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
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Football Manager 2024 continues in its tradition of being the premier football management game. It provides the same addictiveness and familiarity of the previous games, whilst bringing solid improvements to make a slightly stale yearly release feel worth the investment.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Observer sets out with a unique premise, delivering a natural psychological horror experience on an unconventional cybernetic canvas. While the depth to its world is welcome, the game still thrives during its brief thrilling encounters, built on the recollections of the insane.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A hilarious, entertaining role-playing game that is sure to entertain fans of the popular TV show for hours upon hours. Thanks to a strategic combat system, perfect presentation and excellent writing, The Fractured But Hole easily overcomes its shortcomings and stands as one of 2017's best RPGs so far.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Death's Door is a near-flawless isometric action-adventure full of heart, humor, and honest-to-goodness combat excellence.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Exodus's combat has room for improvement, particularly when it comes to enemy A.I. behavior. The gunplay is tight and well-built, with an emphasis on customization, allowing you to play how you want to play. While I'm hoping polish patches come in thick and fast after launch, even when you acknowledge the game's rough edges Metro Exodus is among the best first-person shooters you can get right now.
    • 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.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Yakuza 0 is a quirky and addictive action game that every Xbox One owner should play.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Resident Evil 4 remake is finally complete with the release of Separate Ways, and it's exactly what you'd expect — more RE4, but this time with more Ada. Missing story pieces, expansions over the original, and the addition of a grappling hook are all worthwhile additions that make the Separate Ways DLC a brilliant addition to Resident Evil 4 (2023).
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Grounded concluded its early access tenure with one final update to pull everything together and add hours of fresh new content, resulting in one of the best games of 2022. Grounded is bound to inspire other titles in the survival genre for years to come.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Resident Evil 4 is a true technical marvel on Xbox Series X, with utterly stunning visuals and wonderful ray-tracing implementations. While the game is a bit thin in the "survival horror" department, Resident Evil 4 is an absolutely spectacular action horror game with varied and satisfying combat, memorable characters, and a meaty amount of content.
    • 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.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Though not perfect, Halo: Reach's PC port is overall well-done, and the quality should excite fans about the other Halo games coming to the platform in the future.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Overwatch 2 represents the arrival of the foundational changes Blizzard's hero shooter needed in order to return to its former glory. While it's not perfect — few things ever are — the changes that the game makes to Overwatch's gameplay structure, progression systems, content release schedule, and presentation are absolutely stellar.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dishonored 2 is an amazing game. Played entirely in first-person, the freedom it bestows players closely resembles that of the Elder Scrolls games. Although the game is broken up into distinct levels rather than an open world, each chapter is huge and filled with atmosphere, detail, and myriad nooks and crannies to explore. The Empire really feels like a believable steampunk world, one with countless stories to tell.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Aside from the disappointing sound design, Super Mega Baseball 2 is the baseball experience that Xbox sports fans have been waiting for. It's easily the best Xbox One baseball game available.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    While I expected Stray to be a cyberpunk-themed walking simulator about a day in the life of a cat, I was unprepared for the deeply emotional adventure that this little cat was going to take me on. This stunningly beautiful world left me with a mountain of questions and has undoubtedly earned a place in my mind for some time.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    This is a game of running at light speed, double-jumping like crazy, and perilously running across walls and over pits. The levels are just so vast and give you plenty to explore, and the collectables are fun to seek out as well. Throw in an intriguing story and you have one of the best indie 3D platformers in years. If you can withstand a true platforming challenge, don't let this one pass you by.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you enjoy space games, exploring the unknown, establishing communications with potential allies and enemies, as well as shooting stuff out of space, you'll enjoy Star Control: Origins.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Croteam has created an uncanny post-biological-human world full of Artificial Intelligence, and they are decidedly unique and interesting characters you actually want to interact with and care about. The Talos Principles 2's puzzles are challenging but fair, and rewarding to solve.