStation 4, and it remains fantastic even on PC, with the addition of some aspects that were missing in the original edition.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 98 Critic Score
    Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is the crowning achievement of a team that has been able, over the last few years, to devote itself to every aspect of its work with particular and affectionate intensity, succeeding in the complex attempt to surpass what has been done in the past and outlining a production of great cultural depth. The production is touching, violent, brutal and physical, complete and brilliant. A must have.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 98 Critic Score
    Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the natural evolution of the already excellent Ori and the Blind Forest, a masterpiece and a milestone in the metroidvania genre. It’s a modern fairy tale with a lesson that should be accepted by everyone and applied without reservation in the everyday life. So be careful: playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps could make you a better person.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 98 Critic Score
    Valve selects the best features of VR action games and takes them to another level. Half-Life: Alyx is not innovative in choosing what is needed for the perfect virtual reality experience – between interactivity of the environment, gestural use of firearms or environmental puzzles – but it is in putting together everything in the style of Half-Life. The kind of first person game that made the series famous, and forever changed the action adventure into a "before and after Gordon Freeman", returns to linear origins without genres contamination, becoming an immersive sim only for what falls within our view, or what we can physically accomplish in a crazy City 17. Masterful.
    • 97 Metascore
    • 98 Critic Score
    Huge, technically incomparable and full of things to do: the Western epic from Rockstar Games manages to repeat the success of the first chapter, creating one of the most impressive video games of all time.
    • 96 Metascore
    • 98 Critic Score
    Tears of the Kingdom manages to surpass the perfection previously achieved by Breath of the Wild, an incredible achievement. I am very happy for the other software houses, who will now be able to spend a carefree summer, saving themselves endless work sessions in an attempt to create a contender for the game title of the year: right now, the current generation of game designers lacks unfortunately that spark with which to create a product capable of approaching the genius of Tears of the Kingdom.
    • 97 Metascore
    • 97 Critic Score
    Super Mario Odyssey is a true expression of joy: a vibrant explosion of colours, surprises, wonderful design and excellent gameplay. It's a perfect match between the past and the future: it makes you feel immediately at home, yet at the same time it's a constant offering of something new and exciting. If you were looking for an excuse to buy a Nintendo Switch, well, look no further.
    • 96 Metascore
    • 97 Critic Score
    The PS5 version of Baldur's Gate 3 offers a gaming experience as excellent as the PC version in almost every respect, and while it lends itself to a few minor technical stumbles, it plays great thanks to a perfect adaptation of the control system on the DualSense controller. Even on consoles the Larian Studios title quietly establishes itself as a new benchmark for the RPG genre.
    • 97 Metascore
    • 97 Critic Score
    Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a sort of mythical experience, that kind of trip where you end up asking yourself if the God of videogames truly exists, and if it does, it may have the face of Shigeru Miyamoto. A huge open world that keeps enchanting the player every step of the way, well beyond the end of the game. Breath of the Wild is the best Zelda ever made, and one of the best videogames of all time.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 97 Critic Score
    Elden Ring is the culmination of 15 years of work that have allowed From Software to improve, title after title, those consolidated foundations that have already given life to some of the most acclaimed games of all time, united by compelling stories and unparalleled gameplay.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 97 Critic Score
    God of War is the best thing that has happened to PlayStation 4 since Bloodborne. Nothing is out of place, nothing is ordinary. The art direction is amazingly inspired, the combat system is really deep and engaging, and everything on screen is, hands down, unlike anything else you have ever seen on the PlayStation 4. Honestly, there's no reason not to play this new masterpiece from Santa Monica Studio.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 97 Critic Score
    With the exception of some moments in which textures and flickering betray that this is a last-gen game, the PC version of God of War runs with excellent fluidity. Whether you are a lover of the original series or a new god of war, it does not matter: give this game a chance and you will not regret it.
    • 96 Metascore
    • 97 Critic Score
    The Wii U version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the same amazing, unforgettable experience you can enjoy on the new Nintendo Switch: the game runs pretty smoothly even on the old console, and despite being less powerful, the graphics are almost the same. If you're not buying Switch and already own a Wii U, this really is a no-brainer.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    Resident Evil 2 is one of the best remakes we’ve ever seen: it’s a bit different from the classical survival horror released in 1998, while still remaining true to the original game.
