Game Information

Game Title: Marvel's Wolverine

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Sep 15, 2026)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 79 average - 73% recommended - 56 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Wait for Sale

Video Review - Quote not available

But Why Tho? - Matt Sowinski - 6 / 10

This is a turn-your-brain-off-and-go-for-a-ride spectacle that occasionally punches above its weight. That works to some extent, but Marvel’s Wolverine doesn’t live up to the creative standard Insomniac Games is known for, and Logan has never been known for playing it safe.

CBR - Mark O'Callaghan - 9 / 10

The game delivers the definitive Wolverine gaming experience, combining brutal action with a genuine understanding of what makes Logan such an enduring character. For Wolverine fans, picking this one up is an easy choice, but even people who aren't into X-Men may want to give this game a go.

CGMagazine - Marcus Kenneth - 7 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a good-looking, beautifully performed game built on a combat system that never grows past its opening hours and a story that keeps giving away its own secrets.

COGconnected - James Paley - 100 / 100

Marvel’s Wolverine is a tight, focused experience that never lets up or slows down more than it absolutely has to. The action is intense and incredibly violent, the combat flows beautifully, steadily evolving into something wondrous to behold. I loved the acting and the dialogue; the pacing is excellent, and the world depicted is a brutal one. Like Spider-Man before it, Marvel’s Wolverine has set a new standard for this character. Playing as Logan is unlikely to get better than this for many years.

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 8 / 10

While Marvel’s Wolverine has several issues, it’s the epic motorcycle chases and key action moments that will stick with players after the credits roll.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a brutal, bloody return to Insomniac Games' Marvel universe, and it does a great job of expanding the existing world and scope. Logan may be an undeniably difficult character to play in a video game; however, the developers elevated what it means to play as Wolverine by crafting a mature story that jettisons the established expectations of an X-Men game. For all the blood and violence the character finds himself surrounded by, it's thanks to Liam McIntyre's performance that you can see how much Wolverine cares for those around him and tries to do right by them despite being an ultimate weapon. Marvel's Wolverine is easily Insomniac's best narrative work, with excellent character work to match.

Digital Chumps - Will Silberman - 9.1 / 10

Marvel’s Wolverine does not reinvent the superhero action genre like other games in Sony’s portfolio. Instead, it violently refines it with flair and demonstrates how Insomniac has become fluent in beautifully brutal combat. You’ll walk away fully satiated with the presentation, even if there were some missed opportunities to take Logan’s stealth sequences and broader skillset further with the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller.

Digitec Magazine - Domagoj Belancic - German - 4 / 5

Insomniac’s first foray into the «X-Men» universe gets a lot of things right. The combat system is a perfect fit for Wolverine’s animalistic nature, the bloody action sequences are spectacularly staged, and the pacing is almost perfect thanks to the variety of mission types. The fact that the gameplay formula feels a little dated? Who cares. What does matter, however, is the botched story, which is dragged down by flat characters and dumb dialogue. Wolverine also feels a little less fluid than Insomniac’s Spider-Man, both in terms of movement and combat. Still, fans of the Canadian killer mutant and Insomniac’s games can jump in without hesitation.

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 8.5 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a fun, blood-soaked journey that will have you feeling like a badass while also tugging at your heartstrings.

Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - No Recommendation

In Marvel’s Wolverine, Logan returns to video games in the hands of Insomniac Games with another exciting original story that, while not reaching the heights of some of the studio’s other games, delivers a fantastic take on the Marvel hero and a highly enjoyable combat system.

Enternity.gr - Giannis Archontidis - Greek - 8 / 10

With Marvel's Wolverine, Insomniac almost perfectly captured how we should feel when we look at Wolverine, but not quite how we should feel when we hold the controller.

Eurogamer - Chris Tapsell - 3 / 5

Wolverine's characterisation is a bright spot in this otherwise underwhelming, old-school romp that reminds us how far action games have come.

Eurogamer.pt - Bruno Galvão - Portuguese - 3 / 5

Marvel’s Wolverine is a cinematic single-player game offering light-hearted fun and spectacular graphics, produced by a much-loved studio that seems out of its depth. The lack of depth in the combat, the extremely simplified design and the pacing issues made me feel that a 13-hour game drags on longer than it should.

FOMOS - JONG-BONG, CHOI - Korean - 7.9 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine wields combat as sharp and unbreakable as adamantium claws themselves — yet repetitive missions and thin content leave that edge dulled.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 90%

As different as "Marvel's Wolverine" is compared to Insomniac's "Spider-Man" games, it meets them on equal footing – and that's really saying something!

GAMINGbible - Richard Lee Breslin - 7 / 10

If you go into Marvel’s Wolverine with lowered expectations, able to look past some of its flaws, and not expect another Marvel’s Spider-Man, it might not hit the same heights as some of Insomniac Games’ best work, but there is enough here for it to be a worthwhile adventure for fans, both casual and devoted, of Marvel’s ever-popular but grumpy hero.

Gadgets 360 - Manas Mitul - 6 / 10

The uninspired combat, the unpersuasive story, the unconvincing characters are all just a thin veneer. But when you peel that off, there's little inside Marvel's Wolverine that feels visceral.

GameRant - Anthony Taormina - 8 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine tackles the impossible task of bringing an unkillable killing machine to an interactive medium.

GameSpot - Tamoor Hussain - 6 / 10

At best, it’s a fun but forgettable experience that’ll entertain you for a few hours. At worst, it shows that just because you can make really good superhero games with one character, that doesn’t mean you can make really good superhero games with any character.

Gameblog - French - 8 / 10

Let's be clear: Marvel's Wolverine is a game that's likely to divide opinions. In line with Insomniac Games' latest titles, it takes the form of what could be described as the quintessential blockbuster- an explosively action-packed, finely crafted adventure that's a sheer delight to play from start to finish. Its linear approach, simplistic mechanics, and old-school superhero game charm, however, will likely not appeal to players looking for an experience that matches the maturity of the Wolverine universe. And even if it isn't perfect in every way, the fact is that, for us, the magic worked.

Gameblog - Matthieu Collin - French - 8 / 10

Let's be clear: Marvel's Wolverine is a game that's likely to divide opinions. In line with Insomniac Games' latest titles, it takes the form of what could be described as the quintessential blockbuster- an explosively action-packed, finely crafted adventure that's a sheer delight to play from start to finish. Its linear approach, simplistic mechanics, and old-school superhero game charm, however, will likely not appeal to players looking for an experience that matches the maturity of the Wolverine universe. And even if it isn't perfect in every way, the fact is that, for us, the magic worked.

Gameliner - Patrick Lamers - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

Insomniac Games has once again delivered a very cool game with Marvel's Wolverine, offering a more story-driven and linear experience than the Spider-Man games. While the story feels somewhat stretched towards the end and the combat is fairly simple, the game performs well both graphically and gameplay-wise. If you're looking for a cool, story-driven action-adventure game that will keep you busy for around twenty hours, Marvel's Wolverine is definitely worth adding to your wishlist.

Gamer Social Club - Andrew Cooper - 9 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is the best iteration of the titular clawed menace we've seen in nearly two decades. The story leans into the brutal violence and rage we've come to expect, while giving us a Logan who is more than just a harbinger of death

GamersGlobal - Benjamin Braun - German - 9.5 / 10

Wolverine outstrips any previouss game with the hero regarding graphics, cineastic production and narrative (altxxahrough more because of excellent characterizaton than the plot itself). But most of all playing Insomniac Games' action adventure is an absolute blast.

GamingBolt - Rashid Sayed - 10 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a brutal, focused and surprisingly heartfelt adventure with superb combat, excellent performances, spectacular set pieces and top-tier presentation. Its minor flaws do little to stop this from feeling like the definitive Wolverine game.

Geekinout.pt - Jorge Loureiro - Portuguese - 7 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a mixed bag. It can feel like an incredible game one moment and just decent the next—often within the same play session. The animalistic, visceral combat that defines Logan has been captured perfectly, the graphics are top-notch, and there are genuinely memorable moments throughout the adventure. But there are also dull moments, design flaws, immersion issues, and a story that never lives up to the character’s potential.

Giant Bomb - Shawn McDowell - 2.5 / 5

Wolverine is a game with momentary sparks of fun, but its mostly-good combat getting constantly dragged down by mediocre storytelling, poor pacing, and an underwhelming amount of player agency left me very bored far too often.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

Marvel’s Wolverine doesn’t reinvent the superhero genre, but it delivers where it matters. With brutal combat, spectacular set pieces and a strong cinematic presentation, it’s a predictable but incredibly enjoyable Wolverine game that is seemingly setting up for an exciting future.

HCL.hr - Dominik Vadas - Unknown - 85 / 100

Insomniac's Wolverine is a brutal, confident superhero action game that perfectly captures the savage nature of its protagonist while delivering a surprisingly heartfelt story. Despite a few technical issues and repetitive encounters, it's one of the best Wolverine adaptations ever made.

Hardcore Gamer - Kevin Dunsmore - 5 / 5

Marvel's Wolverine is an absolute triumph in nearly every category, doing for the character what Marvel's Spider-Man did for Spider-Man.

IGN - Simon Cardy - 6 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine's slick and satisfying combat wears thin well before its conclusion, so much so that even its strong character work can't quite save it from being anything more than okay.

IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 7 / 10

A fun and brutal action game with a great Wolverine and satisfying combat, but too linear and uneven to leave a truly lasting impression.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 8 / 10

Insomniac never disappoints when it comes to superheroes. Their take on Wolverine isn't afraid to get his claws dirty, and he proves that through a highly responsive, bloody, and visceral combat system. The limited side content and a few pacing issues in the story don't detract from Logan's strong solo debut in PS5.

Impulsegamer - Andrew Bistak - 5 / 5

From its flawless gameplay to its realistic graphics, Marvel's Wolverine undeniably boasts one of the best narratives of the year, which is enhanced by its stellar cast who successfully make you feel the emotions of these characters from Earth 1048.

Loot Level Chill - Chris White - 9 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is filled with consistent action and brutality, telling a new Wolverine story that has plenty of excitement and emotion throughout.

MMORPG.com - Jason Fanelli - 7 / 10

To put it another way, to borrow from an epic rap battle, Insomniac's previous games provided uncharted territory; with Wolverine, the studio is just in Uncharted's territory.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4.5 / 5

Marvel’s Wolverine is another impressive example of just how great Insomniac Games is at adapting iconic superheroes into the video game medium. The combat isn’t especially complicated, but there’s something uncomfortably satisfying about just how fun it is to mow down foes as Marvel’s most famous mutant. I’m curious to see where this version of Logan’s story goes next, as Marvel’s Wolverine has proven that Insomniac’s take on the Marvel universe just keeps getting more intriguing.

Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 8 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a great game that never quite reaches greater heights, but it will nonetheless please die-hard fans with its brutal and visceral combat, engaging story and excellent cinematics.

One More Game - Ricki Buzon - 7.5 / 10

Marvel’s Wolverine succeeds in capturing the essence of embodying the X‑Men’s iconic anti‑hero. Unlockables provide satisfying rewards, particularly for longtime Wolverine fans, and the narrative delivers a fresh perspective that only just sustains player investment through to the finale. However, an overly repetitive combat loop, simplistic enemy and boss encounters, and level designs that often drag undermine the experience. What begins as a visceral thrill of carving through foes gradually risks becoming tedious and mechanical midway through the campaign.

For players already invested in Insomniac’s Marvel Universe, the expanded story and world‑building justify the experience, and for those eager to step into Wolverine’s shoes, the game offers a bloody, uncompromising ride.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 8 / 10

Marvel’s Wolverine is an intense, brutal and visually stunning adventure that proves Insomniac Games is capable of offering something completely different from the Spider-Man stories. The combat is hugely satisfying, and the story makes good use of Logan and his relationships with other heroes, although the linear structure and the repetitive nature of the fights mean that after around 12 hours, it’s hard to find many reasons to carry on playing. This isn’t a Spider-Man with claws, but a full-fledged Wolverine adventure – gritty, bloody and exactly what this hero needed.

PSX Brasil - Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho - Portuguese - 80 / 100

Marvel's Wolverine is a good game featuring the beloved mutant. The story is enjoyable and deviates somewhat from expectations. The gameplay offers combat without many surprises, with a cool fighting system (despite some issues) and is slightly deep thanks to the upgrades. The biggest problem is that the game doesn't offer much variety and has a short duration.

PlayStation Universe - John-Paul Jones - 9 / 10

Jettisoning the open-world shenanigans of its previous comic-book games, the proudly linear violence of Marvel's Wolverine feels like a refreshing throwback in all the best ways, albeit one that has been lavishly encased in Insomniac Games' reliably premium audiovisual presentation. Boasting some of the most satisfying, if not especially inventive, third-person combat to come along in ages and a truly propulsive narrative that feels as furious and engaging as its titular hero, this is everything you could want from a game about The Man That Says Bub A Lot.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 8 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine ends the open world streak at Insomniac for an intentional and linear superhuman title that revels in its gory, intense combat system. The campaign structured around it can be overly restrictive and the story quite dull, but as a mission guides you from one fight to the next, it lets the bloodshed do the talking. With superb visuals, amazing character performances, and nice location variety, Marvel's Wolverine sheds its flaws for an endlessly enjoyable superhero experience.

SECTOR.sk - Matúš Štrba - Slovak - 8 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a brutal, linear action game with a surprisingly fresh take on its comic-book source material. Its story, characters, combat and presentation are excellent, but repetitive enemies, overly long boss fights and especially frequent bugs hold it back from greatness.

Saudi Gamer - عصام الشهوان - Arabic - 3.5 / 5

A glitzy Wolverine game with a fun and violent fighting system, and some stealth, that is let down by too much hand holding and not enough faith in the player.

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 7.5 / 10

Insomniac gives Logan a focused, brutal adventure with strong character work, spectacular set pieces, and rewarding progression in Marvel's Wolverine, but repetitive late-game encounters and underwhelming boss design keep its claws from cutting quite as deeply as they should.

Sirus Gaming - Lexuzze Tablante - 9 / 10

Marvel’s Wolverine is a breath of fresh air from the slew of open-world games Sony has released over the past few years. While it’s not as ambitious in scale as the Spider-Man games, its linear direction puts the spotlight on Logan and his story. Its brutal combat kept me entertained throughout my 17-hour playthrough, including one stretch where I played for 12 hours straight. Insomniac delivered the Wolverine game I’ve been waiting for — brutal, bloody, emotional, and unapologetically Logan. By the time the credits rolled, I was already left wanting more.

TheGamer - George Foster - 4 / 5

Marvel’s Wolverine gets its claws in deep with a memorable, emotional, and high-stakes story, wonderful interpretations of Logan, Jean, and the rest of the cast, and brutally satisfying combat that distils the core of the character down to every snikt and claw pop.

TheSixthAxis - Jim Hargreaves - 8 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine carves out its slot in a packed year for single-player adventures. The comparisons back to Insomniac's previous work are inevitable, and it's true that Wolverine's blood-soaked combat can feel more restrained and limited, but this globetrotting odyssey never outstays its welcome and sets the foundation for what could be a stone cold killer of a sequel.

