XGN's Scores

  • Games
For 3,434 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 52% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 42% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.7 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 73
Highest review score: 98 Elden Ring
Lowest review score: 10 Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor
Score distribution:
3435 game reviews
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a fine remaster for those wanting to experience the story of Zack Fair before Rebirth comes out. This is however a by the books remaster including all of the cringeworthy dialogue and stiff animations. The new additions and graphical upgrades are really good, but don't expect this to be on the same level as 2020's FFVII Remake.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    With a distinct and interesting artstyle, which mixes a realistic car and city with streetart cartoon drawings for special effects, NFS Unbound definitely sets itself apart from the rest. The game sports a Souls-like mechanism of risk vs reward and a day-night cycle that work, but also hinders progress through the storyline. the races are fun and the many collectibles are well integrated. The near-mandatory police chases quickly become a nuisance and we wouldn't mind if those didn't make a return.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is the 40K-version of the Vermintide games and Fatshark delivers again a fantastic co-op experience. The combat feels visceral and meaty and is a true upgrade compared to the former games. There are however a lot less classes, even though they all feel unique. Some features are clearly removed during production, so hopefully they will get added next to more classes. Fatshark has already released some updates, so the future is looking bright for Darktide.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    This game is absolutely a surprise this year! It combines puzzling elements with horror and the atmosphere is getting more and more dark. It's a short title but definitely fun to play.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sonic Frontiers is a bold new move for our favourite hedgehog. The open worlds give a sense of freedom and there is a lot to do. Unfortunately the most of it is the mandatory collecting of a lot of stuff to progress through the game. The controls feel good, but at higher speeds they won't always work and the camera is a total disaster. This makes the game way less enjoyable than it should be.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    This edition is supposed to be a fresh new start to the longrunning series, but stumbles at the get-go. Longrunning features like the Dancefloor are missing as are most of the songs of the new Just Dance+, which only contains about 25% of the old Unlimited. The core mechanics of the dances is still there as are a some 40+ new songs to dance to, as well as a new menu that needs some getting used to but ultimately makes life easier. A not-so-fresh start then, but it might be a good set-up for the future.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    This game is so much fun for almost everybody. It looks great and is nice to play. You would enjoy this much as you love Mario Kart games. The levels are well designed, especially where you see Gargamal and the famous red cat. It's also nice that there are two ways to race: a normal version and a faster one. The latter is not even easy.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    After 30 years the game proves to be relevant still. Of course with a few tweaks like better graphics and a completely overhauled menu to make the game feel more inviting and balanced. There even is a new gameplay element added to it! It is not the perfect remake, but one you should try.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Marvel's Midnight Suns is an okay game but could've been a lot better. The game is filled with boring tasks and side missions and the main character doesn't have much of a personality or many emotions. The game would've been a lot better if the developers didn't include all the RPG aspects. However, Firaxis is clearly still great at making strategy games, because the strategic missions are the best part of this game. The storyline is great and It's cool to see the other heroes together.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Evil West is a game like Shadow Warrior 2, but with less flair. The game let's you enjoy co-op action with up to two players, killing vampires and other meanies. But is misses something to make it memorable or even more than an in between. Still, if you like crazy games that let you beat vampires into pulp, this is a good suggestion for the budget bin.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    This game is fun for kids and parents and also to play together. New is a four player coop feature. However we must be honest: the game could have been better. It's a pity that it's only a top down adventure. And it's not fun to play alone.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Devil in Me is a worthy final chapter in this season of The Anthology. It provides a believable, interesting story that carefully builds tension, but also provides space to build out the releations between the team members. The game is firmly rooted in a classic horror story of a team trapped in a remote location and an all-powerful, manipulative enemy, but the execution really delivers.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Charon's Staircase could have been a very good horrorgame, but it misses too many of the elements to be so. The graphics (on the Switch) are dissapointingly bad and the controls feel clunky. Also, the horror elements in the game barely scare you like they should, although the tension is built up in a strong way. The exploration and the puzzles feel unbalanced. It's better to wait for a sale here.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    The Callisto Protocol clearly gets its inspiration from the older Dead Space games, thanks to co-creator Glenn Schofield being the director on the game. The survival-horror action is being presented very convincing here, with nice visuals and thrilling audio design. Sadly the gameplay is more of mixed bag, with a lot of ups and downs. Whilst not being perfect, Callisto Protocol nonetheless is a fun ride that every survival-horror fan should at least put on their radar.