TheSixthAxis' Scores

  • Games
For 4,006 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 45% higher than the average critic
  • 7% same as the average critic
  • 48% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.5 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 71
Highest review score: 100 Ratchet & Clank
Lowest review score: 10 The Lord of the Rings - Gollum
Score distribution:
4133 game reviews
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ravenous Devils is a great little time management game available at a bargain price. If you have a taste for Gothic tales and the stomach for some grisly animations then I’d recommend you tuck in.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    F1 22 is like a slice of birthday cake a couple days after the party. Someone (probably your dad) has pinched the glacé cherry from the cream splodge on top of your Black Forest Gateau, but your mum's put some regular cherries, banana and apple slices on the plate to it to make up for it. The fruit doesn't make sense, but the cake's still pretty good. Still, you're left dreaming of what next year's cake will be like. Maybe your cake engineer will be smart enough by then to actually know who you're racing against, and maybe Will Buxton will get some new jeans that don't look like they've carved out of stone. Maybe it'll be a carrot cake.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If interactive narrative adventures are your thing, then you won’t find a better experience than Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! This is a glorious achievement, epic in scope, crammed full of meaningful choices, and tremendous fun to play. Highly recommended.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    ANNO: Mutationem’s sublime blending of 2D and 3D visuals is a delight to behold and a joy to experience. Fast-paced combat and competent RPG systems all deliver so, as long as you can accept the incomprehensible plot and naff dialogue, there’s a lot to enjoy.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Neon White is a love letter to turn-of-the-decade internet weirdos. It's full of rule-of-cool anime nostalgia, ear-shredding electronic music, and dialogue ripped straight out of my group chats. It's a genuine game made for an audience rarely prioritised, but even if you don't fit the archetypical person this game was made for, you're still in for the most stylish and satisfying action-platformer I've ever experienced.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Once the sun rises and the bloodbath ends, you’ll be itching to play The Quarry again to see what other outcomes there are. this is Supermassive’s most refined horror game to date, but it just falls short of snatching Until Dawn’s gore-crusted crown.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Capcom Fighting Collection plugs the gaps left in everyone’s fighting game collection, sans Rival Schools of course. With lots of customisation available for how you play, ten excellent ports and a loaded museum, you’d be remiss to miss out on this excellent piece of history.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is another enjoyable slice of Musou action, even if it does little to advance either franchise. Fans of Fire Emblem will adore chatting to the huge cast of returning characters as much as going into battle with them.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Starship Troopers: Terran Command is an interesting experience. It doesn’t do anything particularly original, or push the RTS genre in any way, but it perfectly mimics the aesthetic and humour of the original film, making for a pleasant, if somewhat frustrating RTS experience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Redout 2 is brutal, beautiful, and insanely fast. This is the first anti-grav racing sim, and we didn’t even have to wait until 2048 to get started.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Remote Life is a great shmup that's as creative as it is tense and challenging. The story and art direction are dark and grim, with more presence than is strictly necessary, but enhances the game's aethestic. If old school shooters are your thing then Remote life is one to check out.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Mario Strikers Battle League is a worthy entry in an excellent series that takes the best aspects of the previous games and hones them to multiplayer perfection.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    It is a shame that Samurai Riot Definitive Edition has such numerous technical issues, because they impact what would be a decent side scrolling brawler. Without the issues, the game would be a decent thing to play. One run through the game takes approximately two hours, but in its current state Samurai Riot is just frustrating.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A colourful world, an emergent soundtrack and tight controls make Ynglet one of the most memorable indie games I’ve played in some time. On occasion, the level design could be a little confusing, but it was never enough to ruin my experience. From start to finish, Ynglet is an exhilarating adventure based in a stunning world.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Winter Ember begins feeling off and gets worse from there. The opening doesn't give you enough information to get you interested in the story and then the game itself spoils the fun that can be found in the stealth and stealing. It had potential and perhaps if you're a stealth purist then you can look past the poor combat and put up with the others, but it's undoubtedly a missed opportunity.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cotton Fantasy is a beautiful love-letter to the best parts of an iconic, decades-old shoot-em-up franchise. The characters are cuter than ever, the shooting is funner than ever, and the wide variety of play styles and bonus stages to master makes this a game worth returning to plenty of times over.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A tale of high stakes con artistry in the early 1700s, Card Shark never lets up as it teaches you card trick after card trick, has you run con after con while immersing you in a conspiracy that'd make a royal blush.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An absorbing, interactive Doctor Who-style time mystery, which is, without a doubt, wholly unique.