Windows Central's Scores

  • Games
For 812 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 60% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 35% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.5 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 79
Highest review score: 100 Cyberpunk 2077
Lowest review score: 20 Soda Drinker Pro
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 10 out of 812
827 game reviews
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Vampire Crawlers is a masterclass in what I call the 'sophomore pivot', when the creators of a very successful and beloved first game have to pull off a second title for a rabid fanbase. Poncle has taken the addictive and dopamine driven DNA of Vampire Survivors and successfully reshaped it into a tactical first-person deckbuilder. The "just one more run" magic is fully intact. It's a more methodical approach than it's predecessor, but one that rewards strategy without losing the broken power fantasy we've come to expect from poncle. At under $10 and available on Xbox Game Pass, it's an essential addition to any rogue-like loving gamers library and a perfect handheld title.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While WWE 2K26 brings one of the biggest rosters in WWE gaming history, with more being added with the Ringside Passes, quantity over quality is not always the answer. The game offers many modes, yes, but it is impossible for them not to feel half-baked and rushed. However, if you are playing for the core wrestling match types, you will have a great time thanks to the new gameplay additions and arenas like the Scrapyard Brawl.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pragmata is a genuinely moving look at what it means to be human. The story of Diana’s curiosity and growth sits alongside combat that carves out its own space in a genre full of games that all start to blur together. The hacking system can get messy in the thick of a big fight, but it’s different enough from everything else out there that I’m willing to forgive the moments where it loses its footing.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    What I've seen is but a tiny snapshot of what's to come, but it's immediately clear that this is the most grandiose release to date. [Hands-On Impressions]
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    World of Warcraft: Midnight is the middle act of the Worldsoul saga. Xal'atath has succeeded in her plan to subvert Azeroth's champions once again, potentially leading the planet to ruin. But hey, at least you'll have a cozy house to wait out the apocalypse in. Midnight is potentially one of the most pivotal expansions in recent WoW history, but the expansion is creaking under the weight of its sheer ambition. A variety of bugs, gameplay disruption, and polish issues hold back what is otherwise a very solid expansion.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Crimson Desert is the kind of game that usually only comes along once in a generation, so singular in its ambition that it will define the gaming conversation for weeks, if not months, to come. Despite granular misses, Pearl Abyss has showcased what gameplay freedom truly means.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is one of the most fun Capcom JRPGs I've played in ages. It has refined the series' turn-based combat and monster-catching formula with new innovative ideas that kept me hooked for hours, and it has some of the best story and character writing the whole franchise has ever seen. While its reduced Monstie roster and lack of High Rank are disappointing, they should not deter you from enjoying this gem.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Resident Evil Requiem is another instant classic in the overarching canon, as Capcom once again tries its hand at a dual-protagonist, dual-gameplay style approach. Grizzled veteran Leon plays like a Michael Bay action hero, and fearful rookie Grace plays like she's still restricted by tank controls in the OG Resident Evil mansion. The contrasting styles don't always work, but when they do, Requiem truly sings. Another fantastic entry that horror fans cannot miss.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    High on Life 2 can be a pain when it comes to performance, but if you're willing to look past that, there's some decent gameplay wrapped in the funniest dialogue a game can have.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    ROUTINE is a wonderful addition to the survival-horror genre, debuting on Xbox Game Pass with a meticulously realized retro-futuristic world set on the moon. ROUTINE's gameplay can feel clunky and your objectives can feel nebulous, but Lunar Software has absolutely nailed the art direction, audio design, and horrifying atmosphere.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is nothing short of ambitious, expanding on the classic Call of Duty formula with more cooperative gameplay opportunities and just enough nostalgia to keep things interesting. Not all of the game's "seven pillars" hold up due to light content at launch, but there's potential for post-launch seasonal content to make up for shortcomings.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Nothing hits quite like crawling your way to a hard-earned exfil after getting absolutely shredded in the raid before. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that’ll break your heart, then hand it back to you like an ex-girlfriend you can't quit. From your first boot-shaking sprint across the surface to the moment you start hunting other raiders for sport, every match will leave you wanting another. Hands down, ARC Raiders is my favorite PvP shooter in years.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Outer Worlds 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but delivers a more refined version of a formula that worked. Better exploration and combat buoy a tight role-playing experience that feels crunchy and isn't afraid of cutting off branches depending on player skills. The overarching story is a bit more self-serious than its predecessor, but the numerous side quests still lean comedic. A few bugs aside, it's not a game to miss.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ninja Gaiden 4 hardly re-writes the rules on what these kinds of games should look like, but fans who have been awaiting the return of the franchise may prefer this first re-entry takes things back to basics to some degree. Built in partnership between Koei, Microsoft, Team Ninja, and Platinum Games, Ninja Gaiden 4 has emerged a surprisingly coherent and confident product. Stunning and stylish hack n' slash gameplay could've been backed up with more compelling characters and story beats, but for those who simply want to carve a bloody path through endless enemies — Ninja Gaiden 4 is up there with the best of them.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Keeper isn't likely to become Xbox's next mainstream hit, but it is a marvelous achievement in art direction, game design, and unspoken storytelling. Keeper is the result of giving a passionate, highly creative team the time and resources they need to create their masterpiece, and it begs to be played with as little knowledge as possible going in.