TouchArcade's Scores

  • Games
For 4,638 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 52% higher than the average critic
  • 23% same as the average critic
  • 25% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.8 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 78
Highest review score: 100 Battleheart
Lowest review score: 20 True Lover's Knot
Score distribution:
4661 game reviews
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    With 40 levels to play, each with StarFruit to collect and ranks to earn, you'll get hours of fun out of Gesundheit!. It's a real charmer.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It may not be as revolutionary as its progenitor but it's certainly capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the tower defense heavyweights in the App Store. SubAtomic Studios definitely have not lost their touch. Now, go buy it.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    If you're looking for a fun time waster and you're a fan of Super Crate Box, Toast Time is for you.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    While Spaceplan was only in my life for a few days, it was a major part of my life for those few days. It's a really cool and engaging experience, and a unique take on the clicker that even skeptics of the genre should check out. Also, it has more potatoes that you could ever imagine.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Don't be confused by the Cartoon Network's publishing of the game: while this is a game that can be played by kids, adults and any kind of 'gamer' will find that it puts up a good fight.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It's one of the most ambitious iPhone games I've played so far, and despite the questionable originality of the game I've really got to hand it to Gameloft for creating such an amazing iPhone experience.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    If you love 868-HACK or want a high score game with a unique touch, check out Helix.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The Executive is one of the best mobile games of 2015, and is something that you need to play. It's so amusing and so much fun, that you're doing yourself a disservice by not playing it.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    As you would expect from this developer, the interface is excellent and they've given all of the little details the treatment they deserve. I can't wait for the next batch of titles to come and hope that this is just the start of getting as many of the Fighting Fantasy books onto mobile as possible.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Baba Is You is absolutely essential on iOS. The game itself was already amazing and I’m glad the iOS conversion is nearly perfect. While my two problems with it will not be an issue for everyone, I’m hoping future updates bring iCloud save sync and the ability to create a suspend save in the middle of a level. I already thought Baba Is You was sold for too little at its Nintendo Switch and PC asking price so having it at half of that on mobile feels like even bigger of a steal. It is pretty crazy to me that two of my favourite puzzle games of all time, Baba Is You and The Witness are finally now also playable on my phone (and iPad). Having Baba Is You on Nintendo Switch ready for me to boot up as a break between other games was always great but having it ready to instantly load up anytime on my phone is even better.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The game is incredibly well executed with excellent controls, has a ton of content and is a lot of fun. We highly recommend it.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It's a massive, and immensely enjoyable experience.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Rodeo Stampede is essential for anyone looking for a casual experience that is hard to master and even harder to put down
    • 78 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It might seem a little pricey given its 8-bit origins, but I can promise you that when you're coming out the other end of Dragon Quest 3, you'll feel like every penny was well-spent.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    If you’re hoping to experience Resident Evil 4 Remake on Steam Deck to have a great experience on a portable, it is essential. Having now played it on PC, PS5, and Steam Deck, the DualSense features definitely make the PS5 version my favorite, but Resident Evil 4 Remake is a joy to play on Steam Deck, and it plays without issues from the get go. It is fantastic to see a big budget release like this work out of the box on Steam Deck while managing looking and playing so well. The game itself has a few frustrating moments, but it still gets my highest possible recommendation for Steam Deck owners hoping to play it on the go.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    868-HACK is for everyone who loves to tell themselves, “Just one more try”, and realize 2 more hours have passed. It’s that kind of gripping game experience that makes you forget all else exists at that moment.