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The campaign is still just as epic as before. The multiplayer is tremendous and offers a whole different challenge to its sibling, Infinite Warfare, with a much different way of approaching the game and your tactics inside it. And it looks terrific, especially if you look at it nine years ago first.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    House Flipper 2 builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, taking notable leaps in graphics and gameplay. The stories behind the quests are charming enough, and some include genuinely amusing pop culture references. The expansions to the in-game decor store are impressive, and I have a particular soft spot for including accessibility and mobility aids. I would find myself sitting down to do one quick quest, and then, before I knew it, an entire evening would be lost, flipping houses.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Iceborne already proved itself to be a spectacular expansion, but the PC release is even better with improved keyboard/mouse controls, up to 4K 60fps, and much more.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Resident Evil Village is one of the first games that feels truly "next-gen," with absolutely stunning tech bolstered by the industry-leading RE Engine. Stunning visuals, truly bizarre creatures, a memorable parade of eccentric characters, and truly satisfying gameplay make Resident Evil Village soar, even if a few quirks in the plot delivery deflate the spectacle. Resident Evil Village is a truly excellent game and one of the best entries in the legendary franchise. Long may it continue.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Cuphead is a tremendous achievement that will probably go down as one of this year's most beautiful and creative titles. Each level, each song, and each boss character is a meticulously crafted work of art in its own right, that you won't soon forget. The gunplay mechanics might feel a little dated, paying homage to 8-bit shooters of yesteryear, but they're well executed overall, and come with some modern flair in the form of super attacks and other powerups.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    he Witch Queen offers Destiny 2's best campaign to date, an exciting new weapon archetype in the Glaive, and takes its first steps in revitalizing the Light Subclasses in line with Beyond Light's Stasis Subclass with Void 3.0. It also adds the enticing prospect of weapon crafting, which is unfortunately hampered by extremely grind-y requirements to truly experience the most weapon crafting has to offer as well as a raid that could be the most convoluted yet.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A Plague: Tale Requiem is a positively gorgeous, perfectly expanded sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence and is a great conclusion to the story of Amicia and Hugo. Despite some minor complaints and a world that sometimes feels too lifeless, A Plague Tale: Requiem is an absolute must-play title in 2022.
    • 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.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you loved DOOM 2016, you simply have to buy DOOM Eternal. The gunplay achieves all-new heights, with new gore mechanics, spectacular new weaponry, and varied demons from DOOM's vast back catalog (as well as some new ones, no spoilers though, sorry!)…I can't help but wonder why id Software felt the need to triple-down on the mild platforming elements DOOM 2016 introduced, because all they do is add road bumps to where you really want to be — in the midst of the DOOM hellscape, ripping and tearing demonic creatures from the depths. Thankfully, DOOM Eternal brings plenty of that. And then some.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    It's great to see that the franchise makes a triumphant debut on Microsoft's machine because many gamers expressed concerns about optimization and other issues before launch. If you like challenging experiences along the lines of Dark Souls, be sure to give Monster Hunter: World a go. The game will keep you engaged for dozens of hours because it takes patience more than anything to become a legendary hunter.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The performance was solid throughout my testing, I had no issues with gameplay improvements and the graphics looked great. There were some pathfinding issues and units did enjoy clashing with one another, which made battle rather hectic, but the clunky controls and movement were among the things I loved most about the original.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into Tropico 6, but I came out in love. It's truly one of the best city building games of all time, and it has an excellent amount of polish, depth, and satire that all help it feel like a unique experience. The cluttered interface is a downside, but it's hardly one that impacts the overall gameplay much.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    I don't think I've ever played a game like this before where I've actively communicated about strategies because everything is so diverse from player to player.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Ultimately, that's what this game is. The online gameplay has always been the focus, from the moment it was first advertised to us. It's a thrilling space combat game, rivaling many of the experiences I've had in Elite: Dangerous with the bonus of being set in one of the most iconic science fiction franchises of all time. If space combat is your thing, you need to own this game.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Minecraft Dungeons meat is in its satisfying combat and complex character-building opportunities, and in that, the game delivers by the truckload.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    With engaging combat and a story to accompany it, Tokyo 42 is a great addition to the ID@Xbox program.