The Games Machine's Scores

  • Games
For 2,650 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:
2652 game reviews
    • 47 Metascore
    • 68 Critic Score
    Extinction is a rather unpretentious blend of Shadow of the Colossus, Assassin’s Creed and God of War. There's some parkour action, some humans to rescue and many giant monsters to decapitate. The main quest is pretty thin, gameplay and story wise, and you'll end up enjoying the various and challenging secondary objectives of every mission much more.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Fable Fortune doesn't reinvent the wheel, and the few new things it brings to the table (pun intended) are not that good. It's unlikely that it will find a spot in the crowded arena of CCGs, even with cross-play between Xbox One and PC. Well, it's free, anyway, so if you're a fan of the genre, it may be worth a try.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge could have been the chance of a lifetime for all the motorbike fans. The Snaefell Mountain Course is glorious, the lights are great and wind blows like in an epic tale, but game itself is quite a wasted opportunity. The simcade racing gameplay is harsh and unforgiving, and sometimes you just don’t feel the motorbike. A part from the handling issues, the game lacks of contents beside the Snaefell, and the career mode is flat and emotionless.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    The conversion of Impact Winter took advantage of a great process of polishing (applied to the PC version as well), but it did not turn the game into a masterpiece: the design flaws are still here, as well as the intricate control system and some fuzzy storytelling.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 62 Critic Score
    Hellmut: The Badass from Hell tries to carve out a place in the twin-stick shooters arena, but the bullet hell/roguelite gameplay dynamics are a little sloppy and unsatisfactory, without a real sense of progression during the game.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Despite some technical issues and a skimpy single player, Empires Apart is an enjoyable and well balanced old-style RTS. If you are in search of a competitive multiplayer game, look no further.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Uncontroversial and unspectacular, Bridge Constructor Stunts is pretty shallow and uninspired, for a puzzle game that has a very limited lifespan. The idea of mixing bridge building and driving could have been much more interesting and exploited, but unfortunately that is not the case.
    • 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.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    World of Warriors is a melee action game with tons of special powers and modifiers, and a frantic yet deep gameplay. The single player campaign offers a good variety of events and locations, and unlocks that do not need in-App purchases (although grinding remains mandatory if you want to succeed in the boss fights). A great and addictive time-consuming experience, even on PlayStation 4.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Detective Pikachu is a simple yet charming adventure, with a great roster of cast members and an adorable couple as the main characters. A must buy if you have kids who love Pokémon; on the contrary, if you consider yourself a true adventurer, remember that this one's a pretty easy game.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sea of Thieves is a game with great potential, but it's undermined by a lack of variety and depth. Meditative alone, fascinating and epic in multiplayer, the navigation experience provided by Rare is truly unique and brilliant. On the other hand, the extreme freedom given to the player cannot be fulfilled because of clumsy boots on the ground mechanics and a quest structure that is far too repetitive.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    The Switch version of Outlast 2 is not too different from the PC and console versions released last year, and that's surely something, even if some compromises have been made. Content-wise, the game offers a new Story mode and not much else. At the end of the day, Outlast 2 is still a must-have for every survival horror fan out there.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    We cannot deny that Far Cry 5 is another "more of the same" entry, warts and all, but the religious fanatic setting is spot-on, and Montana is simply wonderful (and Joseph Seed is one of the best villains the series has ever had). The open-world approach to the game works as usual, and the more you look at it as a big, sumptuous playground, the better. The Arcade mode has a lot, plenty of potential that will show its best in the upcoming weeks and months, when the community starts toying with the powerful editor. Even as it is now, Far Cry 5 is an excellent chapter in the series.
    • 47 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Despite a quite brilliant look, the 27 minigames designed by Shiver Entertainment are meaningful and fun only for a couple of nights with friends. Unfortunately, they soon become a clumsy attempt to recycle well know mechanics in very superficial way.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Frantics is a fun and polished collection of minigames, made unique by its wonderful aesthetics. The gameplay is very effective in bringing out the worst and most competitive side of the players involved, so it’s perfect for a night with friends. Ruthless competition, misconduct and wicked behaviour are combined well with a game system that, while maintaining the inclusive philosophy of PlayLink, do not skimp so much action and rhythm. In the long run it may become a little bit repetitive, but until then it’s amazing.