    • 95 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    Persona 5 Royal is not only a definitive version, but an even more refined and expanded game. One of the best JRPGs ever, alternative life and excellent gameplay, a game capable of marking an entire genre.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    Planet of Lana is a moving and intense videogame, capable of telling a story through images and delicate situations. Strengthened by a fluid and well-amalgamated gameplay, it offers always different and well-balanced puzzles. Must have absolutely.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    A surprising narrative that has no problem touching on even rather delicate themes is the basis for creating an indispensable adventure for every lover of Japanese role-playing games. Metaphor ReFantazio is a sort of wild card that excels in every category, from the writing to the combat system, passing through a continuous series of surprises that will glue you to the screen for many hours. As far as I'm concerned, this is my choice for GOTY 2024, without even thinking twice.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VII Rebirth successfully expands the universe of the original game, offering an experience that combines vast explorable regions, refined gameplay mechanics, and a deep and engaging combat system. The technical improvements of the PC version, such as support for 4K, DLSS, and frame rates up to 120 fps, enhance the visuals and fluidity, making this edition the best way to enjoy the adventure. Although some secondary activities sometimes break the narrative rhythm, the title impresses with its ability to reinterpret classic events and expand the story, in order to give emotions to long-time fans and newcomers alike.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 96 Critic Score
    It Takes Two is absolutely stellar. Extremely varied, never boring, fun and exciting to play, incredibly pretty and with great character writing. If you enjoy cooperative play, you owe it to yourself to play it.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Halo Infinite succeeds in bringing the series back to its roots without forgetting to make several changes useful to renovate its formula. The single player campaign is exciting and diverse thanks to its compact and never dispersive open world structure, while its multiplayer takes everything that’s good about Halo to deliver an engaging, modern and fun experience. Unfortunately, it’s not free of issues which, however, only concern the outline of the experience, such as the playlists structure and the progression system. Luckily, those issues were already recognized by the developers and are in the process of being addressed.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Red Hook Studios refined the art of Darkest Dungeon in every sense, making it extremely difficult to find any defects. It’s a brutally challenging strategy games and it’s well suited to embrace the new roguelite form. Do yourself a favour and try it right now.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Kingdom Hearts 3 succeeds in the difficult task of living up to expectations without shaking up its foundations but improving on the strengths of the previous chapters. Spectacular in its artistic direction, exhilarating in its fights and fulfilling on the narrative side, to be fully appreciated Kingdom Hearts 3 requires, however, that its public is aware of the intricate background of the saga. After waiting for so many years, recommending the last adventure of Sora, Donald and Goofy would only be a negligible formality.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Thinking of The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe as just a remaster or a sequel to the original would be doing it an immense disservice. Yes, it's The Stanley Parable with more content and on new platforms. But it's also much more than that: it's a criticism of the industry's over-reliance on DLCs and sequel, it's a tale that makes us reflect on what videogames are and should be, and it's a powerful window on Davey Wreden's evolution since the original. Unmissable.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is an explosive pack. 3D World returns with an improved pace, while retaining the stellar gameplay that characterized it when it first launched, and of course being still as hilarious as it was back then. Bowser's Fury takes the lesson a step further, creating a small and dense open world that will put you to the test with a sense of urgency unlike any other Super Mario game. The result, needless to say, is pure, unadulterated joy.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The best episode of the series, and one of the best sports games ever. There's nothing more to say.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Ghost of Tsushima is greater than the sum of its parts: it does not reinvent the wheel in any of its aspects, but offers an experience that will thoroughly entertain lovers of open world and oriental settings.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Art of Vengeance is a title capable of redefining what a 2D action platformer can offer today. Lizardcube succeeds once again, combining technique, style, and rhythm with a mastery that captivates both longtime nostalgics and those approaching the Oboro Clan for the first time. Every fight is a lethal dance, every stage an invitation to explore and improve, and every extra feature a challenge that rewards dedication and commitment. It's an intense, elegant, and ruthless experience, where every victory is earned on the field and every mistake is paid dearly. A return in which past and present collide uncompromisingly, reminding us why Joe Musashi is, and remains, a legend. And now, friends of Lizardcube, how do you feel about bringing Golden Axe out of retirement?
    • 84 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    OlliOlli World is one of the best platformers of recent years, a spectacular interpretation of the skate genre and, in general, a very fun, serene game, as relaxing as it is competitive, as spiritual as it is consistent and muscular.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Persona 3 Reload is a sensational work that is not just satisfied with being a remake but is, consequently, something that reformulates the development of ATLUS video games for an even wider audience. Choosing one of the greatest and most powerful works of the JRPG genre, thus forging a title to improve and revisit a work of the genre, was by no means an easy and immediate task. Indeed, it was something extremely complex. A great return that can be summed up in the term "Masterpiece".
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

?
    • 75 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    There’s no doubt Arboria is an interesting rogue lite, but perhaps it was been published at the wrong time, in a market really overcrowded by games of the same type. The game offers captivating graphics, the original setting and the robust combat system, as well as the interesting character skill tree have but also lacks variety, which combined with the absence of side quests tends to make every run look the same. I still enjoyed, although the long waiting times between one run and the next are a poor fit for the genre.
    • 72 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Another generation of the Nintendo Sports series, that once again delivers a truly enjoyable and entertaining experience. Still, the singleplayer experience could use some love.

Top Trailers