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    If you already own Resident Evil 4 remake, the Separate Ways expansion DLC is essential. It is honestly one of the best value and quality DLC releases we’ve seen from Capcom in a long time. If you don’t own Resident Evil 4, now is a great time to play one of Capcom’s best remakes, and experience this incredible expansion. With the game and expansion, Capcom has delivered something beyond incredible for horror and action game fans.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    This is one of my favorite iOS games of 2016 so far, and I strongly recommend giving it your attention, regardless of whether you're an old hand at the genre or a newcomer. Just make sure you play it through to the true ending, because if you don't, you'll never truly get ahead in your studies at this strange school.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Even though I've never been a huge fan of point-and-click adventure games, the story and all around high-quality production values of Broken Sword sucked me in like a good book.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Though it can be extremely frustrating, it rewards the player who pushes through the painful parts. Each time you replay a level you'll learn more, memorize more, become better at the game. The rush you'll get when you finally reach the end of a challenging level is worth the trouble, every time.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    You might make it a personal mission to progress through the quests that help to build your knowledge of the game while also having you build certain things or upgrade them to bring new mechanics into play. Or you might just want to keep zoning areas, building roads and just increasing your population to as big a number as possible. Ultimately it doesn’t really matter how you play Pocket City, I think you’ll have a blast regardless.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Really Bad Chess manages to be more than it may appear on the surface, as through the intrinsic unfamiliarity that the randomisation of pieces causes, the app becomes a way for both beginners and veterans to learn how to read the board, react to contrasting scenarios, and eventually become better at the game. This accessibility, and how it has managed to turn the relatively mundane task of learning chess into an extremely enjoyable experience, is mightily impressive, and even more so when you consider than none of this has been accomplished through excessive gimmicks or trying to reinvent the board. Really Bad Chess isn’t really bad, because it isn’t really chess - it’s something better.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It would have been easy for Slayaway Camp to just be an amusing puzzle game that didn't try to be a fun puzzler underneath. But, the theme is fun, the puzzles are fun, and those two elements are skilfully combined into one complete package. Slayaway Camp is a killer puzzle game.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    I'm not sure what else to say in this review, because I don't want to spoil anything at all. Icycle: On Thin Ice is a wonderful game from start to finish, and one of those rare games that, as soon as I finished, made me want to discuss what it means with others.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Severed is just a game that's all-around cool. Its aesthetic is top-notch, its combat is deep and engaging.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Guildmaster Story is, on the surface, a game about solving puzzles. The levels are fun, albeit entirely predictable and somewhat easy. But where the game truly shines is through its biting social/political commentary combined with the consistent jabs at the very free-to-play model the game is derived from. The irony is delicious and very much intentional. I look forward to Ganyo’s future business endeavours (and yours as well, Will O’Neill).
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Anyway, Enemy Unknown is a fantastic, superbly designed strategy game that hits a ton of different notes and nails all of them. If you're into strategy games, give this a go. It'll blow you away, and you'll probably walk away with a few stories to tell.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Old School RuneScape is like a whole king-sized Las Vegas buffet. I’ve been playing for weeks now, and still feel like I’m barely even coming close to knowing what I’m doing, which has been really awesome as so few mobile titles seem to offer anything that even feels like any meaningful discovery or character advancement anymore.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    While in some ways I can understand people who miss the cozy little puzzle box the first game offered, I think it's truly impressive the way this series keeps taking big steps to shake things up. The Room Three, for better or for worse, is the biggest and most elaborate puzzle box Fireproof has designed yet.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    It totally captures that gameplay niche of a game you can load up and play for a few minutes while providing a feel of progression that also makes the title suitable for substantially longer play sessions- Especially once you start to discover some of its secrets and other particularly effective techniques for maximizing your score.
