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 Bastion
Lowest review score: 20 QUByte Classics: Thunderbolt Collection by PIKO
Score distribution:
4661 game reviews
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dice Legacy could probably have been a little more adventurous with its take on the genre, but it’s novel enough where it counts and hits the mark on the fundamentals where it needs to.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The aesthetic, music, and voice acting are all brilliant and they come together perfectly. While the initial bits of the story took a little while to get going, the time I spent with Olympia Soiree was more than worth it. It may not be the easiest and most accessible otome game, but it definitely is one of the best ones I’ve played.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    The awkward controls, annoying mission design, and a sense of humor that tries way too hard all add up to a game that would be tough to love even without any technical issues. And I’m afraid to say that there are plenty of those to go around. Good concept, but that only takes you so far.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The farming side of things is a little better than the RPG side of things, but there are so many games on the Switch that offer a more satisfying experience, it’s hard to recommend this one. Add in a bevy of bugs, and this lands firmly in the so-so bucket.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you enjoyed Akiba’s Trip Undead & Undressed a lot and want more, Akiba’s Trip Hellbound & Debriefed is worth checking out at a discount. In its current state, it suffers from feeling too much like the PSP game it is based on, and with the technical issues on Nintendo Switch. While I did enjoy it more on PC, the PSP roots are still there and it just feels like more should’ve been done to bring the original Akiba’s Trip to a modern audience. If you’re new to Akiba’s Trip, I definitely recommend Undead & Undressed instead of this if the premise appeals to you.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There isn’t much here to recommend it specifically over other similar efforts, but it’s not a bad way to spend a quiet evening.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With an excellent behind-the-car racer in Rush Rally 3 and now a superb overhead entry, it’s hard to imagine what more this developer can do in the rally racing category, especially at such an incredibly competitive price point.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Difficulty spikes abound, movement through the world is slow even on horseback, and there’s a lot of cumbersome backtracking that is only made worse by that plodding pace. The voice acting is painfully bad, and that hurts a story that already isn’t the greatest. Bob and weave around all of that, and you may find things to like here. The battle system is excellent, and there is certainly a bit of clunky charm to the game. Promising, but in the end it falls well short of its potential.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Whatever No More Heroes III lacks in fresh ideas, it makes up for with sheer refinement. If this is the way Travis and his oddball action series goes out, I think it’s a fine enough finale.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fantasian is a very demanding experience, and you really have to be in love with its mechanics to put up with it all. Heaven knows the narrative isn’t going to keep you motivated. Fantasian is an absolute masterpiece in most regards, and yet I find myself struggling to recommend it.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Garden Story has a lot of problems running on Switch, at least in its current form. They range from extremely lengthy load times to outright crashes, and I’m afraid to say that I ultimately wasn’t able to complete the game due to the latter. I’m sure it will be patched eventually, but it’s being sold right now. If those problems can be sorted out, I think this game will appeal to fans of things like Blossom Tales or Ittle Dew, but for now I can only recommend proceeding with the greatest of caution.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Fort Triumph is enjoyable, especially early on. The rules of the battle system are well-designed, the visuals are colorful and attractive, and the difficulty curve is pleasing. You’re better off enjoying it in its Skirmish mode than its Campaign Mode, because while it’s all well-made enough I feel it gets rather repetitive over the course of the story. I don’t think I would recommend it to a fan of Heroes of Might & Magic in spite of its leanings, but those who enjoy turn-based tactics games will find plenty here to fill their bellies.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It kind of feels like the RPG equivalent to one of those Kairosoft sims. You’re going to win no matter what, but it’s charming and playable enough that the inevitability of it all isn’t a big problem. As long as you know what you’re getting into with it, Swords & Souls: Neverseen is a very good time.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you enjoy games like Dear Esther or Gone Home, you will love What Remains of Edith Finch. If you’ve never played a walking simulator before, What Remains of Edith Finch is the best one to try out as your first experience. With The Unfinished Swan and now What Remains of Edith Finch, I will play anything Giant Sparrow releases going forward without thinking twice. Both of these are fantastic games and What Remains of Edith Finch is a must play for everyone who enjoys great storytelling and beautiful experiences.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The presentation has been juiced up a bit here, but there are also some technical issues that weren’t in the mobile version. It’s not a bad game, mind you. It’s completely average. But I can’t imagine any world where buying this would serve you better than grabbing any of the dozen or so Atelier games that offer a much better experience.