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a reminder of how good platformers can be when in the right hands. Taking you through several diverse dimensions with their own unique challenges, Crash Bandicoot 4 combines responsive controls and a gorgeous art style to create an exciting adventure. Do I remember the story? Not too much, but the gameplay is where Crash shines. A new Modern mode in addition to its Retro mode makes it even more accessible for everyone.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Neva cements Nomada Studio as a master of color and art design, with phenomenal visuals and animations that make the powerful, emotional narrative even more impactful. Neva also dramatically improves gameplay versus GRIS with satisfying combat and platforming. My only major grip is that the journey is simply over too soon.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    NetherRealm and Warner Bros Studios have delivered a fantastic sequel with Injustice 2. This is a fighting game overflowing with polish and charm. The particular fighting mechanics might not appeal to everybody, but adjust to them and it's almost impossible not to have a good time. If you love fighting games or DC characters, Injustice 2 is a must-buy.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Between its pacing and general approach to gameplay, Battlefield 1 feels like a return to the series' roots. Rather than a simple World War 1 skin over the traditional Battlefield gameplay, Battlefield 1 successfully adapts its mechanics to the period. With a successful character-driven campaign and a diverse multiplayer sandbox, Battlefield 1 is a timeless return to a once forgotten period in video games.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Modern Warfare 3's campaign is exactly what I expect when I sit down and boot up a Call of Duty title. The plot featured enough predictable story beats to benefit from my nostalgia for the franchise. However, there was a noticeable lack in big, memorable action sequences for itself. Multiplayer has been some of the most fun I've had in COD in a while. I was even pleasantly surprised to find Modern Warfare Zombies to be a good time.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    This game looks excellent, conveys a fantastic sense of speed, and doesn't get too complicated to slow down the fun. With a good variety of races, great track design, and both local and online multiplayer, this is the start of a series that deserves to continue long into the future.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A great new storyline and a stellar new class mean Necrom is a fantastic addition to the long-running saga of The Elder Scrolls Online.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    SnowRunner is an incredibly challenging and rewarding trucking simulatior despite some minor flaws.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The final DLC for Metro Exodus brings players a brand new open-world level to explore, filled with intense gameplay opportunities and stories to tell.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Train Sim World Founders Edition is an impressively deep and detailed train simulator that is as fun to master as it is beautiful to look at and listen to. Though it faces some performance hiccups, the excellent gameplay ultimately makes it more than worth your time.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Striking Distance Studios' debut title is a horror game that delivers a high-quality experience all the way through. It won't sway anyone new to scares and frights, but fans of the genre should make this a priority.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Street Fighter 6 is an exceptional entry in the franchise that reminds me why I love fighting games. Freshly introduced mechanics shake up the familiar dance of previous titles and notably improve the moment-to-moment gameplay. Capcom continues to demonstrate precisely how a team can triumphantly transform established IP. The blood, sweat, and style pouring from nearly every moment in Street Fighter 6 will delight newcomers and veterans alike.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Make no mistake, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a true work of art, a hallmark of excellence for the medium, and an example to be followed. That said, a bit more polish would have gone a long way to put the icing on this very glorious cake.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    After sinking my teeth into this game for over 100 hours, I confidently say that not only has Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak fixed all my problems with the original base game, it is now one of my new favorite games in the whole Monster Hunter series.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Many factors make Carrion exceptionally fun to play, and hardly any that don't make it a gorily great way to spend eight hours. It's atmospheric in presentation and sound production, creating a complete package that feels like you're playing the origin story of a creature like The Thing.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    With its interesting plot, unconventional setting, and mixture of physical combat, stealthy assassination, magic, and ranged attack abilities, as well as satisfying interactivity with the open world, Seven: The Days Long Gone is an excellent and ambitious isometric role-playing game you definitely shouldn't miss.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Outer Worlds is an utterly tremendous achievement that showcases the best of Obsidian's writing wit, world-building detail, and character focus. The game borrows heavily from other major beloved RPG franchises that have fallen out of favor with shareholders in recent years, which is perhaps ironic given the game's extreme-Capitalism plot beats. Obsidian fills that forgotten niche with confidence and rigor.