Tom's Guide - 3.5 / 5

Marvel's Wolverine is a slickly presented superhero romp that casts players as the iconic mutant. Combat is extremely violent, as the character demands, but also highly repetitive. At least the enjoyable (if predictable) original comic book story offers motivation to continue. Check Amazon Check Best Buy

Too Much Gaming - Carlos Hernandez - 3.5 / 5

Marvel’s Wolverine is a solid video game, and I enjoyed my time with it, but I left wanting more from both the game and the character.

It succeeds at making you feel like Wolverine, even if the game surrounding that fantasy isn't always as compelling. Its combat, structure, and lack of meaningful stakes keep it from reaching the heights of Insomniac’s Spider-Man games. Despite the technical excellence on display, this is the studio’s weakest offering yet.

Uagna - Lorenzo Bologna - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Marvel’s Wolverine demonstrates that Insomniac fully understood that simply replicating the Spider-Man formula wouldn't be enough. The decision to opt for a more linear, aggressive, and focused adventure suits Logan perfectly, delivering a highly satisfying combat system and a technically impressive production. Not every aspect hits the same high notes—side missions and activities could have offered more variety, and the story shines more through its characters than through its ability to surprise. Overall, however, Wolverine’s claws leave their mark, giving PlayStation an exclusive that is perfect for fans of the Canadian mutant or anyone seeking an intense, straightforward experience.

Wccftech - Alessio Palumbo - 8.5 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a very different game from Insomniac's Spider-Man adaptations, but it shows the developer really understands this hero, too. The combat took a while to grab me, and I wish some maps were larger, but eventually I really felt like the ultimate killing machine Wolverine is supposed. Meanwhile, the story kept me glued to the screen from start to finish.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8 / 10

Marvel's Wolverine is a fun, absurdly brutal beat-'em-up. If you know what you're getting into, it's probably the best playable version of Wolverine yet, finally outclassing X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It doesn't quite match the ambition or success of the Spider-Man games, and its repetition and dull traversal occasionally make the experience feel one-note. But if you're a Wolverine fan or simply want a straightforward, frequently satisfying brawler, Wolverine is the best at what it does.

Game Information

Game Title: Control Resonant

Platforms:

• PC (Sep 24, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (Sep 24, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (Sep 24, 2026)

Trailer:

Developer: Remedy Entertainment

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 84 average - 84% recommended - 63 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Video Review - Quote not available

AltChar - Emina Zulić - 8 / 10

It’s been a long time since I was as excited to play a game as I was for this one, and I can say that Control Resonant delivered that in almost every way that mattered.

But Why Tho? - Travis Hymas - 8 / 10

Control Resonant is absolutely worth the wait. Some of the open-world aspects put strain on the exploration but, there’s enough curiosities and compelling events both in that world and in the combat design to recover every time fatigue begins to set in.

CGMagazine - Marcus Kenneth - 7.5 / 10

CONTROL Resonant isn't a bad game by any means, but feels more like a Remedy game that is trying to imitate its own legacy rather than making a wholly compelling experience.

COGconnected - Rhett Waselenchuk - 90 / 100

Control Resonant is killer. Plain and simple.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10

Control Resonant is one heck of a follow-up to Control, with a setting twisted by a paranatural force that's perverted Manhattan into a supernatural playground. Remedy's somehow taken what makes them so unique in the industry and applied it to an open world that becomes what I can describe as a ethereal rollercoaster throughout New York. What unfolds is unlike anything else you'll play this year. Without a doubt, Resonant delivers a memorable return to the world of Control.

Cubed3 - Coller Entragian - 6 / 10

Control Resonant has a lot going for it. It's a technical and artistic achievement, with amazing visuals, memorable characters, and a lot of platforming... but it fumbles with the combat. Sadly, fighting is incredibly boring and repetitive, and fighting is something Dylan does a lot. The most frustrating and disappointing aspect of Resonant is that it's a brilliant idea that's executed so utterly flatly.

DayOne - Jesse Norris - 8.5 / 10

CONTROL Resonant had a frustratingly obtuse start and an incredible ending. It is a worthy successor to a similarly flawed but great game.

Digital Chumps - Ben Sheene - 9.5 / 10

Though altering many of the original's fundamentals, Control Resonant is every bit an extension of Remedy's incredible universe. Frenzied melee combat and mind-bending exploration house yet another fascinating story across numerous planes of reality.

DualShockers - Tay Garcia - 8.5 / 10

It is a must-play for anyone who appreciates the studio's craft, and the perfect way to establish Control as one of Remedy's premier flagship franchises. Who would have thought I’d end up enjoying walking upside down on ceilings so much?

Enternity.gr - Platon Peppas - Greek - 9 / 10

Control Resonant is a showcase, and that’s because few developers have shown the kind of courage that Remedy has demonstrated in recent years with the titles it has released—and just how different they are from one another.

Eurogamer - Alexis Ong - 3 / 5

Control Resonant is a more action-RPG oriented follow-up to Control, but in leaving the Oldest House it also leaves behind some of what gave the original its magic.

Everyeye.it - Joseph Arace - Italian - 8 / 10

Resonant's diversity and diversity, however, come together in a blend that only Remedy can blend so coherently. A charismatic melting pot of the most disparate influences, the second Control entertains for dozens of hours and can appeal to fans of the weird with a unique and bizarre personality that is worth surrendering to.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 75%

On its own merits, though, "Control Resonant" still offers a story that ranks among the better ones in the video game genre, an overall atmospheric open world, and, last but not least, a cool combat system if you're into sometimes frantically fast, spectacular action.

GAMINGbible - Olly Smith - 9 / 10

I will say, though, that Remedy still maintains its strong core identity with Control Resonant, with its strong narrative design and refined combat, where it’ll go down as one of this year’s best action games.

GameBlast - Farley Santos - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Control Resonant has a solid grasp of the elements that made the first game stand out and finds interesting ways to expand upon them. The distorted Manhattan, gravity shifts, and agile combat create an engaging adventure, though enemy repetition, customization limitations, and some uninspired content hold the game back from reaching its full potential.Ultimately, Control Resonant is a great experience and an excellent expansion of the universe created by Remedy. It may not be the reinvention its premise might have led us to expect, but it is a sequel that finds new ways to play with the strange and demonstrates that there is still plenty of room to explore within this universe.

GameRant - Josh Cotts - 9 / 10

Control Resonant transforms Remedy's cult classic into a bigger, bolder action RPG that rarely misses, even if its performances fall short at times.

GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 9 / 10

Control Resonant might frustrate you at times, especially in its early hours, but the more you dig into it the more enjoyable and rewarding it becomes. Weird in the most wonderful of ways, its creativity makes it one of the highlights of the year.

GameSpot - Mark Delaney - 9 / 10

Control Resonant is Remedy’s take on a semi-open-world character-action game, and that might sound like an experience you’ve had before, but at the transdimensional intersection of its impeccable combat design and the studio’s signature strangeness stands something unforgettably unique.

Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 3.5 / 5

With Control Resonant, Remedy Entertainment offers a game that’s especially enjoyable to simply exist in, but not always fun to play through. It doesn’t resonate on every level and can therefore be described as a game of extremes: swinging from one extreme to the other. So be sure to consider why you want to experience Control Resonant. Depending on what you’re looking for, you’ll either find a gem or a title that leaves you with a broken Control(ler). High peaks and deep valleys, but that’s also why we’ll still be talking about Control Resonant for many years to come.

Gamer Guides - Lexi Luddy - 90 / 100

While it’s a slow start at a discordant pitch, Control Resonant quickly tunes into the right frequency and hums with humanity. Its frayed edges can sometimes become apparent; its characters, writing, world, and sheer originality vastly outweigh any downsides.

GamersGlobal - Benjamin Braun - German - 7.5 / 10

The story of Control - Resonant is not bad, but coming from Remedy it is disappointing and so the Control sequel lacks a key charme of their games. But I also enjoy fast paced, frantic combat and for that that alone this trip to New York was worth it.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10

While I hesitate to call Control Resonant a stunning new direction for Remedy, it offers an exceptionally crafted world, addictive combat (even if it takes time to open up), and phenomenal art direction.

GamingTrend - David Burdette - 88 / 100

Remedy’s choice to bet on themselves is another one worth making. CONTROL Resonant is a stellar sequel that risks everything yet succeeds in nearly every area it touches. Certain design choices and a slow start aside, Resonant has the heart of CONTROL inside it with a beautiful story that reaches your soul, vicious combat, and a spectacular world to explore that only they could build. Shaking things up usually works best with Shake 'n Bake, but Remedy cooks with Resonant's shift from the status quo.

Giant Bomb - Jesse Vitelli - 4.5 / 5

Control Resonant is a beautifully messy sequel and a testament to Remedy’s ability to make something weird as hell.

Hardcore Gamer - Adam Beck - 4.5 / 5

Control Resonant is one of the most visually refreshing games we’ve ever played. Remedy has crafted a more expansive and grand experience than its predecessor, focusing on thoughtfully designed levels and a presentation that’s unmatched.

Hobby Consolas - Daniel Quesada - Spanish - 84 / 100

That said, after playing Control Resonant, we don't want to see a Rubik's Cube for at least a couple of years. Our brain cells are fried...

IGN - Michael Higham - 8 / 10

Even when combat's sharp edge eventually dulls, Control Resonant is a great addition to the Remedyverse. While its story follows a more standard framework, its gravitational pull is in the inventive world built around it and the humanization that grounds the paranatural intrigue.

IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 8 / 10

Strange, ambitious and often frustrating, Control Resonant pushes Remedy's formula to its limits. It won't appeal to everyone, but its strong personality makes it hard to forget.

IGN Spain - Alejandro Morillas - Spanish - 9 / 10

Control: Resonant is Remedy at its finest: strange, ambitious, and hard to compare to anything else. Its fantastic hack-and-slash gameplay takes a while to reveal its full potential and can feel somewhat repetitive at times, but it ultimately delivers frantic, flexible, and incredibly addictive combat. Its extraordinary mobility, the strength of its narrative, and a Manhattan capable of creating one-of-a-kind images and sensations make this sequel one of the most unique games of the year.

JVFrance - Nicolas Leonard - French - 90 / 100

Control Resonant is a brilliant sequel that successfully reinvents Remedy's formula with a mind-bending open world, exhilarating traversal and deeply human writing, led by a remarkably moving Dylan. Repetitive enemies and a disappointing French dub hold it back slightly, but it remains one of the best games of 2026.

Just Play it - Aimen TAIB - Arabic - 8.5 / 10

Control Resonant is one of thosegames that is difficult to explain in words, because a big part of what makes it special comes from experiencing it yourself. Its level design, direction, world, and ideas make it a unique experience. Despite some flaws and its high difficulty, Remedy’s signature is still very clear, constantly making you wonder: “How did they think of this?!”

KonsoliFIN - Risto Karinkanta - Finnish - 3.5 / 5

Remedy may have had another partial misfire in a row, though not nearly as dangerous as the one with FBC: Firebreak.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 10 / 10

Control Resonant is a shining example of what a studio like this can do when given time and patience, and it's surprising and entertaining at every single turn. An astounding game.

MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 9 / 10

CONTROL Resonant sees Remedy confidently master the action genre, drawing inspiration from Japanese action classics to deliver challenging, satisfying, varied, and deep gameplay. Its fascinating universe, rich lore, and distinctive visuals further elevate the experience, despite some cutscene animation drawbacks. Essential for fans of the original Control and highly recommended for anyone seeking fast-paced action in the vein of Devil May Cry.

MonsterVine - Joe Bariso - 4 / 5

Control Resonant is a top class action RPG, with some of the most mind bending imagery you've ever seen. The story isn't as strong as its predecessor, but the gameplay more than makes up for it.

Multiplayer First - James Lara - 8.5 / 10

I had my worries after seeing that the follow-up to Control was essentially an entirely different game. A new genre, a new protagonist, and basically an entirely new story. Not many IPs get to pull that off, and in fact, would essentially be the knock-on-death door. But Remedy is a studio that isn’t afraid to answer that door, kick it wide open, and invite whatever multidimensional nightmare is waiting on the other side directly into the living room. That’s why so many love them: they refuse to stay inside the creative lines, which often leads to some of the most memorable, bold experiences in modern gaming—and Control Resonant is no exception.

One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 8.5 / 10

Control Resonant is a bold and ambitious open‑world action‑horror experience that builds on the foundation of Control and expands it in every direction. Its sprawling Manhattan sandbox, layered combat systems, and dense lore crack open the series’ paranatural universe and let it spill freely across a chaotic New York, leaving players to explore, survive, and master it.

PC Gamer - Lincoln Carpenter - 76 / 100

A welcome return to Remedy's magnificent hellscapes-with too many hours of middling combat.

PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 8 / 10

Asobo returns to narrative excellence with Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, crafting an action game that's both fluid and uniquely Plague Tale. Unfortunately, on PC, it's let down by some ugly performance issues that, while forgivable as a longtime fan, can break your immersion and, in some cases, force a restart. If you bear with them, though, Resonance is absolutely worth playing.

PCMag Middle East - Vincent Peter - 5 / 5

CONTROL Resonant is a bold sequel that refuses to simply recreate the original. Its shift to fast, melee-focused action and a deeply character-driven story pays off spectacularly, backed by some of Remedy’s best art direction and music yet. It’s one of the best, most emotionally arresting action games of 2026 and an easy game of the year contender.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9 / 10

Control Resonant is a bold sequel in which Remedy has rebuilt the foundations of its predecessor, rather than simply offering more of the same. Brilliant combat, excellent development of Dylan’s abilities, satisfying exploration and a Manhattan brimming with abstract ideas make it hard to tear yourself away from this adventure lasting over 30 hours. Not all plot threads maintain the same pace, and the visuals aren’t as rich in detail as Alan Wake 2, but ultimately the Finnish developers have stepped out of their comfort zone and delivered an even better game.

PSX Brasil - Bruno Ribeiro - Portuguese - 90 / 100

CONTROL Resonant is an excellent sequel that expands the universe of the first game, changing and adding things in a unique way without losing the essence we knew and loved. You can spend hours delving into the text and audio files scattered across the map to better understand the story. The musical elements are very appealing, making the gameplay even more immersive, as are every visual detail in the environments, some perhaps irrelevant, but still satisfying. On the other hand, the difficulty can make the experience frustrating, causing the player to feel stuck and have to leave some things behind until later. In any case, it's a must-have title for fans of the first CONTROL.

Pizza Fria - Bruno Josué Alves de Oliveira - Portuguese - 7.4 / 10

Despite its mediocre graphics, performance issues, and somewhat awkward gameplay, at the beginning of my playthrough I couldn't find much to praise in the game. At first, I even thought this might be a negative review. However, as I progressed through the campaign, I began to see again what made Remedy a good developer. And I rediscovered why I love them. Observing their beautiful art direction while exploring their open world was a remarkable experience for me.

Press Start - James Berich - 7.5 / 10

Control Resonant continues the Remedy tradition of offering an ambitious experience filled with incredible ideas. The game controls beautifully, the combat is fun and flexible, the side stories are strong and the presenation is, of course, excellent. But repetitive encounters, beautiful but underwhelming boss battles and an uneven open-world structure all make Resonant feel uneven. Regardless of its flaws, Control Resonant is both bold and enjoyable, though it doesn't reach the usual heady heights established by the illustrious Remedy canon.

Push Square - Aaron Bayne - 8 / 10

Control Resonant is an impeccably confident and tantalising sequel that has all the hallmarks of a Remedy classic. It's endlessly stylish and playful; it looks gorgeous, especially on the PS5 Pro, and it manages to address many of the woes that I had with the original Control.Repetitive combat is the big hitch, however, holding the game back from true greatness. Ultimately, though, it's not enough to overrule all that Remedy is doing right with this sequel.