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

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    • 82 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is an easy game of the year contender so far. While I still need a bit of time to test the online when cross play is available from launch day, the gameplay is sublime and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 looks and sounds superb across the board. Having played it on PS5 and Steam Deck with cross progression, I don’t recommend playing it on Valve’s handheld right now. It gets an easy recommendation on PS5 though. I will be updating this with a full score once I’ve gotten enough time with the multiplayer and some patches. [Impressions]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Youkai Douchuki is a game that I could understand anyone enjoying. It has a pleasantly odd theme, and the gameplay mechanics are largely straightforward and easy to pick up. It’s a very challenging game, but such things aren’t unusual in the arcade end of the pool. On the other hand, it’s also not much of a stand-out. The arcade scene had plenty of run-and-gun platformers, and there’s nothing about this one that really speaks to me. Decent, but not much more than that. [Early Access Provisional Score = 60]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    It’s a turn-based roguelite, to be sure. But somehow it manages to be a very fast-paced one, with lots of tense shooting action. If you don’t like playing on mobile, this is a nice option.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The main idea is the same as ever. You have to guide a drop of water through each level, picking up all of the pearls while avoiding dangerous obstacles. The droplet keeps moving until it hits a wall once you’ve set it in motion, so you have to plan your moves carefully. There are more than 80 levels in this version of the game, giving you plenty of relaxing yet challenging fun for your money.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Right now, I can see myself playing Foundry daily for a session or two solo or with others as a nice way to chill. It has a solid base already, and I hope to see it improve even on Steam Deck support with the many patches and content updates planned to arrive in the future. If you’ve wanted a solid base building and automation experience that is a lot of fun even early on, Foundry is worth checking out. [Early Access Review]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    If you have fond memories of Knightmare, you’ll probably enjoy this lavish love letter to the game. Otherwise? Well, I don’t know too many Switch owners that are starving enough for vertical shoot-em-ups to pick up one that’s merely decent.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    This rendition includes multiple boards and features a local multiplayer mode for two players. If you want to play solo, there is an arcade mode that will throw increasingly challenging opponents and situations at you. This has never been a favorite of mine, but it certainly has fans.
    • 81 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    I need more time to see it through, but Black Myth: Wukong is an impressive action RPG with fantastic music, great visuals, and one I want to replay on console after Steam Deck. It is surprisingly playable on Valve's handheld already, and I imagine things will only improve with updates and once both Valve and Game Science optimize it for the hardware. I'm curious to see how the PS5 version feels when I get access to it.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is an essential for fans of dungeon crawlers even in its current state. Those looking to sample a true classic will also find a lot to love here. This release was my first taste of the original Wizardry, and I think Digital Eclipse has done a great job even in its initial Early Access version. I can’t wait to see how it evolves over time.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Just like Shaun told me, a Trese Brothers game means it starts out with a lot of potential, but will bloom into something special if the many releases by the developers are anything to go by. In its current state, Cyber Knights: Flashpoint plays and looks great, and it just has a few quirks with its interface on Steam Deck. This is well worth keeping an eye on through its early access period.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Overall, Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song is a fantastic re-do of a game that had lots of room for improvement, and this mobile port is top-shelf. SaGa fans will eat it up, and even if you’ve played the original you may want to check this out for its new content and additions. There are certainly some awkward carry-overs from its PlayStation 2 origins, like the lack of a player-controlled camera, and that may chafe some. It’s also a SaGa game through and through, and that’s either going to have you jumping with joy or running for the hills. I leave it up to you to make that final decision, but I know which side of the line I’m standing on. [Provisional Score = 80]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Right now, even as an early access game, Wizordum has tons for the player from its superb gameplay in the first main episode, level designer, and more. I love the aesthetic, music, gameplay, and premise. Wizordum is the real deal, and I can’t wait to keep revisiting it as it gets updates over time. It looks gorgeous on Steam Deck as well, and really makes me wish I had a Steam Deck OLED right now. I urge you to download the demo and see how good it is for yourself.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Witch and Lilies is pretty excellent right now, but it looks like it will be worth buying in about a month or two based on its roadmap once more fixes and enhancements arrive. It plays well on Steam Deck already aside from some minor issues, and is shaping up to be a solid release for fans of yuri and dungeon RPGs. I can’t wait to see how it feels in a few months when I revisit it.