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Unexplored2 is an ambitious and interesting roguelike that falls short of what it could be. The unique Dungeons & Dragons inspired roleplaying system is let down by lacklustre combat feel and a litany of bugs that lead to frustration. I do think it’s a title that’s worth keeping an eye on though, as there’s a whole heap of potential resting just under the surface.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Kao the Kangaroo is an often-delightful throwback to a simpler time, paying homage to the 3D platformers of yesteryear while retaining just enough of its own identity. Most importantly, its platforming and combat are both on point, and thanks to its likeable characters you’ll want to see it through to the end.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With a new WW2 tale to tell and Axis plot to foil, Sniper Elite 5 expands and refines a lot of the action that will be familiar to fans of Sniper Elite 4. There's a few rough edges, but this is a fun stealth action romp for Karl Fairburne.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    I was hoping for something unique in the pantheon of Koei Tecmo’s long-lived franchise, but it’s a step backwards. Fans of the Touken Ranbu franchise may get a kick out of seeing their beloved swords in 3D, but for the rest of the world you have to hope that it isn’t indicative of where Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is heading.
    • 69 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Having spent a couple hours with the final release of Roller Champions, it’s definitely a future sports game that’s got some juice to it. It’s reductive to say it’s just Roller Derby Rocket League, but that’s also how it’s going to get people’s attention so it can showcase the kinds of skilful play and team-based gaming that could make it a success. Will it stick around for the long-run? Well, for that we’ll just have to wait and see.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Parkasaurus is a delightful park management sim. Its cute dinosaur designs and relaxed pace will suit all Jurassic fans, despite the obvious lack of Jeff Goldblum.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Played together with a group of friends and the wild array of modifiers mixing things up, Golf Gang is an absolute hoot, especially as both shot play and time count to your score. It's a party game through and through, but just feels a bit light (as many mini golf games do) when played on your own.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Swansong is a good investigative adventure dressed up in vampire finery, but doesn’t quite live up to my expectations due to some overly restrictive design and a disconnect between the third person perspective and the largely text and table top mechanics. Once some of the bugs are patched and there are resources available to support the build choices you make, there is a solid adventure to be found here. It’s not the new Bloodlines, but it’s an authentic Vampire: The Masquerade experience nonetheless.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Soundfall is a whole heap of rhythm-action, loot-driven, Discord-smashing fun. It’s also one of the indie highlights of 2022.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Apex Legends Mobile does a fantastic job of converting one of the biggest, and for my money the best, battle royale shooter to smartphone. A great batch of characters are included to start, it's comprehensive in the modes it supports, and does a decent job of converting the gameplay to work with touch controls. More than that, it makes sensible gameplay tweaks and introduces a number of mobile-specific features and improvements.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Evil Dead fans will love the amount of fan service on offer here, from the painstaking recreation of movie locations to Bruce Campbell’s goofy one-liners. However, when it comes to raw entertainment value, there’s an imbalance between the forces of good and evil. Playing as the survivors can be fun with friends but lacks the fun or variety of being an evildoer.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Trek to Yomi is a game that really does evoke the style of Kurosawa films, with a good story and good characters. However, it is let down by a combat system that can feel clunky and unresponsive against enemies that are a little too straightforward to defeat. If you enjoy sidescrollers and samurai then it may be worth spending the few hours it takes to play through it.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising has a slow and snore-worthy opening hour, but hiding behind that repetitive introduction is an incredible blend of high-octane 2.5D combat and rewarding resource gathering gameplay. The icing on the cake, though, is the Marvel Cinematic Universe-worthy parade of character cameos and appearances that promise some of the many faces you'll be battling alongside (or maybe even against) once Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes comes out.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is a great take on the turn-based strategy genre, encouraging front-foot combat with a strike force of empowered Grey Knights at your disposal. It takes a while to get going, the situations and enemies you encounter lack a bit of variety, but this is an accomplished effort that's easy to recommend to fans of Warhammer 40K and XCOM alike.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The rerelease of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a welcome one — it’s always good to see these games brought back for a new generation. The fighting feels as good as ever, and looks better than ever thanks to modern hardware, but the storyline and pacing almost feel antithetical in a franchise that was built on just that. Is it a solid fighting game that fans will love? Absolutely. Is it a must-buy for Persona fans? No, probably not.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the most ambitious Lego game yet, and despite the occasional technical mishap it delivers a daring and often delightful romp through the most iconic film franchise of all time.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rogue Legacy 2 is a sequel with great genes. The sense of progression constantly pulls your forward, all of the new mechanics and unlocks add a lot more depth and longevity to the game, and the combat and platforming feel just as solid as they did in the first game. It's an excellent roguelite that offers a lot of stuff to do as long as you're willing to put in the time.