RPG Site - Hayes Madsen - 9 / 10

Control Resonant pushes the bounds of what Remedy Entertainment's quirky formula can achieve. An action-RPG that has a few growing pains, but sprouts into something monumentally special by the end.

RPGamer - Jordan McClain - 4 / 5

The result is an extraordinarily original experience that excels atmospherically and visually while staying firmly in control of its plot and combat, even if the paranormal elements sometimes slip into incoherence.

Rectify Gaming - Leon Lockhart - 9 / 10

Control Resonant is another masterpiece from Remedy because it's a sequel that isn’t afraid of taking creative risks but, more importantly, succeeds in all of those ambitions. This is what a passion for video games and art looks like!

República DG - Ruancarlo Silva - Portuguese - 8 / 10

Control Resonant is Remedy’s most commercial game to date. The studio made some concessions to make its universe more appealing to a wider audience, while still applying its creative DNA to deliver an open‑world AAA that feels refreshingly different from the norm. Unfortunately, the team’s lack of experience with melee combat becomes evident, negatively impacting the overall experience.

SECTOR.sk - Matúš Štrba - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Control Resonant is Remedy's boldest experiment yet, successfully bringing its distinctive style to the open-world action RPG genre. Its story, characters, world design, exploration, customization and atmosphere are excellent, while the combat is merely decent and holds the experience back. Despite some compromises, its unique world and wealth of content make it difficult to put down.

Saudi Gamer - عصام الشهوان - Arabic - 4.5 / 5

Topping the first Control is no easy feat, and while it’s debatable if it has, the fact remains this is one of the most unique experiences, a game that trusts you enough not to spoon feed you everything and rather give you enough breathing space to figure things out yourself.

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 8.5 / 10

Control Resonant transforms Manhattan into an irresistible paranatural playground, pairing rewarding exploration with expressive buildcrafting. Repetitive combat loops and uneven encounters hold it back, but Remedy’s strange storytelling remains difficult to resist.

TechRaptor - Robert Scarpinito - 8 / 10

Control Resonant delivers on Remedy's signature weirdness, with psychedelic views, wonderfully woo-woo writing, and intriguing mysteries around every corner. Unfortunately, the combat that connects every great moment feels mundane, repetitive, and limited, and it doesn't get truly fun until nearly the eleventh hour.

The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4.5 / 5

CONTROL Resonant is a fantastic follow-up that expands on almost everything that made the original great. Dylan becomes a compelling protagonist, melee combat offers impressive depth, traversal is a joy, and Remedy’s signature weirdness is as strong as ever. Some uneven difficulty, limited enemy variety, and occasional visual clutter hold it back slightly, but this is still one of Remedy’s strongest games.

TheSixthAxis - Tuffcub - 8 / 10

Any game that lets you execute a bus, or stamp on windows to direct a cat to attack a woman called Sandra is a winner in my books. Remedy should be credited for taking their time and making a very different sequel, rather than more of the same, and also for throwing a lot of ideas into the game. However, for me, it's a little too unfocused and padded.

Thumb Wars - Liam Magee - 5 / 5

Overall my experience with Control Resonant ended with me being very pleased with everything involved, as the combat was very in-depth and was constantly shifting, allowing for new gameplay styles and combinations.

The story followed Remedy Entertainment’s usual style that kept me guessing right to the credits, and even then I wasn’t sure what I saw was the truth or if there was more to find.

Finally, the game’s world was simply a lot of fun to explore with the various abilities being unlocked that made it easier while also providing me with enough challenges that I had to come back in the future.

Tom's Guide - Tony Polanco - 4.5 / 5

Control Resonant surpasses its excellent predecessor thanks to its larger scope, both narratively and gameplay-wise. The melee-based combat is appropriately brutal and engaging, while the various skill trees offer a deep level of customization. Aside from some confusing maps, this is an almost perfect action-based title. $59.88 at Amazon Check Best Buy

Uagna - Yuri Polverino - Italian - 8.5 / 10

After a few years of silence, Remedy returns with Control Resonant with two stated goals: expanding the lore and structure of the first game and appealing to a wider audience. The latter goal, however, remains unfulfilled: Resonant is a sequel through and through, offering little in the way of a welcoming entry point for those who haven't played—and fully grasped—the original, and featuring a somewhat convoluted opening phase (lasting 4–5 hours). Once past that hurdle, however, the game unfolds into an extraordinary narrative crescendo, keeping players hooked for 40–50 hours of gameplay—spanning the main story, side quests, and the studio's signature rich emergent storytelling (documents, audio logs, and environmental dialogue). In terms of gameplay, it is an open-world action title with RPG-like progression: Manhattan is divided into macro-areas that level up alongside Dylan, creating a stimulating structure that rewards exploration. Combat, however, can easily devolve into mindless button-mashing if you aren't into crafting builds, echoing the repetitive nature of the first game. The real weak point is the technical execution—with character models, lighting, textures, and detail falling short of the studio's usual standards—though this is redeemed by the highly inspired art direction. All in all, Control Resonant is a quintessential Remedy game—unapologetically true to its own identity.

Virtualni Kutak - Milan Radosavljević - Unknown - 10 / 10

Control Resonant is an absolute masterpiece of game design. Remedy unleashes its full creative potential in a sprawling, mind-bending Manhattan, offering some of the most surreal and breathtaking environmental shifts ever seen in gaming. Trading gunplay for a relentless, highly aggressive melee combat system was a massive risk, but Remedy executes it flawlessly. Control Resonant is a triumph.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 8 / 10

The biggest obstacle is the combat's difficulty, particularly when enemies attack from outside your view or provide unclear tells. You can either adapt to the game's demanding combat or use the extensive assist options to tailor the experience to your preferences. Either way, Resonant successfully expands what a Control game can be while retaining the strange atmosphere that made the original stand out.

Xbox Achievements - Dan Webb - 90%

When it comes to sequels, there's usually a tried and tested formula that tends to work, no matter what genre you're dabbling in. If you tak...

Game Information

Game Title: Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave

Platforms:

• Nintendo Switch 2 (Sep 17, 2026)

Trailer:

Publisher: Nintendo

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 90 average - 95% recommended - 21 reviews

Critic Reviews

COGconnected - James Paley - 82 / 100

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Cerealkillerz - Steve Brieller - German - 8.3 / 10

Beyond the sheer amount of story content, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave also brings with it plenty of the series’ familiar mechanics, which are introduced gradually and have to be managed along the way. The restrictions imposed at the beginning of each of the four Flame Lords’ stories can make their respective openings feel somewhat sluggish, but they reward the player’s persistence once the game opens up again after a few chapters.

Fans of the series, and especially of Three Houses, should find plenty to enjoy here. Beginners, meanwhile, have the advantage of being given multiple opportunities to get to grips with the game’s many different mechanics, and can even use time travel to correct mistakes in individual chapters.

Those willing to push through the repetitions and the somewhat tedious management of relationships and training in the capital will find a solid Fire Emblem experience with plenty of potential playtime.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 10 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is an ambitious entry for the series, and it delivers a memorable experience that's hard to put down. Between the expansive Flame Lord campaigns, which feed into the Pale Raven campaign, there is a lot of story content to parse through. Many of the characters you meet are worth recruiting, and getting to know them over a meal is one of the better moments outside of training with them at the colosseum. What Nintendo has done with the latest Fire Emblem is nothing short of marvellous.

Digitec Magazine - Domagoj Belancic - German - 5 / 5

«Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave» is a massive strategy epic with a gripping story, memorable characters, and a unique structure that keeps things fresh even after 100+ hours. Its classic turn-based combat is excellent, while the addictive side activities add plenty of variety. Some repetitive elements may put players off, but clever systems keep the grind to a minimum. Beautiful cutscenes, creative character designs, and a bombastic soundtrack round out an exceptional experience. It is, simply put, the best Switch 2 exclusive to date and one of the best games I've ever played.

Eurogamer.pt - Bruno Galvão - Portuguese - 5 / 5

Intelligent Systems continues to tread a delicate balance with grace: introducing new features to expand the scope, whilst never losing sight of the essence of the series and its core values. Fortune’s Weave is more than just another epic instalment in the Fire Emblem series; it is one of the first epics on the Nintendo Switch 2.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 85%

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Gameliner - Claudia Tjia - Dutch - 4 / 5

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave brings an interesting new twist to the familiar formula. The tactical battles feel familiar, while switching between four unique main characters and their different storylines provides plenty of variety. The story takes a while to get going, but it gets stronger once you understand how the different pieces fit together.

Geeks & Com - Anthony Gravel - French - 9 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave successfully combines the strong character-driven storytelling of Three Houses with the excellent tactical combat of Engage. Its four-protagonist structure offers a refreshing way to experience the same world from different perspectives, while the vast map and varied battles provide plenty to explore. Some repetition, tedious recruitment requirements, and underdeveloped dungeons hold it back slightly, but the overall formula works remarkably well.

Gfinity - Alister Kennedy - 7 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is a visually stunning departure that trades the series' beloved tactical combat for heavy JRPG exploration. While the core grid battles are brilliant, they are too often buried under clunky real-time dungeons and tedious open-world busywork. It is an ambitious, beautiful experiment, but strategy purists may find themselves left out in the cold.

Giant Bomb - Jeff Grubb - 4 / 5

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is gigantic. That vastness can occasionally act as a barrier between the player and the core tactics, but it is somehow able to support all that weight with memorable battles and a sharp gameplay loop. In the end, the only major problem is vacuous writing -- and lots of it.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is the most ambitious entry in the series yet, and it could likely be the best at the same time. With an incredible amount of depth and excellent storytelling, this is yet another Nintendo gem not to miss.

Loot Level Chill - Adam Cook - 10 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave feels like four games in one, such is the scale on show. It might too much for some, but those who fall for it will live and breathe it for a long, long time because this is about as good as it gets for tactics fans.

Nintendo Connect - Oliver Buge - German - 95%

I enjoyed every single one of the nearly 170 hours I spent with Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. The countless times I cursed at my units missing a 99% hit chance while enemies land their 10% shots is just part of the Fire Emblem experience.

I'm still eager to learn more about the history of Fortune's Weave's world. I can overlook the lack of a New Game+ and the single save slot available to players. Attentive fans have already noticed a mention of in-game purchases in the eShop, though nothing of the sort has been announced yet. We'll have to wait and see what the future holds for Fortune's Weave.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is one of the best strategy games of recent years, brilliantly building on the series’ tried-and-tested foundations whilst adding some brilliant new ideas. Brilliant tactical battles, four intertwining storylines and a wealth of options for developing your team mean you can easily spend over 100 hours in this world. Not all storylines and activities are of the same high standard, and the sheer number of systems can sometimes feel overwhelming, but for fans of the genre, this is an absolute must-play.

SECTOR.sk - Michal Korec - Slovak - 9.5 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave desires to be the largest and the best title in the series. As Fire Emblem is not only about rich plot and dense battles, you can enjoy full-fledged game with large amount of activities between battles. Enriched with dungeons, nice world-map and better balance in the game structure, this is wonderful experience in the connected world full of top-tier content. You can decide how to manage your army, battle and especially time for everything this game offers.

Saudi Gamer - عصام الشهوان - Arabic - 4 / 5

A sprawling, epic and very ambitious journey that nevertheless requires you to like and be good at tactical games, but that rewards you handsomely the more you engage with its myriad systems.

The Games Machine - Danilo Dellafrana - Italian - 8.7 / 10

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TheSixthAxis - Dom Leighton - 9 / 10

A multi-stranded strategy RPG masterclass, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is absolutely a part of the conversation for being the very best game in this venerable series.

Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 9.2 / 10

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is an amalgamation of many diverse elements which add up to one rewarding adventure that's full of thoughtfully-written characters, unique challenges, and satisfying progression systems. 🔮

Game Information

Game Title: 007 First Light

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (May 27, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (May 27, 2026)
• PC (May 27, 2026)
• Nintendo Switch 2

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfRZRwu4aEc

Developer: IO Interactive

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 88 average - 98% recommended - 51 reviews

Critic Reviews

Atarita - Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu - Turkish - 93 / 100

Centering on James Bond's origin story, 007 First Light blends action and stealth elements with flawless pacing, delivering that long-awaited, glorious return to the franchise. With its impactful melee combat mechanics, cleverly designed spy gadgets, and stellar acting performances, it places the player directly in the lead role of a breathtaking blockbuster movie.

But Why Tho? - Matt Sowinski - 9 / 10

IO Interactive feels like they've found a new home in the James Bond franchise. 007 First Light is a blast, with a tense and enthralling narrative that punches way higher and harder than anyone could have expected.

CGMagazine - Marcus Kenneth - 8 / 10

The best moments in 007 First Light are the ones where everything aligns for a few minutes, and you stop thinking about mechanics entirely.

Cinelinx - Caleb Gayle - 5 / 5

007 First Light features a slew of unforgettable moments, cinematic jaw-dropping scenes, amazingly smooth combat, and one heck of a story. With all this stacked up, 007 First Light it is a brilliant action adventure title, and my top pick for game of the year!

Cloud Dosage - Jon Scarr - 4.5 / 5

007 First Light turns a young Bond campaign into a spy adventure built around bluffing, gadgets, and recovering when missions fall apart. MI6, Q-Branch tools, and close-range fights keep the campaign moving, but the shooting, driving, and limited replay value hold it back. It’s a good fit if you want a story-led Bond game focused more on spy work than giant stealth sandboxes.

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9.5 / 10

As stylish as the films themselves, 007 First Light is a brilliant depiction of Bond.

Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - 4 / 5

James Bond's video game return is a delight from start to finish, with Hitman develop IO Interactive expertly lending its spy expertise to a new breed of interactive spy thriller.

DayOne - Jon Clarke - 9 / 10

With a great cast of characters, tons of imagination, and just the right amount of player agency and replayability, there is a delightful playground full of gadgetry and spycraft that players will want to return to again and again. A confident return for the Double-O program, and - sorry Goldeneye - this is, without a doubt, the best James Bond game ever made.

Digitec Magazine - Philipp Rüegg - German - 5 / 5

After 30 years, ‘GoldenEye’ is finally retiring. With ‘007 First Light’, IO Interactive – the masterminds behind ‘Hitman’ – delivers the ultimate Bond experience that fans have been waiting for since the N64 classic.

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9 / 10

With superb writing, top-notch acting, beautiful cinematography, and expressive gameplay, 007 First Light is as sleek as it is engaging.

Eurogamer - Rick Lane - 4 / 5

007 First Light is less cerebral and replayable than IO's World of Assassination trilogy, but makes up for it with excellent fistfights and oodles of charm.

Everyeye.it - Joseph Arace - Italian - 8.2 / 10

007 First Light is just like its protagonist: charismatic, energetic, funny, charming; as well as impetuous, exaggerated, and immature.

GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 86%

"007 First Light" isn't a perfect action game, but it's excellent nonetheless.

GAMINGbible - Olly Smith - 9 / 10

007 First Light is an exquisite taste of slick spy action and blockbuster storytelling, and is fully what a Bond game should be, but rarely is.

GamePro - Annika Bavendiek - German - Unscored

IO Interactive delivers a magnificent gaming comeback for James Bond with 007 First Light, which proves worthy of the source material.