    • 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.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Tales of Arise sets a new gold standard for traditional action JRPGs. This stylized adventure's presentation and lavish production is a treat for anime fans and RPG enthusiasts, and it brings new life to the long-running Tales series.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Fatal Falls adds a good amount of new mid-game content designed to shake things up for experienced players, though it's not for the faint of heart.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dragon's Dogma 2 is an enigma of a game. Every aspect of it, every system, and every quest is a jigsaw puzzle to solve — that experience will not be for everyone. But it was for me. Playing through Dragon's Dogma 2 without a guide was a truly fantastic experience, with a near constant drip-feed of "eureka!" moments, alongside spectacularly rewarding combat highs. Dragon's Dogma 2 celebrates the patient, and committed. For those looking for a relaxing and straight forward experience, perhaps look elsewhere. And it's certainly true that Dragon's Dogma 2 has flaws — particularly with performance on console. However, for those who want cavernous depth at every turn, Dragon's Dogma 2 may be your game of the year.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a fun, anime-inspired ride that gets better the further you delve in. It has a huge roster of Monsties to tame, a simple to learn but difficult to master combat system, and an insanely addictive Monstie development system.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The level of choice is consistently interesting and rewarding. The artistry is commendable, too, with excellent character portraits and beautiful music that demands a soundtrack purchase. Some players might long for a longer, more detailed narrative in a single playthrough. But if you can adjust to the need to replay the game while making different choices, you'll find this to be a clever and rewarding action-RPG.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Aside from a few voice acting mishaps, A Way Out is one of the best cooperative experiences on the Xbox One and anyone who is looking for a game to play with a friend should immediately check this one out for themselves.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Immortal Pillars is a great addition to Age of Mythology: Retold, finally giving the Chinese pantheon its due. New units and God Powers radically shake things up on the battlefield, and while the new campaign is a tad short, the presentation quality and level variety make it well worth playing.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Deathloop is one of Arkane's finest games yet, featuring incredible gameplay, excellent levels, tons of charm, and writing that's sure to bring a smile to your face. Watch out for the overly demanding specs and the occasional performance dip on PC, though.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Tunic's world is as mysterious as it is beautiful. The world is a treasure trove of puzzles to solve coupled with a myriad of bosses determined to test your fortitude.
    • 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.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dressed up as an unassuming blue-collar employment simulator, Hardspace: Shipbreaker actually clamps down on the injustice of a capitalist system where the health and safety of employees is overlooked in favor of just getting the job done. Gameplay can be a little slow, but the narrative payoff is worth the wait.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Sacrifices had to be made, but the gamble of chopping off a short single player campaign to focus on multiplayer modes that will offer many more hours of fun has paid off. Multiplayer and Zombies are much better off because of it, and newcomer Blackout sets Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 up as the most well-rounded multiplayer shooter of the year.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Ironlights is fun, versatile, and should only get better when more people are searching for matches online. Its unique mechanics are easy to learn but hard to master, giving the game staying power.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Creative Assembly delivers one of the best DLC packs for the Total War: Warhammer series yet.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    This is the best Crusader Kings game we've had to date and is a must-have for any strategy or RPG fan.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is the perfect way to keep the Call of Duty franchise fresh. This series can't just stick with modern warfare and past wars every single year. Moving to the far future allows for the introduction of new mechanics, equipment, and especially environments that couldn't be done in other time periods. Not only do series followers get something new here, but science fiction fans who've never touched a Call of Duty will find much to like as well.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The only thing holding NecroDancer back from being a perfect game is the difficulty of playing as some characters. But don't let the difficulty dissuade you – rhythm role-playing games simply don't get any better than this.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Remnant: From the Ashes - Swamps of Corsus is a good expansion that provides closure to one of the major plot holes in the base game.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Persona 5 Royal is one of the finest JRPGS Atlus has ever produced, and thanks to the visual and performance boost of the Xbox Series X|S, it is better than ever. While I do have minor misgivings about the game's pacing during the opening act and its difficulty quirks, it is nonetheless a must-play for any JRPG fan on Xbox.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A seamless blend of genres and high replayability make Empire of Sin and excellent choice for strategy gaming fans.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The photorealistic visuals stand the test of time and even in 2018 it looks absolutely breathtaking. It's definitely one of the best looking games on console with an equally moving story.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a superbly well-done remake that honors the legacy of its source material while being a great JRPG in its own right. The new Monster Wrangler Vocation and overhauled Vocations are enjoyable to play with and offer tons of character-build theory-crafting potential, the new HD-2D graphics are gorgeous to behold. What's more, there’s a decent amount of engaging and rewarding side quests to partake in, and the new difficulty and accessibility options make the game feel more welcoming for newcomers to the Dragon Quest series while maintaining the challenge of the original title for series veterans.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    With the credits rolling as I write this verdict, Metaphor: ReFantazio has cemented itself as the best game I've played this year so far. While the long periods of time with no gameplay and the divisive art style may not be to everyone's taste, Metaphor: ReFantazio makes a compelling argument for the "game of the year" title with its evocative and passionately crafted narrative, loveable and believable characters, incredible RPG, combat, and social simulation elements, and an art design that truly brings to life this unique world.