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Pentiment plays like a living storybook. You walk, talk and act in a medieval style book that is written as you progress. The game leans heavily on storytelling and its historical background. The game is special in a good way. It's not for everyone, but if you're remotely interested in this turbulent times or a good murder mystery, you should really try this one out.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Bannerlord doesn't excel graphically or in storyline, but makes that up in flexibility and scale. The vibrant world evolves even without the gamer and offers both opportunities and threads that can be exploited. This is a true medieval sandbox where the player can act as he wishes, but always has to face the consequences. While much great effort is put into making this game playable on consoles, the sheer number of options, menus and controls make this better suited for PC.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Pokémon Scarlet & Violet takes the next step for the franchise thanks to the lush open world. Even the new Terastallizing mechanic is great fun, although it is kinda a reskin of an earlier mechanic. Amazing music and some smart design choices make it a game you can't miss. At least, that is what we would've said if the performance wasn't as bad as it is.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Pokémon Scarlet & Violet takes the next step for the franchise thanks to the lush open world. Even the new Terastallizing mechanic is great fun, although it is kinda a reskin of an earlier mechanic. Amazing music and some smart design choices make it a game you can't miss. At least, that is what we would've said if the performance wasn't as bad as it is.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    This game is fun for kids but not for full price. It is too short. But the dragons are cool and it's nice that there is a small skill tree.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef looks good at a glance. The graphic style is one to love and the humor is on par. The game only suffers from framedrops and crashes, that force you to play entire parts all over again. Besides that, the game offers a brainless gameplay for up to four players. you can play online or offline as you wish, unlock new weapons and wreck utter chaos with them. Still, for 20 euros a game with hard crashes feels a bit too expensive.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bayonetta 3 is not a perfect game. It doesn’t look as good as possible nowadays, bit makes you forget about that really fast. The action is bizarre, stylish and fast paced and the game offers enough variation to make you enjoy it for tens of hours.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, although not completely perfect, is one of the better installments in the franchies in recent years. A solid singleplayer delivers a thrilling rollercoaster with diverse gameplay and settings. The spec-ops is a nice co-op warm up, but the real deal here is the multiplayer. With tightly designed gameplay, maps that suit the different modes well, a lot of content to choose from, Infinity Ward really hit a sweet spot with this newest installment.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 98 Critic Score
    God of War Ragnarok is an amazing feat in storytelling, combat, characters, and spectacle. This gripping adventure about a father and son trying to do what is right keeps you hooked throughout while putting you through the wringer both in its gameplay and emotional storytelling. Ragnarok builds on 2018 in every aspect cementing it as a masterpiece in gaming.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Chant offers a mix of horror you don't see often in games. It combines survival-horror with elements that could come straight out of a H.P. Lovecraft book. Besides a few flaws the game looks great and the gameplay keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way. The gameplay could use a bit more depth, especially the combat and the skill tree and sometimes you miss a bit of balance. Still, if you start this game, be ready for a ride that keeps the blood pressure going up and down.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Gotham Knights is a good game dragged down by a few mechanics that feel a little out of place. The story, characters, and gameplay is really fun, strengthened by a great-looking open world, and tons of stuff to do. The fact that you'll need to do all of it in 30 fps is a big problem though, although some co-op makes up for it a little.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The rats are coming, again! Requiem is bigger, bolder and more beautiful than its predecessor. The story is both huge and intimate, which is an accomplishment in its own. Requiem builds on what Innocence set out to do, and does everything better.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle could perhaps be seen as a weird experiment that owed its success to good release timing. The sequel, Sparks of Hope, proves that view incorrect. The foundations of this strategy RPG remain strong as ever, while several gameplay changes, such as free movement during battle, provide countless new ways to strategize. You may unfortunately forget about some heroes, but it is a small price to pay for such a solid strategy experience. (That also looks gorgeous.)
    • 69 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    This game is very ambitious and to some extent is able to fulfill that. The environment is gorgeous and driving through the different areas each have their own challenges. The game doesn't fully feel finished. Technical issues ranging from superficial to gamebreaking and some key functions are simply missing. The AI really isn't very good, and the game really needs the promised photo mode and free roam. The game really has potential, and if the promised additions are there, it might be able to deliver.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Although the story is pretty boring there is much fun to be found thanks to the combat systems and plenty of secrets to uncover in this bleak world. That's why Valkyrie Elysium is a fantastic time if you're keen on some fighting action.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Let's Build a Zoo is a modern take on zoo management games like Zoo Tycoon. The game is very unique in the genre and has a choice system that actually matters. A huge part of the game is collecting all animals and this is very addicting because there are many animals with fun designs to collect. The port to console is alright but not perfect. Controls could be slow and frustrating at times. But nevertheless is this still a game you should try if you enjoy management and simulation games.

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