GameRant - Dalton Cooper - 8 / 10

It's not perfect, but 007 First Light is a mostly great start to IO Interactive's all-new take on the James Bond universe.

GameSpot - Mark Delaney - 8 / 10

007 First Light wisely repurposes what works in both universes but isn’t afraid to reimagine or ditch those parts that don’t.

Gameblog - Geralt de Reeves - French - 9 / 10

While it won't revolutionize the industry like GoldenEye did in its time, it undoubtedly delivers one of the best video game experiences of all time, putting you in the shoes of the iconic spy.

Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8.6 / 10

007: The First Steps not only reimagines the classic, but more importantly, it truly lives up to the legendary "007" designation.

Generación Xbox - Gabriel Fuentes - Spanish - 85 / 100

007 First Flight is a testament to originality in its script and marks the beginning of a new trilogy for the character in the world of video games.

Gfinity - Alister Kennedy - 10 / 10

007 First Light is, for me, an absolute masterpiece that shattered all pre-release anxieties and is, in fact, the greatest Bond video game of all time. IO Interactive masterfully balances explosive action with "Hitman"-inspired stealth, all brought to life by Patrick Gibson’s breathtaking, definitive performance as a young James Bond. Equal parts thrilling and cinematic, this incredible experience is a gorgeous love letter to the franchise and a sure-fire Game of the Year contender.

Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 85 / 100

First Light is the best Bond experience ever seen in a video game —a complete package, true to the essence of the character, updated, and incredibly fun to play.

IGN India - Rayan Sayyed - 9 / 10

007 First Light understands what makes James Bond interesting beyond the suits and gadgets. This younger Bond is reckless, emotional, and still figuring out his fundamentals, making his story feel more personal. Pair that with flexible stealth, solid hand-to-hand combat, strong production values, and Hitman-style mission design, and you get a Bond game that feels cinematic that gives players plenty of freedom. Plus, the variety in mission design and the satisfying spy fantasy make 007 First Light gives James Bond the best debut in this generation.

IGN Italy - Silvio Mazzitelli - Italian - 9 / 10

The James Bond saga could hardly have ended up in better hands. IO Interactive has crafted an adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of the 007 movies with an engaging story, stunning settings, and gameplay that's polished in every detail.

IGN Portugal - Pedro Pestana - Portuguese - 9 / 10

While cinema is still searching for a new Bond, the studio IO Interactive has already found its virtual version. Rebellious and arrogant, Patrick Gibson does a fantastic job in the shoes of Her Majesty's secret agent without needing to wear a tuxedo, in a well-crafted adventure that marks the beginning of a new era for 007 in video games. With gameplay that cleverly distances itself from what we already know from Hitman to embrace a stronger narrative and the cinematic moments immortalized on the big screen, 007: First Light didn't need a license to dazzle.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 8 / 10

007 First Light features a sophisticated and comprehensive infiltration system, as well as solid hand-to-hand combat mechanics. The lackluster cover system does not detract from what could mark a new era for 007 in the world of video games.

INFINITY AREA - Florian Prache - French - 9.5 / 10

James Bond 007 First Light is a huge surprise from IO Interactive. Far from being just a Hitman clone in disguise, the game establishes its own identity with rich gameplay, smart stealth mechanics, and explosive action. Despite disappointing driving sequences and the lack of English voice acting, the game manages to keep players engaged from start to finish thanks to its atmosphere, visuals, and great freedom of approach. An essential adventure for James Bond fans.

INVEN - Kyuman Kim - Korean - 9.1 / 10

After a long stretch in the dark, a truly worthy 007 game has finally arrived. With a young Bond at its center, it delivers nearly everything fans could want from a Bond film—thrilling storytelling, clever twists, and charismatic characters alike. It feels poised to become a new “first light” in the history of 007 games.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10

007 First Light is a superb adventure game that does so much more than simply coast on the popularity of its franchise.

Manual dos Games - Luiz Henrique Silva - Portuguese - 10 / 10

007 First Light delivers on the promise of being the ultimate James Bond game by introducing a new version of the character that oozes charisma in every second on screen, alongside an excellent storyline supported by memorable side characters who help drive the narrative forward. The game also features an extremely creative level design that fully embraces its stealth and combat systems, making players truly feel like an MI6 spy.

MeuPlayStation - Thiago do Nascimento Barros - Portuguese - 100 / 100

007 First Light is all about aura. It honors James Bond's legacy by bringing everything we love about him since the 1960's movies in the ultimate 007 videogame experience. Chases, shootings, explosions, plot twists, politics, charm, Bond Girls, guns, cars, boats, Q Technologies, Moneypenny, M, iconic characters, beautiful locations... All of that with great level design, combat and exploration. The name is Bond, James Bond.

Multiplayer First - James Lara - 8.5 / 10

If there is one thing I’m even more certain of than when we first learned that IO Interactive was making a 007 game, it’s that they are still the perfect studio to be making a Bond game. As many have called it, it’s a match made in heaven, and, as the first entry in what is hopefully a long-running series, I think the franchise is in safe hands. It’s one thing to make an experience on an established IP; another to actually understand what makes that experience so great. IO has captured the soul of a Bond experience in 007 First Light.

With a strong foundation to build upon, a new era for MI6’s finest is upon us, and I cannot wait to see where IO Interactive takes the franchise next.

PCGamesN - Paul Kelly - 8 / 10

While it doesn't pull up any roots, 007: First Light is a beautiful, cinematic action game that makes clever use of the IO formula. From the performance of Patrick Gibson to the iconic score, this is a game that tells a new story and basks in nostalgia in equal measure, giving James Bond a fresh angle in the process.

PCMag Middle East - Ali El Sayed - 5 / 5

First Light feels like a true Bond game, a strong IO Interactive game, and the best blueprint 007 has had in video games for decades. It balances story, action, stealth, gadgets, and style better than any Bond game before it.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9.5 / 10

007 First Light is the best James Bond game ever – brilliantly written, superbly acted and brimming with that unique atmosphere we’ve come to expect from stories about Agent 007. IO Interactive has combined its own experience from Hitman with a cinematic adventure in the style of Uncharted, throwing in gadgets, spectacular missions, interesting characters and a very well-crafted story of the young Bond. Not everything works perfectly, as the game sometimes holds your hand (a bit too tightly!), but ultimately it’s a brilliant start to a new era of 007 in gaming.

PSX Brasil - Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho - Portuguese - 90 / 100

007 First Light is an excellent James Bond game: varied gameplay with intelligent approach options, a story worthy of the character's films, beautiful graphics, and great technical performance. The TacSim mode is a great way to increase the title's longevity. Although the campaign features many slow-paced moments with secondary characters and combat animations that repeat frequently, it's an adventure that deserves to be checked out by any 007 fan or action game enthusiast in general.

Pizza Fria - Álvaro Saluan da Cunha - Portuguese - 9.3 / 10

007 First Light is a game that presents us with a different kind of James Bond, treated with the weight, charm, and complexity that Ian Fleming's character deserves.

Push Square - Stephen Tailby - Unscored

I'm not quite finished with 007 First Light just yet, but overall I'd say it's exactly what I was hoping for. The characterisation of this young Bond and his associates is really strong, and the globetrotting story lets you explore some great locations. It really shines in its sandbox missions, but shootouts have their moments too, and the whole thing weaves together really quite nicely. I'm really interested to see how the final few missions shake out, but beyond some technical quibbles and uncertainty on the driving, I'm pretty happy with IOI's new vision for James Bond.

Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 4 / 5

I don't think we've seen a better example of Bond as a genuine character in gaming. This isn't just a replica of what we have on the screen, either. In First Light, Bond is his own character, as important a part of the canon as Brosnan, Connery, or Craig. This is one of the most thrilling Bond adventures to date.

República DG - Ruancarlo Silva - Portuguese - 9.6 / 10

007: First Light is not only the best 007 game ever made, but it also easily rivals the best games in the genre. IO Interactive delivers a special experience that honors the legacy of the greatest spy in entertainment history.

Restart.run - Imran Khan - 3.5 / 5

It is likely the best James Bond game ever, but there's some qualifiers that drag 007 First Light down from being a complete knock-out.

SECTOR.sk - Peter Dragula - Slovak - 9.5 / 10

007 First Light is a strong new beginning for James Bond in games, combining a deep origin story, varied missions, stealth, action, excellent hand-to-hand combat, precise shooting, impressive visuals and classic Bond atmosphere. A few slower sections and the lack of a body-hiding mechanic are minor issues in an otherwise excellent spy adventure.

Screen Rant - Kyle Gratton - 9 / 10

007 First Light brings James Bond back to gaming in an innovative story that celebrates the character's legacy, alongside franchise-best gameplay.

Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 9 / 10

007 First Light is a crowning achievement for IO Interactive and the culmination of the studio’s growth over the years.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9.5 / 10

007 First Light is not only the best James Bond video game to date, but also one of the greatest action-adventure titles of this generation, full of jaw-dropping action sequences, a compelling narrative, and superb acting.

The Outerhaven Productions - George Yang - 4 / 5

007 First Light delivers a strong Bond origin story with solid stealth, gadget use, and plenty of spy-thriller energy.

Tom's Guide - Rory Mellon - 5 / 5

007 First Light is the finest James Bond video game in nearly 30 years. Its cinematic single-player campaign is remarkable, offering a gripping, quintessentially Bond story, packaged together with some of the best action-adventure set pieces I've ever experienced. Whether you're a longtime Bond fan or a newcomer, 007 First Light is unmissable. Check Amazon Check Best Buy

Tourens - Mert Tuna - Turkish - 8.5 / 10

Despite its slow pace at the start and a few minor AI glitches, this is an experience that keeps players locked to their screens with its rich level designs, freedom oriented stealth mechanics, and satisfying cinematic action. A game that’s definitely worth a try.

VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5

007 First Light might just be the best James Bond game ever. The way IOI has translated the Bond fantasy into a 14-hour globetrotting epic is masterful. It's a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be. New Bond owners Amazon must ensure this franchise continues.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 8.5 / 10

007 First Light shows that the Hitman developers have a good handle on how to make a James Bond game work within their wheelhouse. The emphasis on less flashy espionage alongside multiple avenues to accomplish your given goal works to this game's favor in helping to differentiate it from past 007 games. There's still enough action to prevent the game from feeling like a complete tonal shift from common expectations. The quality of the stealth helps compensate for the combat, which is good but can feel lacking in areas. The adventure remains fun but familiar, while the presentation is top-notch. The game is another good example of how to do a licensed game well, and the hope is that we'll see IO Interactive do more in this universe, whether that's DLC or a full-on sequel.

Xbox Achievements - Dan Webb - 92%

For well over two decades, IO Interactive have become synonymous with their Hitman series. Since 2000, the Danish studio has released twelve games, w...

Game Information

Game Title: Star Wars Zero Company

Platforms:

• PC (Aug 27, 2026)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 88 average - 93% recommended - 29 reviews

Critic Reviews

CBR - Mark O'Callaghan - 9 / 10

Star Wars: Zero Company is an incredible Star Wars experience. The exploration, along with some of the grittier aspects of the Clone Wars, is enjoyable. The moments that happen, which we won’t spoil, are incredible.

CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company is strong as a strategy game and as a Star Wars story, but truly shines through its high customization and replayability.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 84 / 100

Star Wars Zero Company is the overlapping center of a venn diagram with Star Wars in one circle, and XCOM-style tactical combat in the other. It doesn’t take either one in bold, new directions, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This is not XCOM in a Star Wars costume, because the mechanics, setting, and narrative are more than surface level. Star Wars Zero Company is a substantial addition to both the Clone Wars canon and the tactical strategy genre.

Capsule Computers - Travis Bruno - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company proves the long‑untapped tactical genre fits the franchise perfectly, blending strong lore, sharp strategy, and memorable characters into a standout experience.

Console Creatures - Matt Sowinski - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company is an incredible Star Wars game and a genuinely brilliant tactical RPG that you won't be able to put down

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 4.5 / 5

Star Wars Zero Company really is great, and after a long absence from the forefront, it’s good to see the XCOM formula make a return. I don’t think it adds anything particularly valuable to the Star Wars franchise, and indeed seems to struggle to properly understand the qualities of Star Wars at times… but then again, Disney itself has been doing that to the films for years now, so it seems silly to be precious about purity when the property owners clearly no longer care about that. Ultimately, it is nice to have a blockbuster game that respects the player’s intelligence, and if nothing else, that is what Zero Company does.

DualShockers - Jaime Tugayev - 9 / 10

After an eternity of modding XCOM into Star Wars, we finally have the tactics game from a galaxy far, far away that we deserve. Star Wars: Zero Company is an excellent addition to the saga that isn't scared of taking risks, and joins Andor and Rogue One in the pantheon of tales about high-risk covert operations, living up to the reputation of its peers. Occasional balancing and interface issues only keep a great game from being perfect, but when the blasters start singing, it all comes together.

GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 84%

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GRYOnline.pl - Adam Kusiak - Polish - 7.5 / 10

Star Wars: Zero Company is a linear, story-driven experience of about 40 hours, with solid mechanics that result in satisfying gameplay, but it is marred by annoying technical issues as well as an inconsistent pace and difficulty level. If you’re looking for a turn-based Mass Effect 2 and you love Star Wars, then Zero Company is probably for you, but it’s not really the sort of game you’ll be playing for years on end like XCOM 2.

GameRant - Nick Rodriguez - 9 / 10

With great presentation, a well-written story, and rock-solid fundamentals, Star Wars Zero Company is one of the best Star Wars games in years.

Gamers Heroes - Blaine Smith - 100 / 100

Star Wars Zero Company is, simply put, the greatest tactics game in the galaxy. Creating a story worthy of the Star Wars franchise, this tactics title delivers the very best in combat the genre has to offer, wrapping it up in a cinematic delivery of the highest order.

GamingTrend - Adam Moreno, Ron Burke - 95 / 100

Star Wars: Zero Company brings the best of Star Wars to the XCOM style of gameplay. References abound for any Star Wars fan, no matter your favorite era of the Galaxy Far, Far, Away. It’s such a unique angle to tell another story of The Clone Wars from the perspective of contact workers from different backgrounds. Clones, Umbarans, former CIS advisers, Republic royalty, and lots and lots of mercenaries. Star Wars: Zero Company looks great, plays great, and keeps you on your toes (no matter how many you might have).

IGN - Dan Stapleton - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company is an excellent tactical game that does a fantastic job of slathering on the same cinematic look and feel we saw in Respawn's Star Wars Jedi games, incorporating strong characters and a storyline that's refreshingly centered on non-Force users and a non-traditional villain.

IGN Italy - Andrea Giongiani - Italian - 8 / 10

The first "Star Wars X-COM" is also one of the best Star Wars games in recent years. Highly suggested to those who look for a fair challenge.

IGN Spain - Rafa Del Río - Spanish - 7 / 10

Set during the darkest years of the Clone Wars, Star Wars Zero Company features a compelling story that will hook you as long as you're a Star Wars fan. Its charismatic characters and gameplay with multiple layers of complexity clash with overly simplistic exploration and a streamlined, mechanical mission system that doesn't measure up to the rest of the game. With plenty of customization options, multiple progression trees, and great ideas in combat, it's on the battle grid where Star Wars Zero Company showcases Bit Reactor's strong work and the influence of some of its members' experience on titles like X-COM.