    • 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.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    This is truly a special game. It's obvious that Hogwarts Legacy was made by passionate Harry Potter fans for passionate Harry Potter fans as there are plenty of Easter eggs to discover, magical abilities to unlock, and fantastical experiences to uncover. However, the game is not so obtuse as to push away newcomers or those who haven't engaged with Harry Potter lore in a while.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Some technical issues aside, it's a masterwork of emotion, and a game that shows developer Remedy Entertainment still has plenty of surprises up its sleeves.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Awakened King DLC offers more for $10 than I've seen in any recent expansion from any game. After 15 hours and over three playthroughs, I still haven't found everything this return to Losomn has to offer. It was an absolutely stunning start to Gunfire Games' three planned DLCs.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a great game which lives up to Ninja Theory's strong history of producing excellent action titles like DmC: Devil May Cry, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and Heavenly Sword. Its approach to presenting mental illness in a way many people can understand is also remarkable. The use of stellar voice acting enhances the experience and gives it a "AAA" feel despite the fact that it costs a fraction of that.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The gameplay can get a little repetitive, but overall, the core experience of finding and befriending dinosaurs is well worth your time. There could certainly be some improvements, such as the ability to fast-travel back home or between biomes, and a limited supply of quests is disappointing.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The first Citizen Sleeper used beautiful, haunting lines of prose to thread together a deep, engrossing world, and its sequel builds on that with refined gameplay and more locations to explore. It's almost the perfect sequel to one of my favorite Xbox Game Pass titles, but a wider world does mean a little less depth as well.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Two Point Museum is everything you expect and love about a Two Point County game, wth classic characters from the franchise returning for a good history lesson. But Two Point Studios, the developers behind the series, fail to learn from the past and continue to skimp out on subtitles while still missing the mark on controller mapping.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy 7 Remake was a great example of how to rebuild a classic for modern audiences. 7 Rebirth follows the same trajectory, while also building upon every aspect of the previous. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a well-optimized PC port that shows Square Enix learned a lot from its predecessor, both technologically, and otherwise. Deeper combat gameplay, a massive world with a boatload of side content, with every major location from the previous game rebuilt and celebrated in new and unexpected ways. While some of the game's open world content can devolve into a bit of a Ubisoft-style collect-a-thon, some of the quests add interesting new lore and come with potent rewards and bespoke dungeons along the way. FF7 Rebirth shines most in its more linear story-heavy sections in my view, which absolutely over-deliver on the nostalgic expectations of fans of the original, all while creating something fresh. I'm still sceptical of Final Fantasy 7's "newer" plot elements, but it doesn't stop the game from being an absolute trip, for fans both old and new.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Lost in Random is all about randomness, and while that idea doesn't go far enough in some cases, the game is still a great coming-of-age tale with tons of laughs and tension.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Jackbox Party Pack 4 is a very solid collection of party games. In fact, it's probably the best entry in the series. Only one game is a real dud, with the other four games offering plenty of chances for hilarity. Fibbage About You is a clever spin on the already great game of Fibbage. It's also great to see the production values and moderation tools continue to improve with each installment. Break out Jackbox Party Pack 4 at your next social gathering (or livestream) and everybody's guaranteed to have a good time.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Wolfenstein II is a glorious single-player experience that stands proud in a AAA industry that seems increasingly obsessed with multiplayer and "Games as a Service" business models. Wolfenstein II is a pure experience that shooter fans cannot afford to miss.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Ōkami HD is a great game which is let down but its difficult brush controls. Luckily, that doesn't take away too much from the experience, and anyone can enjoy the title's gorgeous visuals and powerful story.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dead Island 2 is everything a Dead Island fan could ask for. Between its addicting combat mechanics, excellent character and gear progression systems, hilariously satirical writing, and goretastic presentation, this long-awaited sequel has proven it was worth the wait.