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I went into Silent Hill F armed with decades of Silent Hill nostalgia and a general negative view of Konami. I'd say I almost wanted to hate this game, being honest. But I found it simply impossible to do so. Every step I took through Ebisugaoka led me down an authentic Silent Hill rabbit hole filled with horrors, fresh and familiar alike—stunning artwork, immaculate music, and disturbing twists that left me aghast for hours after the fact. Silent Hill F is by no means perfect, but it's a strong return to form for the franchise, and hopefully a sign of things to come. NeoBard nailed it.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Hades 2 takes the already-awesome formula that made the Supergiant Games' first take on Greek mythology so great and ramps up every aspect possible, with more gods and monsters and an even more complicated narrative. The result is a masterpiece that shouldn't be missed.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Borderlands 4 delivers the ultimate Vault Hunter experience, a dazzling gem where every system from gunplay to movement to loot shines with obsessive care. I’m struggling to find faults beyond some lackluster performance hiccups that don't really dampen the chaos. Honestly, writing this review pulls me away from blasting Slitters and chasing legendaries, and I’m dying to dive back into Kairos.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Order of Giants may not quite have the same impactful foes that permeated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but it's still a puzzle-laden adventure worth seeing through. Rome has never looked better in video games, and Troy Baker continues to put in a phenomenal performance as the titular hero.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Cronos: The New Dawn feels like an amalgam of a broad variety of horror greats in the best possible way — paying homage to the giants of the past while carving its own twisted niche steeped in psychological sci-fi horror. Tricky and panic-inducing combat meets stunning environmental design, atop mind-blowing sci-fi vistas complemented by bubbling body horror in ways that feel like they shouldn't work — but inexplicably do. Cronos: The New Dawn leaves you completely in the dark both figuratively and literally throughout its beefy campaign. Bloober masterfully makes you feel like an unwelcome visitor in this game's strange timeline, hitting the next level with confidence. Cronos: The New Dawn is the best horror franchise debut in over a decade.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gears of War: Reloaded is an interesting case study, being the second time the same studio has remastered a game. The improved visuals and additional options mean it's better than ever, even if it plays things a little safe.
    • 81 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Wuchang wears its soulslike inspirations well and truly on its sleeve, but the absolutely stunning, if dark, romanticised Chinese setting gives it a unique and beautiful canvas that we're not often exposed to in AAA games in the west. For all of Wuchang's beauty, it hides deadly, and utterly brutal difficulty which can spike to intense heights at unforeseen moments — forcing you to reconsider everything about your playstyle and build. I haven't finished the game yet, but I'm confident enough to give you a review-in-progress about what you should expect from Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. In short, steel yourself. [Review in Progress]
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    RAIDOU Remastered is a fun action RPG that successfully revitalizes one of Shin Megami Tensei’s classic PS2 games for the modern era while being faithful to the source material. While its characterization leaves something to be desired, it’s worth the price of admission for its wacky plot, revamped visuals and combat system, especially if you grew up playing the original game.
    • 64 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    FBC: Firebreak is a lot of fun, at least when you've got a friend of two to play with. It's the most different a Remedy game has dared to be, taking a first-person perspective and introducing co-op play. There's a large number of fun gameplay systems that interact in enjoyable or unexpected ways, and if you're okay with a little chaos, it's a fun ride that seems perfectly suited for hopping in and playing a bit without spending thousands of hours in-game. [Review in Progress]
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Lovers of pets and compact, emotional stories in video games will easily fall into Copycat, a difficult journey to find a forever home, seen through the eyes of a cat who has never known love. It possesses all the hallmarks of a debut indie game from a tiny team, but is clearly filled with every ounce of passion they could squeeze into less than four hours.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Stuck on a remote planet far away from home, The Alters tasks players with helping Jan Dolski to survive by creating clones of himself who have experienced different life choices, changing the core of who he became. With each new Alter comes new motives, memories, and skills that can help and also hinder the survival effort. Its a truly tasking challenge to keep everybody on the same page to survive, but it is also a mind-bending narrative that forces us to look at some of the most intense parts of human nature and what it means to become who we are.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Elden Ring Nightreign is a bold co-op roguelike offshoot from FromSoftware that creatively and satisfyingly brings Soulsborne gameplay to a new genre of RPG — even if issues with map and enemy variety hold it back from true greatness.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    With DOOM: The Dark Ages, id Software proves it can still reinvent the wheel, shaking up numerous aspects of gameplay, exchanging elaborate platforming for brutal on-the-ground action, as well as the ability to soar on a dragon's back or stomp around in a giant mech. The story is silly, but it fits the over-the-top tone of the Slayer's war against demons. It's still just as fun to rip and tear as it always has been.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is an excellent return to Cyrodiil, with new graphics, voice recordings, and tweaks to combat that enhance Bethesda Game Studios' 2006 fantasy role-playing game. Everything that makes the game so unique is still here, and while further quality of life features would be nice, Oblivion is still a must-play game like it was nearly two decades ago.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Skin Deep cleverly utilizes dozens upon dozens of different gameplay systems and interactions to build a fun, immersive sim that feels great to play. The art and visuals are suited to the comical tone, and there's always more secrets to find. Crashing and instability is a problem, though, especially toward the end of the story.

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