    • 72 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Nintendo Switch Sports is a fun reminder of the Wii Sports craze, bringing back some classic sports and adding some new ones that make use of the Joy-Con and motion controls in more advanced ways. It's all just a bit shallow, though, and difficult to wholeheartedly recommend unless you expect to play online a lot or constantly break it out for local head-to-head battles. [Review in Progress]
    • 71 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Chernobylite is a game that's dripping in atmosphere, but doesn't quite hit the mark in other areas. If you can get past its clunky shooting and stealth mechanics, there’s some fun to be had in base building and people management.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    When weighing up the terrible controls, frustrating gameplay and predilection for box based torment, I can honestly say the tenner you could spend on Demoniaca: Everlasting Night would be better used to start a fire.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Nobody Saves the World is a funny, inventive, but repetitive action RPG. It's fun to explore the class customisation, but that comes after repeatedly grinding dungeons to level up new forms. You'll have to ensure you really enjoy silly jokes and cooking up custom classes, which are definitely the game's biggest strength.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Chrono Cross is an incredible game that has been deserving a remaster for far too long. It's a shame that, after all these years, it had to arrive in such a sorry state. The Radical Dreamers Edition does some minor work in improving and upgrading the experience, but with such poor optimisation, it's a headache to enjoy the experience. Longtime fans might be able to forgive the issues and savour the incredible visual novel side-story Radical Dreamers, but a game as iconic as this deserves better.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Moss: Book 2 expands and improves on its predecessor in every way. Whether it's the emotional attachment you develop with Quill, the surprising twists the story goes through, or the inventiveness of the combat and puzzles, Moss: Book 2 is creative in a way that delights at every turn. If you've got PSVR, it's pretty much essential.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Phantom Breaker: Omnia has addictive gameplay and a shocking amount of depth. The blend of simple attack inputs and advanced fight systems creates a beautiful blend. Aesthetic issues like inconsistent character art are easy to overlook if you're just here to fight some friends - but controller input issues and a command list buried five menus deep are big blunders that I doubt anyone could easily overlook.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Agent Intercept is a game that anyone could enjoy. The simplicity of its gameplay makes it approachable to all, while the objectives require practice and skill to complete. Agent Intercept may have started life as a Spyhunter reboot, but it definitely has its own identity. Stylish, slick, and satisfying, Agent Intercept is worth paying attention to.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    A dark-fantasy western RPG with a compelling world and an ambitious narrative, Weird West is undermined by awkward combat and micromanagement. Weird West's rotating multi-character perspective will be an acquired taste, but makes sense as a method of world-building. It’s got room to grow, but right now, it’s challenging to build momentum in the early game and to persevere through the mid-game.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Wonderlands mixes over-the-top combat, wonderfully absurd guns, interesting classes, and fun characters to create the best version of this series I've ever played. It's weirdly wholesome, patently absurd, and frequently obnoxious, but the intent feels far purer than what you might expect. When you then add in the excellent voice acting, and the fact that you can play this through with friends and strangers, you get a really entertaining FPS RPG that I'd be happy to recommend to anyone.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Get used to the slightly cumbersome controls, menu heavy play and perhaps choose for a slower pace, and Crusader Kings 3's innate charms can still shine through on console. This is still a game that's all about dynasty, family and roleplaying your way through the ages, and it's still just as compelling as ever.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Conan Chop Chop offers a (mostly) lovingly violent local co-up dungeon crawling experience. Sadly, a few too many frustrating gameplay issues rather take the shine off what would otherwise be a brilliant party game.