Impulsegamer - Marc Rigg - 4.6 / 5

Aside from some minor performance issues (your mileage may vary) and the baffling decision to tie all post-processing effects together, I have few complaints about Zero Company.

MKAU Gaming - James Fraser-Smith - 8.5 / 10

STAR WARS Zero Company is a game that understands why turn-based tactics are so addictive. It’s not simply about having the strongest characters or the best weapons. It’s about planning several moves, understanding your squad and adapting when things inevitably go wrong.

One More Game - Chris Garcia - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company is a triumph in the tactics genre, striking a good balance that's approachable enough for newcomers, deep enough for veterans, and atmospheric enough to satisfy franchise fans. The game’s focus on small‑scale survival and squad dynamics gives it weight, while its tight combat design delivers consistently tense, rewarding encounters. This is definitely the Star Wars tactics game that you've been looking for.

PPE.pl - Mateusz Wróbel - Polish - 8.5 / 10

A brilliant turn-based, tactical game set in the Star Wars universe. Perfect for fans of the franchise, and thanks to its many features, it’s excellent even for those who aren’t particularly familiar with this genre of games.

PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Zero Company is another great success in the Star Wars universe, largely due to its compelling story, captivating characters with a highly functional relationship system, and very comprehensive gameplay for the turn-based strategy genre. While some issues arise, such as technical aspects and a lack of balance in some combat options, XCOM fans will find an excellent opportunity here for both challenge and enjoyment.

Prima Games - Ali Hashmi - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company is exactly the kind of genre shift Star Wars games have needed in years. It combines my favorite Star Wars era with a tactics system that is deeply rewarding, mechanically satisfying, and approachable. Bit Reactor clearly understands what makes the Clone Wars so special, and they've leveraged their experience with XCOM and Midnight Suns to create an experience that's restrained in its downtime while understanding why people play these games in the first place. That authenticity extends to everything from the characters and politics to the music, visuals, outfits, and sheer amount of detail packed into every location. Some technical issues need addressing, particularly on PC, but they don't take away from what is easily one of my favorite Star Wars experiences in years.

RPG Site - Scott White - 8 / 10

You can feel the XCOM DNA in Bit Reactor's debut title, Star Wars Zero Company, but its cast of rogues is the special sauce that helps it shine, despite a somewhat lackluster story and unfortunate performance issues.

RPGamer - Imani Jones - 4.5 / 5

Bit Reactor gives the genre a fresh identity while still getting the fundamentals right. The combat is deep enough to challenge longtime strategy fans, yet flexible enough to remain approachable, while the characters are well written and backed by compelling stories of their own. RPGamers looking for their next tactical RPG should have Star Wars Zero Company at the top of their list.

SmashPad - 4 / 5

STAR WARS Zero Company won me over. It was obviously made by and for fans of the world's favorite sci-fi universe, with great respect to the source material and spinning established lore into something fresh and entertaining.

TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company is an excellent tactics game, with strong core mechanics and plenty of customization on offer. Set near the end of the Clone Wars, its story is exciting, and the cast of characters feels complex and real.

The Games Machine - Claudio Magistrelli - Italian - 9 / 10

Star Wars Zero Company is one of those rare examples where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The solidity of its turn-based tactical combat blends seamlessly with the team members' progression mechanics, the team management aspect, and all the different narratives it weaves-from the overarching plot to the small personal stories. Each system, taken individually, is more than good, but it's the way they influence one another (mirroring the relationships between the game's characters) that elevates the experience and makes every battle (or every decision) feel like the most important one yet.

The Nerd Stash - David Rodriguez - 9.5 / 10

Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Midnight Suns both showed how to deliver deep tactics with a sublime story, and Zero Company easily stands among that elite company of addictive turn-based decision-making and sublime storytelling.

TheGamer - Rhiannon Bevan - 4.5 / 5

Zero Company is not as explicitly political as Andor, but like the show, it very much feels influenced by the time in which it was created.

Worth Playing - Tony "OUberLord" Mitera - 9.6 / 10

Ultimately, Zero Company is a great turn-based strategy game that happens to be set in the Star Wars universe. It never feels like a corporate mandate to make a genre game with a recognizable license. Instead, it feels like a group of talented developers genuinely wanted to explore what the genre could do and had the freedom to experiment. Those ideas succeed far more often than they stumble, and the game's excellent use of the Clone Wars setting makes Zero Company one of the most entertaining turn-based strategy games I've played in a long time.

Game Information

Game Title: Phantom Blade Zero

Platforms:

• PC (Oct 29, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (Oct 29, 2026)

Trailer:

Publisher: S-GAME

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 91 average - 100% recommended - 35 reviews

Critic Reviews

Atarita - Eren Eroğlu - Turkish - 84 / 100

Bearing S-GAME’s signature, Phantom Blade Zero is a title that showcases the studio’s future potential while far exceeding all of my expectations with its extraordinary gameplay, captivating world and the variety it offers. Once the minor shortcomings that undermine the gameplay experience are ironed out, a truly remarkable experience awaits you.

But Why Tho? - Kate Sanchez - 10 / 10

A beautiful and horrific game, Phantom Blade Zero has everything to be both the game of the year and to be a gateway to wuxia for new audiences.

Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 8 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is a spectacularly satisfying action game that rewards precise combat and experimentation of its extensive arsenal. Its ‘Kungfupunk’ world and dance-like martial arts choreography make a strong impression, but convoluted storytelling and some frustrating navigation, as well as a confused soundtrack, holds it short of becoming a legend in its art.

Console Creatures - Johnathon Cariati - 9 / 10

The more I played Phantom Blade Zero, the more I fell in love with it. S-GAME has crafted an action RPG that delivers exactly what I've been craving: fast, fluid combat with an incredible arsenal of weapons, spectacular boss encounters and enough depth to keep me experimenting throughout the adventure. I wish the early story beats set the stage better and that some traversal mechanics and technical issues didn't interrupt the experience. But when I think back on my time with Phantom Blade Zero, what stands out are the incredible fights, the strange characters I encountered, and how often I wanted to keep playing.

Dexerto - James Busby - 4 / 5

Phantom Blade Zero is a martial arts masterclass. It delivers over-the-top swordplay and fast, flashy, thrilling fights that make it the best action game of 2026.

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9.5 / 10

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GAMES.CH - Flo Merz - German - 85%

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GAMINGbible - Sam Cawley - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero executes the majority of its ideas very well, and it full of style and flavour.

GameRant - Nick Rodriguez - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is simply fantastic, punching far above its weight graphically and mechanically while landing action-RPG fundamentals.

Gameblog - French - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is an intense, generous and exhilarating action RPG that manages to inspire as much excitement and awe as it does frustration. Its difficulty may put off less daring players, although the multiple difficulty settings can also make the game far too easy. If you're after those adrenaline rushes that make the experience so special, you'll have to accept a few occasionally poorly handled difficulty spikes, particularly when it comes to certain bosses. But if you can look past those rough edges, you're in for one hell of a ride. Phantom Blade Zero is one of the best games of the year.

Gameliner - Hannah Herzberg - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

Phantom Blade Zero was definitely worth the wait. The story is fine, but it’s clear that developer S-GAME wanted to focus primarily on spectacle and cool visuals. And you notice that right away. The game is packed with cool action scenes, and it feels amazing to wield Soul’s sword.

Gamersky - 奕剑者柴王 - Chinese - 9.8 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is undoubtedly an exceptional, remarkable, and truly unique game. With an investment comparable to that of a major AAA production, S-GAME has brought its producer's almost obsessive vision to life, creating a work with an unmistakable personal style and creative identity. At the same time, its mature gameplay framework and broad commercial appeal make even its most demanding and unconventional elements accessible and enjoyable to a wider audience.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10

S-Game had everything to prove with Phantom Blade Zero and it delivers in incredible fashion. The excellent presentation is matched by phenomenal combat, memorable bosses, and a world that begs to be explored. Even with some technical and polish issues, it's a remarkable hack-and-slash action RPG.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 8 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero delivers exceptional action combat, spectacular boss fights and a beautifully crafted world that makes exploration a joy. Its impressive weapon variety and clever progression systems make it one of the most satisfying action RPGs I’ve played, but a convoluted story, a lack of respawning enemies and disappointing PC performance hold it back from greatness. Despite these flaws, S-GAME has created a fantastic action game that’s well worth experiencing.

IGN Portugal - Pedro Pestana - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is a fantastic action game, underpinned by a combat system that borders on perfection. Whilst the narrative requires some patience at the outset and the design of the basic enemies fails to impress, the cast of epic bosses provides the perfect foil for the protagonists and their vast and impressive arsenal, which is brilliantly animated. Far from being just another run-of-the-mill game, it’s a fluid, visceral and incredibly rewarding dance. Long live Kungfupunk!

INVEN - Soojin Kim - Korean - 9.2 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is worth playing for its stylish combat alone. Its boss fights avoid tedious repetition, every weapon offers a distinct fighting style, and each move flows seamlessly into the next. Bringing the graceful action of wuxia films to life, it delivers a thrilling, deeply immersive experience.

MeuPlayStation - Raphael Batista Cabral Xavier - Portuguese - 92 / 100

Aggressive, intense, and cinematic, Phantom Blade Zero blends the best of Sekiro and Wukong into a thrilling action-adventure experience. Forget the traditional soulslike formula and embrace acrobatic combat that demands mastery of multiple mechanics, delivering relentless action with a distinct kung fu flair. With a hard-hitting soundtrack, an impressive variety of weapons and combat tools, and memorable boss battles so exhilarating you’ll wish you could fight them again, Phantom Blade Zero is a bold and authentic experience that deserves a place in the library of anyone who appreciates gameplay for its own sake. A game clearly crafted with passion, and it shows in every aspect of the experience.

Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 9.5 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero's explosive, frenetic and stylish combat is so damn good, it elevates the game to one of the best action titles of the decade and I don't think there's much competition.

Noisy Pixel - Bailey Seemangal - 8.5 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero delivers an exceptional Wuxia action experience, combining exhilarating combat, phenomenal boss fights, and remarkably diverse weapons with thoughtful level design and a captivating Kungfupunk world. While its underdeveloped storytelling and occasional technical issues hold it back, S-Game's ambitious action RPG excels where it matters most, offering one of the most satisfying combat experiences in recent memory.

One More Game - Ricki Buzon - 9 / 10

Ultimately, Phantom Blade Zero is a stellar achievement and a bold statement from S-Game. Through its stunning visuals, expertly choreographed combat, memorable boss encounters, and richly realized world, it delivers an experience that feels both fresh and ambitious. While the journey can be demanding, the challenge is consistently rewarding, making Soul's quest one well worth undertaking, resulting in one of the best games of 2026 and a title that makes a strong case for Game of the Year nods.

Oyungezer Online - Eren Eryürekli - Turkish - 9 / 10

With its debut game, S-GAME has hit almost all the right notes to deliver an unprecedented action-packed spectacle. While there's still room for improvement in its storytelling, that doesn't overshadow the fact that Phantom Blade Zero hits the mark on most of its ambitions. One of the best action games in recent years!

PPE.pl - Mateusz Wróbel - Polish - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero demonstrates just how formidable Asian developers are when it comes to creating compelling action games. Following in the footsteps of Wukong, this is another must-play title - packed with exploration, stunning environments, a deeply intriguing world, and a combat system that will stay with us for a long time to come.

PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 95 / 100

Phantom Blade Zero stands out for its dynamic and engaging combat, accompanied by striking art direction, a captivating narrative, and a top-notch soundtrack. With original ideas and highly competent execution, S-Game delivers one of the best action games of the generation and a must-play experience for fans of the genre.

PlayStation Universe - Ben Fellows - 10 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is an absolute masterclass in action-RPG design, offering some of the finest combat choreography, depth, and world-building I've ever had the honour of experiencing. Watching S-Game elevate their foundational roots into a grand-scale AAA marvel where their passion blazes through every frame is nothing short of astounding. While minor camera quirks and invisible walls occasionally pop up, its breathtaking kungfupunk aesthetic, rewarding exploration, and razor-sharp Sha-Chi blade mechanics make it a flawless triumph from start to finish.

Polygon - Unscored

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Press Start - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is a spectacular martial arts action game that understands style matters as much as survival. Its superb combat, inventive weapon systems and unforgettable bosses easily outweigh a few technical blemishes and repetitive encounters. S-GAME has delivered a confident, ambitious knockout that deserves to be experienced by action fans everywhere.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 9 / 10

S-GAME has been building to Phantom Blade Zero for almost a decade, and its craft has spawned one of the PS5's very best action games. An intense and fast-paced combat system is the star, with so much variety backing it and incredible enemies to test it. Fun exploration, beautiful visuals, and a unique style then help it reach the heights of the genre's elite, as Phantom Blade Zero deserves to hang with the best of the best.

RPGamer - Jordan McClain - 4.5 / 5

Its kungfupunk identity is thoroughly fleshed out by an innovative, exceptionally designed combat system that is a gorgeous love letter to wuxia tradition.

SECTOR.sk - tomass - Slovak - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero delivers dozens of hours of challenging action, with demanding boss fights and multiple endings that encourage replayability. However, confusing map navigation, forced exploration to unlock certain skills and occasional backtracking can disrupt the pacing. Despite these shortcomings, it is easily one of the best games of the year and an impressive achievement for S-Game.

Saudi Gamer - محمد ابراهيم - Arabic - 5 / 5

Phantom Blade Zero is simply a joy to play. Its combat feels great, the weapons offer plenty of variety and the boss fights are a real highlight. It has its share of flaws, but they do little to spoil the otherwise excellent game

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 9.5 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero pairs extraordinary martial arts combat with inventive weapons, superb bosses and a compelling wuxia world. Camera issues and familiar side-quest objectives occasionally interrupt the flow, but its depth and responsiveness keep rewarding mastery and delivering an epic adventure.

Sirus Gaming - Erickson Melchor - 10 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero embodies everything we love about kung fu on the silver screen, from the deadly dance that is the fights to the emotions that fuel every conflict, all woven into a tapestry of old and new cultural inspirations. It represents a bold new direction in terms of presentation and aesthetics. If you have even the slightest interest in wuxia games or pure ARPG's with a touch of Souls-like mechanics, I wholeheartedly recommend this game. I would even go so far as to say that it's deserving of a permanent spot in your games library.

The Outerhaven Productions - Keith Mitchell - 5 / 5

After waiting all these years for Phantom Blade Zero and playing it from front to back, it’s clear that S-GAME put real love into creating this masterpiece. The combat, the storytelling, the world, and the way Chinese culture is woven into this dark fantasy all come together into something special. Phantom Blade Zero is a generational game that anyone who enjoys action and adventure games needs to play.

TheSixthAxis - Nick Petrasiti - 9 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is spectacular, occasionally gloriously ridiculous and packed with reasons to keep exploring. But more than anything, Phantom Blade Zero is a challenging friend that I am gagging to spend more time with.

Wccftech - Francesco De Meo - 10 / 10

Phantom Blade Zero is a genre-defining game that stands as one of the best current-generation titles to date. Effortlessly marrying the fluidity of a combat system that masterfully balances offense and defense with tight world design, staggering weapon variety, and some of the most memorable boss fights in recent memory, S-Game has delivered a masterpiece with its first major PC and console release that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the absolute peak of the genre.