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The characters make the game, and while the pacing is a bit up and down through the course of the story, the ending more than makes up for any bumps along the way. I’m less sold on the side-stories and exploratory bits, but the overall experience is one worth checking out.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you have no interest in Space Invaders, the stiff price and relative lack of extras make this a hard sell. If you already own Space Invaders Forever, I would be incredibly hard-pressed to recommend spending sixty dollars to get the rest of the games in this set. That means Space Invaders Invincible Collection is for you if and only if you really like the series and haven’t already grabbed Forever. But if you do meet those qualifications, this is a genuinely dandy pick-up. I truly wish more had been done with giving this storied series the added historical context it deserves, but the treatment of the games themselves is top-class.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Overall, A Monster’s Expedition is magnificent. The structure perfectly suits itself to portable play with its interconnected set of islands that you can slowly chip at while on a break or while grabbing a coffee. This release gets everything right and I hope it does well enough to warrant a physical release. If you’ve wanted a relaxing and well-designed puzzle game on Switch, look no further than A Monster’s Expedition which is one of the best games I’ve played this year on the system.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    When I first discovered Wingspan, I wasn’t sure it would click with me but wanted to check it out for its art. Having now played it over the last two weeks almost daily, it is a superlative experience on iPad and a very good one on iPhone. The asking price being half of what it costs on console also helps given how good this feels on a touchscreen. The lack of cross platform progression and iCloud save sync are the biggest downsides here. Barring those issues, Wingspan looks gorgeous and it is one of the most relaxing games you can play right now on iOS.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While the average player may be better off waiting until the arrival of the Spelunky games on Switch, Spelunker HD Deluxe has charms of its own. The multiplayer modes alone add a lot of value to the game provided you can find people to play with, and pushing up the leaderboards in single-player is quite satisfying as well. Its adherence to the fussy rules of a rather early computer game will surely turn some away, but approach it on its own terms and you’ll find a challenging adventure that rewards you for your patience and investment in its mechanics.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    In its current state, it feels a bit lacking for its asking price on Nintendo Switch considering you don’t really get more than what the Apple Arcade version offers. If you don’t have Apple Arcade and want a puzzler you can keep coming back to (with hopefully future content updates), Doomsday Vault will serve you well.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    There are two different characters with very different playstyles, and each has a handful of weapons that you’ll need to make clever use of. The twin-stick style shooting gives the game its own flavor to an extent, though it is a bit clumsy with the melee-focused character. All in all, it’s a tough game that will speak well to a certain subset of players who are willing to give it the necessary time.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    As a game, Last Stop could’ve used a bit more polish in controls and clarity. Despite that, I enjoyed my time with it and can’t wait to see what Variable State does next.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Right now, My Time at Portia on PC is still the best version overall because of the visual and performance boost, but the mobile version is a close second thanks to its new features and up to date content.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Personally, I think this is the game where the series really started to show its ambitions and break away from most of the pack. It’s excellent, and fans of the series would do well to check out this treasure.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Even with its faults, it’s still a game that is worth checking out. The moment-to-moment action is a blast, and it’s hard not to appreciate its enthusiasm.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Does Ayo the Clown reinvent the platforming wheel? No, but it doesn’t have to. It’s a little easy, a little short, but it’s creative and a solid example of the 2D platforming genre.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Play it on your TV and you’ll enjoy this fish fry well enough, but those who primarily play in handheld will want to proceed with caution.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I wouldn’t quite put it over Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition as far as Switch Warriors games go, but it’s not far from that mark at all. If you enjoyed the Hyrule Warriors games, give this one a go. Link isn’t here, but you’ll still have fun.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster is a lovely remake of a game that people tend to either love or hate. Its strongest element is arguably its story, and that’s why I feel it’s hurt so much by cutting the excellent extra content added in the Game Boy Advance version. With that in mind, I think it’s best to stick with the old version of the game if you already own it and it still works. This new version is more modern in its presentation and UI, and ultimately it will be the one that survives. It’s also the only one you can buy now, so if you want to play Final Fantasy II it’s this or nothing. I enjoy the game, but you will need to be willing to put up with its eccentricities if you seek to do the same.

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