    • 84 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    In its current state, ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist in Steam Early Access feels more like a lengthy demo. What I’ve played is amazing and it absolutely shines on the Steam Deck OLED right from day one. I cannot wait to play more of it and see how it evolves through updates in the early access period. If you enjoyed Ender Lilies, ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is essential already as long as you’re ok with the content included in the early access version so far. [Early Access Review]
    • 88 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    While I need more time to see the story to its conclusion and explore more of the vocations and world, Dragon's Dogma 2 is an uncompromised Dragon's Dogma experience that basically does everything I liked in the original better. It is an incredible RPG, but one that isn't without its flaws. I kept thinking to myself how this is a game that I can't believe exists, but here we are. Kudos to Capcom for greenlighting this and I really wish there was a big box PC release for it with a cloth map and artbook. It is that kind of game. In its current state though, I don't recommend playing Dragon's Dogma 2 on Steam Deck. Grab it on PS5 or Xbox Series X if you have those options available. [Review in Progress]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    While I need a bit more time to see how Death Stranding Director’s Cut feels later on, I can say that it is a very impressive conversion so far in parts that can look great on the iPhone 15 Pro screen. It isn’t ready for being the only way you experience the game though, at least right now based on the time I’ve put into it. I don’t recommend playing it with touch controls at all either, but if you have a Backbone One or external controller, it will be worth buying after the performance issues can be ironed out. The developers went the extra mile and even added some DualSense features into the release and even implemented gyro controls, but the performance issues hold this back right now.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    On the off-chance that any readers do understand the language well enough to get through it, Seilane is a decent, relatively straightforward adventure with some charming characters. You can tell it was aimed at a slightly younger audience, but that’s fine. Not the best work from Microcabin, and I suppose that is a statement in and of itself, but it’s worth a playthrough if you enjoy the genre. But again, this is all predicated on you being able to read Japanese at a fairly decent level. If you can’t, I really wouldn’t recommend picking this up.
    • 58 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Skull and Bones is a hard game to recommend at full price, but I do recommend checking out the free trial. I enjoy naval combat and open world Ubisoft games, and Skull and Bones with all its updates so far is good, but it has potential to be better. If you do plan on playing Skull and Bones on Steam Deck, keep in mind that it is an online only experience. I will likely grab it on console to also play there with cross progression. [Impressions]
    • 85 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    If you enjoy Bethesda Game Studios' games, and more importantly love exploration and space, I think you should prepare to experience your new obsession with Starfield. I'm looking forward to spending more time with it, and seeing how it improves over time on both Steam Deck and Xbox Series X. [Review in Progress]
    • 66 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Disney Speedstorm in its current state on Nintendo Switch is a great kart racer held back by confusing in-game monetization. I’ve enjoyed playing Disney Speedstorm online with friends and randoms on both platforms, but Gameloft needs to do a better job with how unlocks and progression works for those unfamiliar with free to play mobile games. There’s a lot of potential here and there’s definitely fun to be had even in the early access release, but I was hoping for more. [Early Access Provisional Score = 70]
    • 72 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    I'd certainly recommend any Fire Emblem fan at least give Fire Emblem Heroes a shot. You might not end up sticking with it, but I bet you'll have at least a little fun with it even if you do bail out at some point. It might not be the game that some hoped for, but it at least shows that Nintendo has what it takes to make a relatively faithful, enjoyable free-to-play game out of one of their long-running franchises.
    • 79 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    So far, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is the summer vacation we all needed after a busy release season. At least I needed a break after putting in tons of time into Trails through Daybreak, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and still playing Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree. Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail looks great on Steam Deck and Xbox, it sounds incredible, and I can’t wait to see where things go later on. I just hope we get more voiced dialog added.
    • 83 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Forgive Me Father 2 even in its early access state right now, is gorgeous and fun to play. Just keep in mind that this is still early access and there isn’t a full game here. If that’s ok with you, jump in. Forgive Me Father 2 looks gorgeous, sounds amazing, and feels brilliant to play. It also fixed whatever I disliked in the first game. This is definitely shaping up to be special, but needs more time. I’ll be covering it more as it gets closer to its full release.

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