Game Information

Game Title: Crimson Desert

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Mar 19, 2026)
• PC (Mar 19, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (Mar 19, 2026)

Trailers:

• 'Welcome To Crimson Desert' Final Trailer (4K)
• Crimson Desert - Official Launch Trailer
• Crimson Desert - Launch Trailer | PS5 Games

Developer: Pearl Abyss

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 80 average - 80% recommended - 48 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Wait for Sale

"Fantastic exploration, amazing systems, but ultimately bugs and lots of idiosyncrasies bring this one down a peg or two. ":

But Why Tho? - Kate Sanchez - 9 / 10

This is a massive undertaking for any development team. It's ambitious to a point that it becomes curious that it was attempted. But unlike Captain Ahab, this is a level of investment and ambition that ultimately pays off in the highest order. The level of detail in Crimson Desert is unlike anything we have seen in this console generation.

CBR - Mark O'Callaghan - 9 / 10

Crimson Desert is everything I hoped it would be, and it has the potential to be one of the biggest titles of this generation of gaming.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 84 / 100

By both accident and design, there are times when clarity and user-friendliness temporarily disappear, and the game’s rough edges and opaque mechanics overshadow the fun. A lot of games over-promise and under-deliver. Crimson Desert is not one of them.

Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - 3 / 5

If you hadn’t already guessed, Crimson Desert is a behemoth of an RPG that threatens to eat up all your time. If only it wasn’t primed to frustrate and test your patience as much while doing so.

DayOne - Jesse Norris - 8.5 / 10

A mediocre plot and bland writing can't hold back one of the most ambitious games ever made.

Stunning graphics, great gameplay, and excellent music carry you through hundreds of hours of systems-based fun. It somehow lives up to all the hype, with some rough edges in tow.

Digital Spy - Joe Draper - 4 / 5

Crimson Desert's sandbox playground and beautifully crafted world do a lot of the heavy lifting to just about overshadow its confusing elements, generic story, and boring characters. What's here is an overwhelming amount of content and the bones of an amazing game that has to be respected for its ambitions.

Digitec Magazine - Philipp Rüegg - German - 5 / 5

If you look up the term ‘open world’ ‘Crimson Desert’ is bound to be listed right next to it. Because you can’t get much more open-world than that. It offers a world in which you can completely lose yourself. What could be better?

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9.5 / 10

It's simply one of the biggest games I have ever played, with an astonishing amount of high-quality content, an absurd amount of complex puzzles, and a world so gigantic that I still haven't come close to seeing everything after 100 hours of playtime. While the story isn't the best and some bosses seem downright unfair, those flaws do little to diminish Crimson Desert, an absolute marvel and one of the best open-world games on the market.

Eurogamer - Lewis Gordon - 3 / 5

A vast world and even vaster array of MMO-like activities mix with glittering fidelity in Crimson Desert, but what good is it without much character, texture or charm?

Eurogamer.pt - Adolfo Soares - Portuguese - 3 / 5

Chaotic, frustrating, but undeniably ambitious. Crimson Desert constantly tests our patience with technical problems and a confusing narrative, before letting us enjoy its ambitious combat system, exploration and stunning visuals. A game that demands time and a lot of patience for those who manage to overcome the barrier of its lack of polish.

GAMES.CH - Joel Kogler - German - 80%

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GAMINGbible - Kate Harrold - 8 / 10

Crimson Desert is by no means a perfect game. It’s an amalgamation of perhaps slightly too many ideas, and that makes for a weirdly paced experience that demands a lot of the player without offering much in the way of help. And yet, it left me in awe more times than anything else I’ve played in recent memory with its dazzling open-world. Crimson Desert may not be the best game you'll ever play, but it’ll certainly be up there as perhaps the most memorable.

GRYOnline.pl - Dariusz Matusiak - Polish - Unscored

Crimson Desert will impress some and alienate others – and both sides will have a valid point. This blend of Tears of the Kingdom, Elden Ring and Assassin’s Creed continues to intrigue with its open-world design and interactivity, but I fear that long before I reach the end of the story, I’ll grow weary of its sheer scale and the constant struggle with the poorly designed UI and inventory system. [Review in progress]

Game8 - Allisandra Reyes - 88 / 100

Crimson Desert is a sprawling adventure across a vast and living world that rewards every hour you put into it. The core gameplay evolves with your progress, introducing upgradable skills and increasingly demanding boss fights, with plenty of content to discover. While the narrative initially lacks direction and its threads can feel disconnected, this never outweighs the game’s many strengths. Crimson Desert is a slow burn that rewards time, patience, and curiosity.

GameMAG - Russian - 8 / 10

Crimson Desert is unlikely to become a revolution that will redefine the genre. But it will certainly attract crowds of people and spark more than a few heated debates. It's funny that the very desert featured in the title is just one of many corners of the vast world created by Pearl Abyss - one that, presumably, far from everyone will reach.

GamePro - Kevin Itzinger - German - Unscored

Even in its current state, Crimson Desert has the potential to become my game of the year. If the console performance is still good and the day-one patch perhaps even fixes a few annoying issues, the action-adventure could even climb a small step higher in my ranking.

GameRant - Josh Cotts - 8 / 10

Crimson Desert offers one of the most impressive worlds in gaming, but the deeper you go, the more it asks you to meet it on its own terms.

GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 7 / 10

It might not always be the most cohesive game, mixing high fantasy with steampunk and sci-fi elements, but there's nothing else quite like it, and I can't help but be impressed by how little restraint Pearl Abyss has shown in its commitment to delightful absurdity. In some respects, Crimson Desert might not be too good to be true, but it's a world worth getting lost in.

Gameblog - French - 8 / 10

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Gameliner - Anita van Beugen - Dutch - 5 / 5

Leave it to Pearl Abyss to create a dynamic open world where you can completely lose yourself - Crimson Desert is a must-play.

Gamers Heroes - Blaine Smith - 100 / 100

Dark Souls has often been used to measure one's gaming prowess, but that measuring stick has changed with Crimson Desert. Not only does it boast some of the most challenging boss battles ever seen in the industry, its required levels of patience, determination, and ability have set a new gold standard.

Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8.6 / 10

Crimson Desert feels like a single player version of an MMORPG that has been live for years. Its sheer scale alone is enough to guarantee hundreds of hours of playtime. But with its weak guidance, cumbersome interactions, and many design choices that show little regard for user experience, whether that time feels enjoyable or exhausting will likely vary from player to player.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 8 / 10

Crimson Desert is as expansive as promised, dwarfing pretty much every other open world currently with its scale. Its content doesn't always stick the landing, but the combat shines, and the sense of discovery is hard to deny, even with the lackluster story.

Generación Xbox - Adrián Fuentes - Spanish - 94 / 100

Crimson Desert is an RPG that rewards the patient player. The more time you spend in its world, the more you understand its systems and the more you enjoy what it has to offer. And when that happens, it becomes very easy to get swept away by the adventure and immerse yourself in the work that Pearl Abyss has created for us over so many years.

Hobby Consolas - Spanish - 80 / 100

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IGN India - Rayan Sayyed - 8 / 10

The world design and combat of Crimson Desert are a resounding win for fans of free-form exploration, but the bland story and the tedious flow of Crimson Desert stop it from becoming the true masterpiece it could have been.

IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 8.5 / 10

An ambitious adventure set in a visually stunning world that tries to do a bit too much, ultimately feeling underdeveloped in some respects.

IGN Spain - Mario Sánchez - Spanish - 7 / 10

Crimson Desert offers a vast and visually stunning open world, full of freedom and exploration, but its simplistic story and unclear objectives may frustrate many players.

INVEN - Jaihoon Jeong - Korean - 8.3 / 10

Crimson Desert unfolds in a vast open world filled with an enormous amount of content, but there are simply too many gameplay elements scattered without order, clashing with one another. There is room for improvement, but as it stands now, it falls somewhat short of being a truly great game.

LevelUp - Spanish - 9 / 10

Crimson Desert is one of the most ambitious games in a long time. It's an expansive, and deeply detailed fantasy world that constantly invites exploration and rewards curiosity. Its fluid, skill-based combat and sheer scale are genuinely impressive, but that same ambition often works against it. A lack of focus, overly complex systems, and a slow, demanding progression can make the experience feel overwhelming and, at times, exhausting. It's a game of extremes: deeply immersive and rewarding for those willing to invest the time, but far from accessible for everyone.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10

Crimson Desert is frustrating and buggy and can be very player-unfriendly, but it's also beautiful, deep, seemingly endless and monumentally, perhaps detrimentally, ambitious.

MMORPG.com - Joseph Bradford - 9 / 10

I can confidently say that Crimson Desert is a modern masterpiece, despite its shortcomings.

Merlin'in Kazanı - Samet Basri Taşlı - Turkish - 85 / 100

Crimson Desert, while offering a truly exceptional offline MMORPG experience, falls slightly short of expectations due to some minor shortcomings.

PC Gamer - Mollie Taylor - 80 / 100

Vast and obtuse in a way that is going to frustrate some and exhilarate others, Crimson Desert is a fascinating journey, even when the destination isn't all that.

PCGamesN - Paul Kelly - 6 / 10

Crimson Desert is huge, and it's beautiful, but it can't pull itself out of the bog standard narrative trenches. Combat feels clunky, especially when facing off against one of the many frustrating bosses, and there feels like there is little reward for exploration. I wanted to like this, but it left me feeling empty.

PPE.pl - Mateusz Wróbel - Polish - 6.5 / 10

I had high hopes for Crimson Desert, but... I was more disappointed than thrilled. A single-player MMO based on things we love from other great games—it just couldn't work out as well as we thought.

PowerUp! - Clint McCreadie - 8.5 / 10

It might not be the cleanest contender in the open-world arena, but it’s easily one of the most interesting. A sprawling, slightly chaotic, thoroughly entertaining swing that connects far more often than it misses.

RageQuit.GR - Kostas Kallianiotis - 85%

An exceptional and stunningly beautiful open-world action game, with incredibly rich gameplay and a pleasantly old-fashioned level of difficulty, regardless of its potentially frustrating flaws.

SECTOR.sk - Jakub Pokorný - Slovak - 7 / 10

Crimson Desert is a demanding, complex RPG that can feel punishing and occasionally unfair, especially without constant progression. Yet it offers a breathtaking open world with unmatched scale and depth. Its reception will vary widely'frustrating for some, but deeply rewarding for those willing to fully invest.

The GameSlayer - Callum Marshall - 9 / 10

Crimson Desert isn't a perfect game. It's not a game for everyone, and it's got as many good ideas as it does poorly implemented ones. However, what cannot be denied is that this game is a generational game and an open-world experience like no other. It's visually outstanding, mechanically dense, and immersive beyond compare. Yet, it's also one of the most laborious games to get to grips with in recent memory, meaning a lot of players may bounce off this title. However, what I would say is 'stick with it'. As Crimson Desert is a game that doesn't respect your time, but certainly deserves it.

The Games Machine - Claudio Magistrelli - Italian - 9 / 10

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The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9.5 / 10

Crimson Desert is a breath of fresh air for those looking for true ambition and adventure, as it delivers one of the most experimental combat systems and an open world on par with anything Rockstar Games has ever made.

The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 5 / 5

Despite a few minor issues, Crimson Desert sets a new benchmark for this style of open-world experience, one that will be extremely difficult for future games to match.

TheGamer - Harry Alston - 4 / 5

It’s highly ambitious and one of the most intriguing triple-A games I’ve played in years, but I just wish so many parts of the whole weren’t inherently flawed. Now my journey in Pywel has come to an end, I’ll be leaving this one on the shelf for a while.

VG247 - James Billcliffe - 3 / 5

As it stands on release, the best parts of Crimson Desert are buried deep under layers of absurdity.

WellPlayed - Nathan Hennessy - 5.5 / 10

Proving that looks aren't everything, Crimson Desert's stunning visuals and strong performances aren't enough to save it from being a disappointing experience. Jam-packed with content and systems that make it feel like a Jack of all features, master of none with an unenjoyable gameplay loop, Crimson Desert is really just a single-player MMORPG in all but name.

Game Information

Game Title: Resident Evil Requiem

Platforms:

• PC (Feb 27, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (Feb 27, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (Feb 27, 2026)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 90 average - 99% recommended - 68 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

"One of the Best Resident Evil Games Ever"

Atarita - İdil Barbaros - Turkish - 91 / 100

Resident Evil Requiem delivers a revolutionary design shift within the framework of the brand in the survival horror genre.

But Why Tho? - Mick Abrahamson - 9 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem has something for every type of fan. Tension and fear with Grace. Action and terrible humor with Leon. And a story that not only answers questions, but touches on more than just what’s happened in the modern era of the series.

CGMagazine - Marcus Kenneth - 10 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem feels like the culmination of everything the series has been building to and building on over the last thirty years.

CNET - Oscar Gonzalez - Unscored

Resident Evil Requiem is the perfect blend of the two sides of survival horror that Resident Evil established. There's the genuinely scary survival horror, where you have to manage your items, and then the badass action side, where you can vent your aggression built up from being scared.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 96 / 100

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Cerealkillerz - Gabriel Bogdan - German - 8.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem delivers everything fans of the series have come to expect, but rarely dares to break new ground, blending in elements that may not appeal to everyone. Those looking for a classic Resident Evil experience with solid gameplay will find more than enough content to satisfy them. However, anyone hoping for a bold leap forward for the franchise may have to wait a little longer.

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9.5 / 10

Leon’s latest adventure features some of the coolest moments in the franchise, some terrific scares with Grace’s sections, and an interesting story that opens up many exciting possibilities for the franchise going forward.

Console Creatures - Hayes Madsen - 8 / 10

One of the most fascinating things about Resident Evil, as a franchise, is how often these games take on different interpretations as the series progresses. We don’t think of Resident Evil 5 the same way as when it came out, or Resident Evil 6, or Village. This is one of the few gaming franchises that meaningfully uses the past, both narratively and from a design standpoint. These are games integrally shaped by their place in time, the world, and the larger series. And similarly, I think Requiem is a game that we’ll be talking about for years to come, reevaluating more than once.

Dexerto - Joe Pring - 4 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem keeps Capcom’s winning streak going, even if, at times, it does buckle under the weight of its own ambition. The overriding feeling after seeing the credits roll after the 10-hour mark was surprise that the adventure was over so soon.

I wanted more, especially for Leon, whose sections felt like they weren’t afforded enough opportunities to shine. While post-game weapon and difficulty unlocks provide replay value, Requiem feels like it could have benefited from extra time in the oven.

For as long as it lasts, however, Requiem is fantastic. It feels like the culmination of Capcom’s learnings from years of indecision over whether the series should be full-on horror or action, delivering the best of both worlds.

Digital Spy - Joe Draper - 4 / 5

The best way to sum up Resident Evil Requiem is to say it's a quintessential Resident Evil game. By the end of it, the apprehension around juggling survival horror and over-the-top action couldn't have been further from our minds.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 10 / 10

"Game of the year" Resident Evil Requiem offers a complete and thrilling experience for fans of the series, blending horror, survival, and action with a dual-character system that balances tension and action. Switching between Grace and Leon provides constant gameplay variety, with challenging levels, smarter and more interactive enemies, and richly detailed environments. The game stays true to the series' identity while offering modern improvements in graphics, sound, and mechanics that make every moment of the game tense and exciting, making it the best the series has offered to date.