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Elex II is a perfect continuation of the Piranha Bytes RPG formula, but it is unlikely to win over new fans. The graphics and gameplay are very similar to the first game and are beginning to feel increasingly dated, a feeling exacerbated by all the fantastic games released in the last few months. If you’re already a fan of Piranha Bytes then this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for, for good and ill.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Tunic had a lot to live up to after years of built up expectation, and it doesn’t just meet them, it shatters them and stands out as one of the most joyous gaming experiences I’ve had in years. It takes a little while to feel at home in Tunic’s gorgeously rendered world, but once it clicks and the secrets of the masterfully constructed in-game manual start to reveal themselves, the resulting game is up there with the likes of Zelda in terms of exploration and discoveries.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Kirby and the Forgotten Land makes Kirby's jump to 3D feel effortless, but it's much more than that, with the vibrantly styled decaying world to explore and the Mouthful Modes that will have you laughing with each new one that's discovered.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shredders is a breath of chilly mountain air in the face of snowboarding fans everywhere. If you miss the genre's heyday of Cool Boarders, 1080 Snowboarding, and Amped, then it's definitely time to strap on a new pair of digital bindings.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Rune Factory 5 takes a few missteps, for sure - the clunky framerate and a lifeless town being the biggest of them – but it's the kind of fantasy farming experience I've been clamouring for ever since the last game came out. The routine of tending your farm, clobbering some goblins, and giving your spouse a bunch of gifts is as addictive as ever. Even if this isn't the most polished entry in the series, it's absolutely a welcome return for the series that fans will eat up.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ghostwire: Tokyo was not the game I was expecting from Tango Gameworks, but I definitely enjoyed it. Blending magic-filled FPS action with Japanese mythology and an open world Tokyo that reminds me of the Yakuza series, it stands out from the crowd even if it’s not truly groundbreaking. Ghostwire has a lot of potential as a new franchise and I’m looking forward to seeing what Tango Gameworks does with it next.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    WWE 2K22 isn’t a good fighting game, despite the multiplayer being a bit of knock-around fun. The woolly controls, messy inputs, and numerous glitches lead to an underwhelming video game experience, while the lacklustre Showcase and MyRise game modes don't manage to replicate the bombast of professional wrestling, WWE 2K22 isn’t a particularly good wrestling game either. It’s a decent laugh in multiplayer, but with the notably hefty price tag I would expect a lot more than that.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Stranger of Paradise is one of “those” games - a scuffed diamond that's a joy to play, yet has unmissable imperfections. However, while annoying, a poor story and bland visuals don't diminish its punchy RPG action, nor its rewarding web of character customisation options. Needless to say, we’re pretty eager to see how Stranger is received by the Final Fantasy fandom.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gunborg: Dark Matters is a relatively short game, but it is packed with challenge and fast-paced action throughout. I like that you have to keep cycling through weapons as they drop to meet challenges ahead, and how satisfying it is to finally get through a stage. If you want an action platformer that will offer you a tough but rewarding experience then Gunborg: Dark Matters is for you.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is a gorgeous game with solid side-scrolling combat, but its genre shift to the roguelike form hasn't paid off. The progression system is slow and the upgrades you obtain are pretty deal, leading to a roguelike experience that doesn't do enough to incentivise sticking with it for very long.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I’ve never wanted to play a roguelike deck builder before because, quite frankly, they look really boring. Playing Roguebook proved how wrong I was. This is a devious and delightful slice of turn based card slinging strategy that will win over even the most cynical of deck building haters. I can’t think of any finer praise than that.