    • 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.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Civilization 7's biggest changes fix mid- and end-game pacing, clean up clutter on the map, and open up more strategic avenues than ever before. Victory and unit balancing will no doubt be tweaked as developers receive feedback and data, but otherwise, the game is in a great state (something that's becoming increasingly rare in AAA games). Pricing and DLC gripes aside, Civilization 7 should prove to be the best playground for world domination for years to come.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    It's kept the core of fun, with impeccable control and a well-paced learning curve. It's never a chore to play.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you're a fan of city-building gameplay Surviving Mars is a must-buy title. Even if you prefer a more creative experience you can tailor the difficulty to that end, or ramp up the scarcity for a true survival experience, where battling the elements almost feels more like a real-time strategy. I leave this review excited to get back to watching my swarms of drones scurrying around, and look forward to see how Haemimont will evolve the experience in the coming months.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Throw in the enhanced photography and investigations, and Dead Rising 4 is an unusually deep and well-rounded game built around zombies. Forget the zombies, though. The real monsters are those who won't give Dead Rising 4 a chance.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The multiple-reality puzzle mechanic keeps fetch quests from getting stale, and you will certainly have to do some thinking to get to the end. There's a ton of detail, the artwork is beautiful, and the narrator does a perfect job of setting the tone.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    With heightened stakes and tension, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will keep you engaged throughout its hours of gameplay. Its limited advancements over previous games should be noted, but the final package is still an unmissable Tomb Raider adventure.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dishonored: Death of the Outsider builds on an already established foundation for both storytelling and gameplay mechanics after two main releases. This latest expansion leverages several of Dishonored 2's biggest strengths into a much more condensed form factor, without compromising on the core philosophies of its predecessors. Even after stripping out some of the complexities of full games, Death of the Outsider still has much of the substance of a full Dishonored experience.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    EA and Petroglyph Games have created something truly incredible for fans of the series and the RTS genre.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    You won't find a tremendous amount of gameplay in Guardians: The Telltale Series. Like most recent Telltale games, it's more of an interactive movie than a traditional game. But that interactive movie is one that Guardians fans should love, at least during this first episode. Hopefully the rest of the series can maintain this same sense of adventure and bravado.
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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    • 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
    • Critic Score
    While still in early access, Palworld is far more polished and engaging than many other creature-collecting games out there. The inclusion of survival mechanics, challenging combat, crafting, and exploration all work together to make one of the most compelling games in years. Since you can play with your friends in co-op multiplayer, it's also a great way to be social with friends. [Early Access Review]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    SpellPunk VR is a unique concept with incredible visuals and a lot of potential. The problem is that, right now, there's almost no content to be found. The game is designed as a multiplayer-only experience, but there's no player base to speak of at this time of review. Aside from that, it's a shallow experience that will only appeal to the most magic-crazy among us. [Early Access review score = 40]
    • 82 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The Division 2 sets the standard for visual quality on Xbox One X. Moody lighting, evocative weather effects, and painstakingly-detailed environments have pretty much become Ubisoft's calling card, and they're all the more impressive when you consider how Division 2 increases the stakes...Early on, The Division 2 feels very similar to the original game, but the small improvements look as though they could help the franchise realize the potential largely missed by The Division when it launched in 2016.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    From its distinctive art style to its decently fleshed-out world, Kitaria Fables is as cute as they come and filled with its own personal brand of charm. However, surprisingly engrossing combat and a stable experience don't cover the myriad of strange game design decisions that cause Kitaria Fables to move at glacial pace.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Nightingale is a game I wanted to love. It's a game I kept telling myself and others about whenever more information came out about it. I was excited, enthralled, and mystified by the idea of it. It pains me to say my experience left a sour taste in my mouth. It's as though everything is half-baked at this point. With that said, it's early access, and what the developers have lined up could be a fascinating game once finished. [Early Access Review]
    • 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]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Even at this early stage, Grounded is an incredibly fun adventure with exciting combat and creative survival gameplay.
    • 77 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Ghostwire: Tokyo is an intriguing investigative thriller where players weave elemental magic against angry apparitions in a Tokyo-inspired limbo spirit world.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Whether this Viking simulator can differentiate itself from other survival games remains to be seen. However, as an early access game, it works well, and it's definitely worth a look, especially if you're a fan of Assassins Creed: Valhalla or the recent God of War reboot. [Early Access Impressions]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Lightyear Frontier's development team is determined to bring its debut indie game to life. Despite an indefinite delay, the game's well-defined roadmap for expected updates promises an exceptional, comforting gaming experience. Although there's still room for improvement, the early-access farming simulator could transform into the cooperative game of my dreams. [Early Access Score = 90]
    • 73 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Beyond Light has an excellent campaign and Europa is an awesome patrol zone, but the lack of new loot and the terrible Stasis balancing make the expansion difficult to recommend.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Please, Touch the Artwork is a subversive, heartfelt, and cheeky love letter to modern art and minimalism.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Simply put, Manor Lords is a gorgeous game, especially for something that was almost entirely put together by a single developer. Its various structures and NPCs are some of the most detailed I've ever seen in a city-builder, and the beauty of its medieval European landscapes is accentuated by its natural lighting and color balance. The environment also changes as seasons come and go, with heavy spring rains, autumnal color shifts, and winter snowfalls highlighting the passage of time. [Early Access Review]
    • 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]

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