Digitec Magazine - Domagoj Belancic - German - 5 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem delivers a bloody blend of classic survival horror and frantic action. I love creeping through dark corridors with Grace, solving puzzles and hiding from zombies, just as much as I enjoy Leon’s sections, where I can let loose and land satisfying headshots. Clever level design and strong mechanical contrasts create perfectly balanced pacing while giving both characters room to shine. Impressive visuals, responsive controls, and punchy sound design round out the experience — it’s just a shame the wild ride ends after roughly ten hours.

DualShockers - Elena Chapella - 9 / 10

Requiem has not only revitalized the Resident Evil formula, but perfected it in the most anxiety-inducing and melancholy entry the series has seen yet, giving players more than enough to satisfy their hunger and bloodthirst, but also leaving room for more down the road, leaving us excited for what's in store for Resident Evil's (very bright) future.

Easy Allies - Michael Huber - 9 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is an outstanding mutation of two distinct gameplay styles. Grace’s more intimate and grounded exploration is married beautifully with Leon’s combat heavy focus. The story offers a nice balance between franchise history and telling a new chapter of its sprawling decades-long narrative. Capcom continues its unbelievable run of excellence, managing to make each entry have its own distinct identity while staying true to what makes Resident Evil special.

ElderPlayers - Badr Faisal Al Mutairi - Arabic - 9 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is a confident return to the horror roots that defined the series' identity through Grace's levels. Yet at the same time, it isn't afraid to also redefine its action gameplay, which is arguably more enjoyable than ever through Leon’s segments. Requiem isn't just a sequel to the Resident Evil Series, but a love letter to the series evolution, and proof that horror can still thrive without losing its soul. All of these elements combined made this game, quite simply, the best Resident Evil title since Resident Evil 4.

Enternity.gr - Panagiotis Petropoulos - Greek - 8 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem combines the best features of Resident Evil survival horror with those of the franchise's action games, along with the classic puzzles, jumpscares, atmosphere, and shooting that defined the series, but it does so safely.

Eurogamer.pt - Bruno Galvão - Portuguese - 5 / 5

Requiem is yet another powerful Resident Evil experience that conveys an enormous desire to follow this series. The two sides of Resident Evil are explored with thrilling effectiveness to achieve a very entertaining game that is a pleasure to play over and over again.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 90%

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GAMINGbible - Richard Lee Breslin - 10 / 10

As a horror game in its own right, Resident Evil Requiem is a very solid nine out of ten, but as a passionate fan of the series, it earns an additional bonus point thanks to the attention to detail and craft that’s gone into every pore of this game. Resident Evil Requiem is my Game of the Year so far and has earned my very first 10/10 in my 3 years at GAMINGbible.

GRYOnline.pl - Michał Grygorcewicz - Polish - 8.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem continues the series' winning streak, once again bringing fans everything that is best about it – and this time in a way that satisfies both action and horror enthusiasts. Although the numerous references to previous instalments mean that Requiem cannot be recommended to completely new players, I wasn't bored for a moment. This is not a requiem for the Resident Evil series – but a tribute to its thirty-year legacy.

GameBlast - Victor Vitório - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem brings a lot of familiarity, but also dynamism by embodying in the newcomer Grace and the veteran Leon two different approaches in one campaign, alternating between the fear of survival horror and the empowerment that invites us to engage in direct and confident action. These two distinct facets are already known, but together they form a whole worthy of both resuming the main story of the series and serving as a viable entry point.

GameOnly - Kamil Kozakowski - Polish - 5 / 5

While playing Resident Evil Requiem, I felt the same excitement I used to experience when playing the classic entries of the series on the PSX. That’s the highest compliment I can give, because I didn’t expect any modern survival horror to deliver such incredible emotions again. Capcom spent a long time experimenting with a new direction for its iconic franchise, but it seems they’ve finally found the perfect balance. I also believe it’s a very strong contender for Game of the Year.

GamePro - Dennis Müller - German - 85 / 100

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GameRant - Dalton Cooper - 10 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is a horror gaming masterpiece and one of the best games Capcom has ever made. It's the ultimate Resident Evil game and will be remembered as fondly as the franchise favorites in the years to come.

GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 9 / 10

With its dual-protagonist setup, Resident Evil Requiem caters to both those who love traditional survival horror as well as action horror. Throw in a fantastic range of truly terrifying enemies, including zombies that feel freakier than ever thanks to their unique behaviours, and you have one of the best Resident Evil games yet, especially for those who can appreciate both of its distinct gameplay styles.

Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 5 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem is an absolute blockbuster rollercoaster that masterfully blends intense survival horror and explosive action into one unforgettable, emotionally satisfying experience for fans.

Gamer Guides - Echo Apsey - 96 / 100

Resident Evil Requiem blends the lessons and learnings of the franchise over the last ten years to create a game that offers a varied, constantly surprising, and boundary-pushing gameplay experience and a narrative that is vital to fans of the series.

GamerFocus - César Salcedo - Spanish - 9 / 10

After a five-year wait, you can rest easy, because Resident Evil Requiem—especially in terms of gameplay—is everything a fan of the Capcom saga could hope for. It offers equal parts action and horror, cinematic cutscenes with outstanding direction, and—despite a few minor flaws—plenty of surprises. Furthermore, the franchise's DNA remains intact in every corner of the game, and those who enjoy exploring every last file will find a highly polished story in this installment, brimming with clues about what lies ahead. But for now, we can only say that Resident Evil Requiem is undoubtedly one of the must-have games of 2026.

Gfinity - Andrés Aquino - 9 / 10

Ultimately, Resident Evil Requiem is a confident, near-perfect blend of horror and action that Capcom had long dreamt of executing. It stands tall when compared to some of the series' best entries, and while it falls a little short in a few areas and has a somewhat inconsistent pacing with unnecessary padding, it delivers the scares, the gameplay, and a surprisingly compelling story that will be sure to surprise long-time veterans of the series.

Giant Bomb - Dan Ryckert - 4.5 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem is an excellent culmination of everything Capcom has learned during 30 years of making this franchise, and it serves as a tantalizing glimpse of what its future may hold.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 8 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem delivers a familiar yet enjoyable horror action experience that isn’t without its flaws. Pacing issues can make Grace’s portions feel drawn-out and generally, she’s not a very likeable character. However, there’s enough spine-chilling atmosphere here to make up for its shortfalls.

HCL.hr - Zoran Žalac - Unknown - 80 / 100

Resident Evil Requiem is a very good adventure that suffers from uneven pacing and sudden shifts in gameplay styles. The experiment of squeezing two games into one works well enough to be fun, but it’s unlikely to be remembered as one of the best entries in the Resident Evil series.

Hey Poor Player - Francis DiPersio - 4.5 / 5

While its underwhelming boss battles and environmental design feel like a small step back from previous entries, Resident Evil Requiem is an equally terrifying and thrilling installment in Capcom’s long-running survival horror saga. With a lengthy campaign that blends the original trilogy’s tense, methodical exploration with the action-packed set pieces that define the franchise’s modern offerings, Requiem also delivers a gripping story, making it a must-play entry that honors the series’ survival horror legacy while pushing it forward in an exciting new direction.

IGN Portugal - Aníbal Gonçalves - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is a conscious exercise in reconciliation that brings two fundamental concepts of the series face-to-face: vulnerability and competence. Capcom recovers the traumatic memory of Raccoon City and attempts to tie up loose ends that, for decades, seemed scattered across the shoulders of two dichotomous protagonists. Grace represents fear, scarcity, and psychological weight. Leon symbolizes legacy, experience, and the inevitable erosion of terror in someone who has already seen too much. The game delivers two distinct rhythms and an alternation between tension and action within a cycle cemented in the franchise's history. Featuring an intelligent design evolution and a succession of striking moments—though not always providing the player agency that horror needs to truly assert itself—it keeps one foot firmly planted in its legacy and the other in the future.

Just Play it - Aimen TAIB - Arabic - 9.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem doesn’t just mix survival horror and action like recent games in the series. It also brings new ideas to the gameplay and tells a bold story that is hard to predict. With strong level design, stable performance, and impressive visuals, the game proves itself as one of the best entries in the series and will surely appeal to fans.

KonsoliFIN - Tero Lepistö - Finnish - 4 / 5

The ninth entry in the long running main series doesn't quite live up to the perhaps overly grandiose promises of the ultimate Resident Evil experience. The hybrid between survival horror and more straightforward action is still a definite success by the standards of the series.

Loot Level Chill - Chris White - 9.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem continues to breathe life into the series, making excellent use of new and old ideas to tell a story that fans will love every second of.

Mashable - Chance Townsend - 3.75 / 5

'Resident Evil Requiem' is a polished, fun entry that nails the mechanics but leans too heavily on nostalgia and padding. It’s stronger than 'Village' though not as bold as 'RE7' — and absolutely worth playing if you’re already invested in the series.

Merlin'in Kazanı - Dilay Süllü - Turkish - 90 / 100

Resident Evil Requiem blends classic survival horror with modern action through two playable characters, strong atmosphere, refined mechanics, and satisfying combat and puzzles for fans and newcomers alike.

MonsterVine - James Carr - 4.5 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem takes the best of the modern games and remakes and smashes them together to create the best Resident Evil in years. The horror sections are expertly tuned to be terrifying without losing out on the excellent combat, and the action sections are as engaging as they are overwhelming. Both sections enhance each other through impeccable pacing. The story gets the job done, but Grace and Leon elevate the experience through their characterization. It's big, it's dumb, and it goes off the rails in all the ways the best Resident Evil games do.

Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 8.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is a celebration of the franchise's legacy with well-crafted scares and tension, big action, and a story that swings from engaging to goofy at the drop of a dime.

One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 9.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem blends the atmospheric, harrowing survival-horror elements of Resident Evil VII with the refined gameplay of the recent Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes. It is a fantastic addition to the series, making it an unquestionable must-play day-one purchase for fans and newcomers.

While the villains may not reach the heights of past antagonists, the overall package is undeniably fantastic. With strong performances, rewarding gameplay variety, and extras that encourage replayability, Resident Evil Requiem could be a Game of the Year contender and possibly one of the best games of 2026.

PSX Brasil - Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho - Portuguese - 95 / 100

Resident Evil Requiem is an excellent game, taking the best elements from the Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes. The gameplay is great, the graphics are superb, and the atmosphere is outstanding. The only downsides are the bittersweet story and the lack of extra modes.

Prima Games - Enzo Zalamea - 10 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem isn’t just another entry in the series—it’s the culmination of decades of experimentation, refinement, and passion. Both longtime fans and newcomers alike will find it a hauntingly rewarding experience that captures everything Resident Evil has always aimed to be: terrifying, tense, and unforgettable.

ProGamers.life - Nelson Acosta - Spanish - 10 / 10

The new installment in Capcom's legendary saga is a combination of risk, ambition, and talent that is only possible coming from one of the longest-running companies in the industry, delivering one of the best games in the series.

Quest Daily - Julian Price - 9 / 10

This is the bloodiest, boldest, and most cohesive Resident Evil yet. Capcom has delivered a survival horror experience that respects its legacy while pushing the series forward.

ReGame It - Ahmed Akram - Arabic - 10 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem succeeds by remembering what made the franchise iconic, vulnerability, tension, and atmosphere. While it doesn’t radically reinvent the formula, it polishes it to perfection. Fans of classic survival horror will appreciate the deliberate pacing, while newer players will enjoy its cinematic storytelling.

Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 3 / 5

Heavy on nostalgia and fan service with the occasional violent delight thrown in, Requiem is a mostly fun Resident Evil title that still feels like a step down from its predecessor.

República DG - Gabriel Petricevich - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Despite its hits and misses, Resident Evil Requiem stands as a true love letter to fans of the franchise, offering a dark campaign that lets players take control of Leon Scott Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft. Even with certain narrative limitations and a lack of depth regarding its enemies, the game makes it clear that its gameplay is a steady evolution compared to previous titles, blending dynamic combat, a frenetic pace, and an extremely fluid experience.

Restart.run - Myles Obenza - 5 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem, to me, is one of the series’ best. As a culmination of every game that came before, I can confidently say that the story serves as both a fitting conclusion for many threads left open over the years and a benchmark for where we can expect to go from here. It combines the best parts of virtually every modern Resident Evil title, offering the iconic horror atmosphere that pioneered a genre, incredibly satisfying combat mechanics, and immersive puzzle design that even newcomers can enjoy.

SECTOR.sk - Branislav Koh�t - Slovak - 9 / 10

Experienced veteran joins forces with a young FBI agent in a story that is sure to keep players on the edge of their seats. The two main characters offer two distinctly different types of gameplay. Survival, stealth, exploration and puzzles confront straightforward action.

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 8.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem sustains suffocating tension through Grace’s vulnerability and Leon’s disciplined firepower, delivering a strategic, replayable survival horror experience that feels just about right for the franchise.

SmashPad - Jon Yelenic - 4.5 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem is a reconciliation of the series’ roots with what it grew into, and the end result is the series as it exists today. Sometimes it’s a pure horror game, sometimes it’s a horror-themed action shooter. It never tries to be both at once, and I think that is for the better.

TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 9 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem does a good job creating a classic Resident Evil experience, while also giving the characters and story room to breathe through swapping protagonists. Fun (and scary) from the first moment you're jumpscared!

The Games Machine - Daniele Cucchiarelli - Italian - 9 / 10

Everything has led to this... Resident Evil Requiem is the game that sums up 30 years of the saga, taking us back to where it all began. It was a huge risk for Capcom, but one that paid off almost flawlessly, delivering a narratively compelling, technically sumptuous title characterized by two gameplay styles that are as different as they are well blended.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem brings the best of the franchise in terms of survival horror and action to deliver a memorable narrative full of nostalgia and peak survival horror experiences.

The Outerhaven Productions - Andrew Agress - 4.5 / 5

With the ninth Resident Evil game, Capcom combines horror and action. Find out how these two tones blend together in our Resident Evil Requiem review.

TheGamer - Jade King - 4 / 5

While I can’t speak in specifics, Capcom has once again assembled multiple new pieces on the series’ board that I cannot wait to see it start moving. I want to see where these beloved characters go and how stakes continue to be taken to places once thought unimaginable.

TheSixthAxis - Steve C - 9 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is a superb entry in the series and feels like a 'best of' at times with the persistent Easter eggs, references, and gameplay callbacks to the full range of earlier games. There is a vast amount of wider lore for fans of that part of Capcom's legendary titles, but even newcomers will be caught up in the narrative and balls to the wall gameplay. RE Requiem is up there with the very best of the series.

TheXboxHub - Darren Edwards - 5 / 5

Resident Evil Requiem is a pitch perfect love letter to fans of the series. Capcom has absolutely nailed the dual protagonist mechanic which sits at the core of a truly incredible piece of storytelling. The result is a must-play title for those both familiar and new to the series. Put simply, it’s an absolute tour de force.

ThreeTwoPlay - Michael Seifert - German - 5 / 5

A Requiem is a special kind of memorial service and describes the remembrance of the dead. The ninth installment of the cult series couldn't be further from an actual requiem though. Resident Evil is definitely not dead, in fact it hasn't been this alive in a long time: Resident Evil Requiem presents itself as a playable "Best of" of the entire series, celebrating ideas from 30 years of history and completely captivating me from beginning to end. Established ideas are complemented by additional features, quality-of-life improvements and entirely new elements, while at its core it always feels truly like a Resident Evil game.