    • 41 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Babylon's Fall is just dull, repetitive and ultimately forgettable. The combat at the game's core so simple and lacking in challenge, especially if you have a full team. We all know that PlatinumGames are capable of games so much more than this, and Square Enix should probably step back from their live service efforts, because they simply haven't cracked it.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Triangle Strategy is a beautiful and authentic tactical RPG. Fans of Fire Emblem in particular will love the involving narrative on top of the strategic action - just be prepared for a slow start as it sets its expansive story in motion.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    I really wanted to like Chocobo GP, having never had the chance to play the PS1 original. Unfortunately, the tone is all over the place, the references are archaic, and the gameplay is mediocre to the point of boredom. It is possible that the online multiplayer will be where this comes to life, but even then the prospect of exploitative microtransactions threatens to cast a Cloud over affairs. if you’ve got any affection for Final Fantasy or Kart games, it's probably best to download the Lite version before deciding on the full game.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Where the original console release of Assetto Corsa Competizione had some huge caveats hanging over it, the game's release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S brings it up to spec, effectively matching the PC version. It still has some weaknesses in presentation and structure for new players in particular, but once you get into the groove, it's one of the best sim racers you can buy right now.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Gran Turismo 7 takes everything that was excellent about GT Sport's fantastic multiplayer, high fidelity cars and circuits and innovative Scapes mode, and builds up a more traditional GT experience around it. It's got its own quirky new ideas which will likely be passing diversions to most, but at its core, this is the Gran Turismo you know and love. Broad and accessible, but with depth, nuance and competitive racing for those keen to find it.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream is an absolute gift. Sophie is just as charming and inspiring as ever, and even though the story tacks on more dimensional time-travel drama than I would've cared for, it's just as touching and cozy of an experience as the first Atelier Sophie. Gathering, crafting, and battling are all plenty of fun too, and flooded with enough layers of mechanics that it's easy to pick an area you want to focus on and purely master that one element of the game. By looking to the past, this surprise sequel has delivered a promising vision of the future of the Atelier series.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    GRID Legends builds on the foundations of the 2019 reboot, improving the driving experience in certain areas, adding a big new story mode, and throwing more variables and variety into the mix. There's enjoyable, pulpy action racing to be had here, but some of the fundamental weaknesses from the last game remain, and as the racing game community increasingly looks toward sim racing, it feels like this franchise is in need of another reinvention.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Martha is Dead wants to send a big important message, but the way it’s delivered is terrifyingly bad, not only in it’s writing but also in the shoddy gameplay.
    • 96 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Elden Ring is the game Souls fans have been waiting for. From the open world design, to riding into battle on Torrent's back, and the dark narrative woven through the world, this is a clear Game of the Year frontrunner that will have us all ensnared for a long time to come.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FAR: Changing Tides is a mysterious, intriguing game. It builds off the inventive mechanics of managing a ship, the adventure you face taking on a vaguely unsettling tone at times. It's also fairly short – I finished it in about five hours – but that means it also doesn't try and stretch out its ideas until it outstays its welcome. This is an original and artistic game that deserves a little appreciation.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    As things stand, Kingdom of the Dead is a great proof of concept that is still an enjoyable retro FPS but doesn’t quite live up to the aesthetics. I’m keen to see what the developer produces next though as they clearly have a real flair for design and a love of old school FPS games.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Infernax is a great retro-styled title that adds in enough ideas of its own to stand up to modern standards. The gory combat and interesting level design maintain interest throughout, and there is lots of potential for replayability through the different moral paths to unlock. If retro gaming is your thing, then Infernax is a great game to add to your collection.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    King of Fighters XV marks an excellent return for the series, modernising it at nearly every turn. While we await a story that’ll finally do justice to the characterful roster, it stakes a claim to SNK’s past with an eye firmly on the future.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If Total War Warhammer 3 is the beginning of the end for Creative Assembly's fantasy series, then it's going out on a high note. The game takes several steps forward in how the campaign works, how it builds toward climactic battles and then how those battles take place, and there's plenty of quality of life improvements for the Total War series as a whole.