    • 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.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    The Switch version of Gekido Advance is a pretty good title, especially considering the price. The Italian NAPS team added a bunch of stuff and new content that will be appreciated by everyone, even by fans that played the original release.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 48 Critic Score
    Let's be brutally honest: this new edition of Titan Quest is simply terrible. Technically it's a disaster, with a constant flow of bugs and glitches that seriously undermine the game experience (there are still references to the keyboards commands). It's too bad, because the original game was a great hack 'n slash.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Pure Farming 2018 is still a pretty sour plant (pun intended): technically modest, with a narrow roster of farming vehicles, and limited possibilities for the players. Despite the name, it's not a "pure" simulator, and the arcade approach may turn away the fans of the genre. The seeds have been planted; we'll wait and see if they will bear fruit.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Despite the good technical remaster, Assassin’s Creed Rogue finds its definitive form out of time. It’s hard to suggest to play such an old episode of the Ubisoft saga when you can play Origins, which just gives to Assassin’s Creed a brand new life. However Rogue is a fair Black Flag spin-off, and if you are a fan of the saga and never had the chance to play the role of the betrayer of the Creed, it may be worth a run.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Another bad porting of a mediocre collection, that definitely doesn't stand the test of time. It's pretty pricey as well, and the only title worth of your money is probably Dante's Awakening. It could – and should – have been better.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Despite some missteps, such as a certain repetition, Attack on Titan 2 is bigger and more interesting than its predecessor, and it's a must have for the fans of Isayama. Is a solid tie-in, but its appeal is just for them.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Ni no Kuni 2 improves over its predecessor in almost every way: it's more polished, the gameplay is more refined and has a good pace, and the story would look good in a Studio Ghibli production. Ni no Kuni 2 is an absolute joy to watch and to play, it's deep yet not complicated, and a true and genuine JRPG.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Mulaka is a traditional action adventure, ispired by Okami, that tries and tell the roots of the Tarahumara culture. The game developed by Lienzo is constrained by an all too linear gameplay, a bland level design and a boring combat system (except the boss fights). It's presented in an elegant package, it can be played peacefully, but it's not bound to leave a mark.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    In certain respects, Burnout Paradise aged pretty well: under the revamped visuals and the smooth frame rate, this remastered version keeps the original gameplay unaltered, and that means sheer, chaotic fun and adrenaline-pumping races across Paradise City. Sure, some gameplay elements feel a little older today (where's the fast travel?), but honestly, who cares when you're having so much fun?
    • 82 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is an excellent sequel, improving almost everything over the predecessor, and with an art direction true to the Warhammer universe. The gameplay is bound to be a little bit repetitive, and the RPG elements aren't so deep, but the co-op experience is excellent: fighting the hordes of Chaos with three other friends is exciting, and definitely recommended.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Surviving Mars is another shiny diamond in the chest of Paradox Interactive: a multi-faceted, well designed city builder with a pretty unique approach and visuals. The gameplay is simple enough to get the attention of the player, but ultimately immersive and engaging.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Subset Games are the leading authority of addictive puzzle games, and Into the Breach is their magnum opus: game over after game over, you'll discover a puzzle game capable of keeping you engaged and entertained. Into the Breach needs to be slowly savoured, tasted and finally loved. Unless you hate the genre, that is.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Like its predecessors, Yakuza 6 is a beautiful, engaging and deep title. Nonetheless, after seven main chapters, countless spin-offs, remastered versions and remakes, a slight whiff of deja vu is almost inescapable. Having said that, The Song of Life is a great conclusion to an unforgettable saga.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Kirby Star Allies remains faithful to the vision of Sakurai, though it's much easier and very funny at the same time. The journey will be anything but challenging (and there are a couple of interesting extra game modes), but it will be an entertaining one. Definitely recommended for a younger audience, or if you have children.

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