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dynasty Warriors Empires has always been for the die-hard fans. Those who enjoy the hack n’ slash combat and love adding their own tactical twist. Those wanting to direct custom campaigns and create their own musou legend. Even if DW9 left a sour taste, there’s some solace to be found here within its repurposed carcass, though redemption may still be lost.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Horizon Forbidden West improves upon Zero Dawn in almost every aspect. The story is particularly well-written and ebbs and flows from air punching highs to dark, horrific lows. Like later Jurassic Park movies it suffers from the fact that we've already seen massive robotic dinosaurs on our TVs, the wow factor is reduced, and that the puzzles, crafting, and RPG elements could have been lifted from any number of games. Even so, it's still a spectacular robo-beast smack down and thoroughly enjoyable to play.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Retro Bowl is pure gaming joy, wrapped with a nostalgic little bow. It’s also the best American Football game in years.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If I could grade Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duels in Magic Terms, I’d give it a Sideboard B. If you love Yu-Gi-Oh, this is probably the pinnacle of the game’s experience, with modern flourishes and easy access to a huge repository of cards. However, if you’re not a hardcore fan and just fancy dipping your toes in the water, this game is probably not for you — by all means give it a chance, but don’t be surprised if you find its complexities impossible to overcome.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Sifu is a game that I wanted to love. I had high hopes for it being one of my game of the year contenders, but it left me feeling intensely deflated instead. It's a game that confuses the precise mechanical difficulty of Sekiro with a forced difficulty brought on by simply giving bosses armour. I find myself irrationally angry with Sifu. Sifu is a game that had exceptional potential, but squandered it on the wrong lessons.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Behind the chilled out vibes of OlliOlli World's new art style, happy-go-lucky characters and eccentric customisation, this game takes Roll7's flow-state side-scrolling skating to new heights. It's a tad more welcoming for newcomers, but even OlliOlli 2 veterans will have plenty of new tricks to learn and master through its increasingly wild and challenging levels.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dying Light 2 expands and refines a formula Techland has been peddling since its breakout success with Dead Island. This sequel learns a lot from modern open world video games, its massive, zombie-infested sandbox rarely feeling empty, especially as you breeze through city blocks with a Mirror's Edge-like finesse. However, Dying Light 2 inherits the same problems - a dull story, tiresome combat, and character progression that’s a tad too sluggish.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    I’ve found myself disappointed with Century: Age of Ashes. There is a fairly solid central PvP F2P game here but nothing to make it stand out aside from the presentation. The modes are basic and repetitive and levelling up takes so long it seems set to encourage spending real money on cosmetic upgrades. On the surface this looked like the game my teenage self dreamed of, but like most teenage dreams, this mainly results in sore wrists and a feeling of shame and disappointment.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It’s perhaps not what Tom Clancy fans had envisioned for the series, but there’s something to Rainbow Six Extraction that's definitely worth checking out. It stands apart from similar co-op shooters thanks to that tactical edge and gunplay it's inherited from Siege. That said, the repetitive nature of running missions, difficulty spikes, and overall presentation hold the game back. This is Ubisoft we’re talking about, however, so Extraction will likely sprout a long tail that will continue to grow over the coming months and years.
    • 87 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Long after Nathan Drake hung up his holster for the last time a half decade ago, Uncharted’s legacy still remains. This collection crams two genre-defining prestige hits together - the kind of linear AAA action games we rarely see today. Let’s hope for more treasure-hunting adventures to come.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Pokémon Legends Arceus is a must-play game for fans of the franchise. Not only is it the very best Pokémon game yet, but it elegantly takes the formula and flips it on its head, creating a unique new challenge that fans will love. With the nods to the anime and Pokémon games abound, Arceus feels very much like a love letter from Game Freak.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Growing the burgeoning ‘serotonin snapper’ genre, Pupperazi is as relaxed as gaming gets. Aimed at pretty much everyone that isn't a cat, this is another indie gem that’s sure to leave you with an almighty grin on your face and, as an added bonus, you won't get dog hair on your sofa.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    SNK vs Capcom Card Fighters' Clash was a brilliant game two decades ago, and the passage of time has done nothing to diminish that. If you’re a fan of DCCG’s, or the rosters of these two fighting game powerhouses, then Card Fighters' Clash is more or less essential.
    • 74 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Online play then is clearly the meat and potato of the game, promising both ranked and friendly matches. At the time of writing, there are precious few people to play against online – something not helped by the game’s lack of cross-play between consoles. Indeed, just winning a single match saw me rocket to the position of 6th ranked Windjammer in the PS4 world. What I can tell you is that online play was both smooth and lag-free, a positive start to Windjammers 2’s odds of finding a lasting online audience.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Battle Brothers is like a school-yard bully. This video game brute will do it’s very best to break you. It will tell you that you suck. Then it will aggressively inform you that your mum will be performing some sexual favours on it whilst giving you a wedgie in front of the rest of the class. But stick up to this bully, impress it with your resolve and maybe you’ll find that it’ll be your best friend. Perhaps, eventually, as close as a brother. The question is, do you have the commitment to get there? If the answer is yes, then you’ll ultimately - after far too much graft - find a deep and comprehensive strategy RPG. Just be prepared to have to stick with it, as this bully really hates you.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    God of War is a great port of one of the PlayStation 4's biggest games. PC gamers have all of the graphics options they could really want, and the game's origins mean that even fairly modest gaming PCs can push for high frame rates and resolutions. If you've not already played the game on PlayStation, this is a great chance to catch up ahead of Ragnarok's highly anticipated release.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Rise on PC is the best place to play this incredible creature battler. If the series was looking for a permanent home, PC players would be more than happy to see it moving in.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Rush Duelling is a great idea, but Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale!! is a poorly executed waste of time. While it could be a fun entry point to the franchise for 5–7-year-olds, the frustrating pace of play, coupled with the issues where things just don’t work as they are supposed to, makes it far more trouble than it’s worth. Do yourself a favour and let this one pass you by.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Exo One is an enjoyable other-world experience that challenges players with the mastery of an alien spacecraft. Tight controls and great physics more than make up for the odd repetitive spot, making Exo One an absolute must for anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Even without one, I’d still recommend picking it up.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Once you're past the horrendously long queues to actually get into the game, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker was an almost flawless experience. This conclusion to a decade-long tale is told with a visual, musical and narrative artistry that isn’t often seen in any medium. Endwalker doesn’t quite reach the heights of earlier parts of the series, but it sure as hell ends the current arc with a bang and everyone involved with this game should feel damn proud of themselves.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Halo Infinite marks a clear moment in 343 Studios’ handling of the series. They finally have a grasp on what makes Master Chief tick, and they bring all of that knowledge to bear in often-spectacular fashion. While some issues nag, it’s clear that Halo Infinite is a brilliant new entry in the series, and one that makes this particular sci-fi FPS relevant once again.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Gunk is an entertaining adventure with a message about pollution and industrialisation. with a likeable protagonist. The pacing is a little drawn out toward the end of the six to seven hour journey, but there's a great visual style and an enjoyable game to experience.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    After the Fall is a fun co-op zombie shooter in VR, but with a lack of content at launch, awkwardly randomised attachment unlocks, and constantly separating parties between levels, it's not without issues. I really want to love After the Fall and, honestly, I would be at peace with all of its flaws if it had more content.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Annihilation Line is a good DLC expansion, but will do nothing to change your mind about Terminator: Resistance. If you enjoyed the setting and the gunplay then there is more here to get stuck into, but there is no deviation from the core gameplay to be found. Not quite ‘I’ll be back’, but neither is it ‘Hasta la Vista’.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A brief fumble in the darkness of space, Heavenly Bodies is designed to beguile you with floaty, physics based puzzles. It will scramble your brains as you perform the most straightforward of tasks, at times testing your sanity and (if playing in co-op) the strength of any relationship.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    White Shadows might have a short run time and be fairly by the numbers as a platformer, but it packs a lot in for you to experience. If you enjoy your dystopian fiction then you will find a game that sets up a world which raises questions, though the the Animal Farm influence is clear to see. White Shadows hits on a lot of dark themes, but does so in such a way that is not overwhelming.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    There’s a lot to like about Surviving the Aftermath and I became genuinely invested in the continued existence of my survivors, fighting and struggling with all I had to get them through the many hardships of living in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s unfortunate that I was constantly forced to return to exploring the turn based world map, rather than having fun building stuff. Also, if you do decide to pick up Surviving the Aftermath, it's probably best to go for the PC version to avoid the contradictory brain-melting console controls.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Solar Ash is one of the best games of the year. It looks gorgeous, its story is pretty unique and surprising, and its set-piece moments get really intense, as you might expect from skating along the back of a black goo and bone dragon. It's a nice surprise to end the year with that any "skating combined with combat and gigantic monsters" enthusiasts, which is definitely already a thing.

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