Twisted Voxel - Salal Awan - 9.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is a masterful dual-narrative that harmonizes the franchise's identity, pitting Grace’s claustrophobic, resource-starved survival horror against Leon’s high-octane, RE4-inspired combat. By revisiting Raccoon City with polished 4K/60fps visuals and flexible perspectives, it delivers a definitive, "best-of" experience that satisfies both purists and action junkies.

VGC - Dave Aubrey - 4 / 5

When taken in isolation, Resident Evil: Requiem is fantastic, and a genuinely brilliant entry into the mainline series. It’s still straddling that line between fear and power, and while Grace might not have Leon’s roundhouse kicks and one-liners, she can always fall back on the Requiem. It’s a game designed to challenge you, not pull your last precious hairs from your head (unless you try Insanity difficulty). Capcom has once again delivered a polished and beautiful Resident Evil game, it’s just not quite amongst the best.

WellPlayed - Zach Jackson - 9.5 / 10

Resident Evil Requiem is an intoxicating mix of the series' DNA, blending exhilarating action and palpable horror to make not only one of the best Resident Evil games, but one of the best modern survival horror experiences.

Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 90%

For Resident Evil Requiem, it feels like Capcom is hedging its bets. Do you want to play from a first-person or third-person perspective? It's u...

Xbox Tavern - Jamie Collyer - 10 / 10

Easily the best Resident Evil game in many years, with inspirations from both RE2’s survival horror and RE4’s more action horror. Paced perfectly, and with plenty of surprises to discover, I can’t recommend Resident Evil Requiem highly enough.

Game Information

Game Title: Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Platforms:

• PC (Oct 1, 2026)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 89 average - 100% recommended - 34 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Video Review - Quote not available

AltChar - Asmir Kovacevic - 8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve made me feel like an idiot for the first few hours, and I’m grateful for it. Once I stopped expecting Top Gun and started flying the way the game wanted me to, it turned into one of the most immersive flying experiences I’ve ever had, backed by a grounded, surprisingly emotional story about a scared pilot wearing a dead man’s helmet and a presentation that comes very close to perfection.

Analog Stick Gaming - Jordan Andow - 9.5 / 10

Ace Combat 8 surprised me in almost every possible way. Its arcade-focused flying remains incredibly easy to pick up while providing enough depth to make mastering its aircraft and dogfights immensely satisfying.

Bazimag - Bahram Bigharaz - Persian - 8.5 / 10

​Ace Combat 8 is precisely what hardcore arcade flight combat fans have been waiting years for: an ambitious, worthy sequel that stays fiercely loyal to its roots while dramatically elevating the franchise’s visual and technical standards. While Strangereal’s tangled narrative web and mid-mission radio chatter might still alienate newcomers—and a couple of tedious escort objectives slipped past the cutting room floor—the electrifying gameplay, superb aircraft and mission variety, and jaw-dropping next-gen fidelity far outweigh any turbulence. Project Aces has once again proven that when it comes to white-knuckle, cinematic dogfights, no competitor can contest their dominance of the skies.

But Why Tho? - Kyle Foley - 8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve still has some growing to do on the ground, with a story that never quite lands its biggest ideas and first-person scenes that keep you out of the cockpit longer than they should. Once you're in the air, though, it's the best Ace Combat has ever felt.

CGMagazine - Eduard Gafton - 8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a great action game and one of the best entries in the franchise so far, with the only major caveat being the incoherent and impenetrable story told in the 30-hour-long campaign mode.

Cerealkillerz - Gabriel Bogdan - German - 8.8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve may not reinvent the series, but it delivers the most comprehensive overall package to date and presents its story more impressively than any previous entry. With a 30-mission campaign, immersive first-person cutscenes, and a stronger bond with your crew members, it offers one of the best campaigns the series has seen so far.

For veterans, the new additions are somewhat limited, with only a handful of quality-of-life features and additional animations. However, if you enjoyed the previous entry, you really can’t go wrong with Ace Combat 8.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wing of Theves is an immensely satisfying entry in the long-running series. Between the tense air battles and great plane roster, there's something so satisfying about picking a fighter jet and rocketing into the skies. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Bandai Namco's latest entry in the series delivers a best of entry with incredible single-player, thrilling multiplayer, and thrill of taking to the the skies wrapped into one game.

Console-Tribe - Simone Cantini - Italian - 90 / 100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve proves the series is still soaring high after three decades. With a strong campaign, engaging narrative, rich aircraft roster, and refined gameplay, it delivers an impressive experience for veterans and newcomers alike. Outstanding visuals and sound elevate every dogfight, and despite a few multiplayer question marks, this is a triumphant return. For anyone ready to take to the skies of Strangereal, takeoff is highly recommended.

Cubed3 - Jamison Nilsson - 10 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an improvement in everything that is quintessentially “Ace Combat," bringing back squadron commands and adding a plethora of different aircraft, new special weapons, and more. The cinematic visuals and deep, twisting narrative immerse the player in the fantasy of being an ace pilot in a war between two nations.

DayOne - Jon Clarke - 8.5 / 10

For all of its quirks, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve ultimately delivers exactly the sort of ridiculous aerial spectacle I was hoping for. There are a few rough edges here and the story borders on melodrama at times, but when everything comes together, there’s very little that compares to the feeling of pulling off some ridiculous high-G manoeuvre, watching your target explode, and immediately looking for the next enemy to shoot down.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10

"A Powerful Return for the Kings of the Sky" Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve offers a clear evolution of the series' formula rather than attempting to alter its identity. It blends accessible, enjoyable flight mechanics with greater depth in control and customization, alongside more varied missions and massive battles that leverage current-generation capabilities. Despite some technical issues and the limited impact of narrative choices, the strength of the aerial combat, visual variety, and sound design make for a comprehensive and ambitious arcade flight experience—one that preserves the spirit of Ace Combat while significantly expanding upon it.

Forbes - Ollie Barder - 9 / 10

Overall, Ace Combat 8 is still the immaculately crafted flight combat game we have all come to enjoy, but there is a more visceral aspect to the game now. From how you feel massive explosions to repeatedly breaking, as well as surpassing, the sound barrier. So I raise a humble hand of hope that this game will find its audience and that they will have a modicum of sympathy for the nomadic Sotoans even after all the carnage they have caused.

Gamefa - Persian - 8 / 10

As a fast-paced, arcade-style action game, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers the adrenaline-fueled experience fans have come to expect and keeps them satisfied all the way to the end. However, it does little to attract players who have never connected with the Ace Combat series over the years, as it doesn’t introduce enough new mechanics or ideas to bring something fresh to the table.

Gameliner - Rudy Wijnberg - Dutch - 4 / 5

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an experience that fans shouldn't miss. And although there's occasionally a lack of legroom and snacks and drinks on board, you'll still enjoy a largely turbulence-free flight to a beautiful destination filled with clear blue skies.

GamersGlobal - Benjamin Braun - German - 8 / 10

One one hand wish for more bravery to try something really new with the series, on the other hand I enjoy that Ace Combat 8 delivers exactly what fans can expect, just prettier and a bit more dynamic.

INVEN - Kyuman Kim - Korean - 8.7 / 10

Ace Combat 8 delivers the scale and spectacle befitting the culmination of the series' 30-year history. Detailed character portrayals deepen the immersion, while the missions expertly build tension before releasing it in bursts of catharsis. With its online modes rounding out the package, it's hard to imagine a better gift for longtime 'aces.'

Just Play it - Hakim MOKHBI - Arabic - 8 / 10

Ace Combat 8 is a fun and exciting experience that will satisfy fans of the series and warplane games. While the story mode offers only a small improvement over the previous game, the online mode is a big step forward for the series thanks to its variety and content. This also makes it a promising entry point for newcomers to Ace Combat.

Loot Level Chill - Chris White - 9.5 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve gives you total freedom in how you fly and fight, with plenty of customisation options and visuals that'll blow you away.

MondoXbox - Antonio Di Lorenzo - Italian - 8.8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a worthy heir to one of the longest-running sagas in video game history and fully embodies what Ace Combat has always been: its gameplay remains impeccable, fast-paced and visually rewarding. Some components, however, now need the courage to change their form without losing their substance. A must for fans and pleasantly vintage for veterans, it still shows its age to newer generations.

MonsterVine - Frank Wood - 5 / 5

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve exemplifies “High-Flying Action” and takes it to another level, while also giving new fans options to ease into it. Personally, I say dive into the deep end; flying directly into the ground a few times puts some hair on your chest. If you enjoy exploring an action game in a massive 3D space, love jets and airplanes, or are already a fan of the franchise, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a masterclass in its category.

Oyungezer Online - Eren Eryürekli - Turkish - 9 / 10

Wings of Theve is a fantastic game worthy of a series that has been going strong for 30 years. With its striking visuals, immersive sense of warfare, and well-written characters, I can confidently say that it manages to take the series one step further in every respect.

PCMag Middle East - Ali El Sayed - 4 / 5

Ace Combat 8 delivers another excellent flight campaign by refining what already works, even if its ambitions rarely extend beyond the runway the series already knows.

PPE.pl - Paweł Musiolik - Polish - 9 / 10

If other publishers looked after their series as well as Bandai Namco looks after Ace Combat, the world would be a better place

PSX Brasil - Luis Guilherme Machado Camargo - Portuguese - 100 / 100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a bold evolution of the foundation laid in AC7. Its story is more exciting, its presentation is more polished, and most importantly, its gameplay is impeccable, with a variety of missions and combat situations that keep the player engaged, entertained, and wanting more. This is one of the best games not only of the year, but of the generation.

Pizza Fria - Matheus Feldmann da Rosa - Portuguese - 8.6 / 10

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is an incredible experience, but I still find it difficult to recommend it without reservations to those who have never had contact with the franchise.

República DG - André Custódio - Portuguese - 8.7 / 10

Epic, deeply satisfying, and visually stunning, Ace Combat 8 is the true embodiment of the greatest aerial combat films brought to life in video game form!

Saudi Gamer - عبد الله محمد - Arabic - 4 / 5

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theves is everything you could want from an Ace Combat game: an arcade flight combat experience that is as exciting and breathtaking as it gets.

SmashPad - 3.5 / 5

Ace Combat 8, as a whole, is a lot of “two steps forward, one step back.”

TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has a lot going for it. It's full to the brim with plane customization, a bucket load of missions, and a lengthy story. Despite some pacing and difficulty issues, it's a fine addition to the series.

The Outerhaven Productions - Keith Mitchell - 4.5 / 5

I waited years for Ace Combat to come back, and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve reminded me exactly why I missed it. One minute I’m admiring my plane, and the next I’m dodging a damn railgun while my squad is yelling over the comms and the soundtrack has me ready to take on everything in the sky. The targeting did get on my nerves during a few crucial moments, and some aircraft take longer to unlock than I would have liked, but those complaints barely put a dent in the fun.

Between the combat, story, soundtrack, and sheer spectacle of it all, Ace Combat 8 delivers exactly the kind of experience I had been waiting years for. It’s easily one of the best games in the series, and I loved damn near every moment of it.

Uagna - Mattia Soave - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is Ace Combat—and that says it all. There is a reason it remains the longest-running and most acclaimed series in the arcade aerial combat genre—a genre that has, unfortunately, been increasingly forgotten over the years. The world of Strangereal is in better shape than ever, offering a dynamic and immersive gameplay experience that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers alike. In telling its story—a tale of geopolitical intrigue, super-weapons, and, above all, people and their personal struggles—it also reflects something of us and the world we live in today.

Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 9 / 10

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is an impressive culmination of the very best that the series has to offer so whether you're a long-time fan or a rookie pilot, you're going to love soaring through the clouds as you evade incoming missiles and blow up all sorts of targets. 👩‍✈️

Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 9.5 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers a truly first-rate and polished fighter jet combat experience. The strong character writing adds considerable value to the story, while the excellent level design makes the campaign consistently enjoyable, allowing you to fully experience the excitement—and at times, the tension—of its intense aerial battles. The game’s high-quality visuals and sound effects, along with its impressive variety of aircraft and upgrade options, further complement these strengths. All of these elements come together to make Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve arguably unmatched within its genre. If you’re a fan of the series or the genre, it’s an experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Game Information

Game Title: The Blood of Dawnwalker

Platforms:

• PC (Sep 3, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (Sep 3, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (Sep 3, 2026)

Trailer:

Developer: Rebel Wolves

Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 85 average - 91% recommended - 75 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Video Review - Quote not available

AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 7 / 10

Sharp writing, forgettable combat: The Blood of Dawnwalker is a solid vampiric RPG worth playing for its story and quests alone, if you can stomach the gameplay jank.

Atarita - Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu - Turkish - 86 / 100

The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a captivating RPG experience with its rich atmosphere, unique mechanics built around the day-night cycle, and a freeform quest structure in which player choices shape the course of fate.

Bazimag - Hamidreza Ghaneei - Persian - 8.1 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is by no means a flawless experience, but the developers’ ambition in storytelling and in creating a world that responds meaningfully to the player’s choices has ensured that its gameplay shortcomings do not overshadow the overall experience. With its debut title, Rebel Wolves has shown that it has plenty to say, and one can only hope that some of this game’s shortcomings will be addressed in future installments.

But Why Tho? - Michael Murphy - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a fantastic RPG worthy of diving and sinking your fangs into again and again.

CGMagazine - Hayes Madsen - 9.5 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a masterful new RPG from key developers behind The Witcher 3, kicking off a bold new series that has remarkable potential.

Capsule Computers - Travis Bruno - 9.5 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers layered narrative depth, dense worldbuilding, and excellent dual combat that keeps exploration and battles equally engaging in a way that truly shines in today’s age.

Cerealkillerz - Steve Brieller - German - 8.4 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellently written ARPG whose roots in The Witcher are unmistakable. The consistently high quality of the voice acting and sound design contributes greatly to an atmosphere that makes the player genuinely care about the fates of its characters and the world they inhabit.

Unfortunately, the gameplay—particularly the combat—becomes rather repetitive and tedious after a short while, while the crafting system feels somewhat tacked on and is rarely, if ever, actually necessary. On the other hand, we really enjoyed the concept of time as a resource, which has been implemented in a very player-friendly way.

Despite its gameplay shortcomings, we will definitely embark on a second playthrough, because the stories Dawnwalker has to tell are absolutely worth hearing. They ultimately rise far above any of the game's shortcomings and are easily its greatest strength.

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9 / 10

Rebel Wolves’ debut action role-playing game is one of the most unique and ambitious games to come out in 2026.

Console Creatures - Meghan G - 8 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an impressive debut from Rebel Wolves, with challenging combat and choices that shape the story around you. It breathes new life into a tired genre of vampire action RPGs, using time as a resource and letting players shape the world around them. Despite relatively benign issues that can easily be rectified, it is certainly one to watch within the world of RPGs.

Dexerto - Jessica Filby - 4 / 5

The Blood of Dawnwalker isn't perfect by any means, but its attempts to merge The Witcher's grungy world with an intense time limit make it stand out from Geralt’s masterpiece. Its story is riveting, its characters are expertly written, and its combat combined with the 30-day time limit is utterly unique, making for a thrilling adventure that is as bloody as it is good fun.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra, Sami Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10

"When time is more precious than blood" The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a highly ambitious vision of the Action RPG with a compelling time system, real-world choices, a dual identity that shifts gameplay between day and night, and an atmospherically rich and detailed open world. While the combat and some technical aspects could use some polishing, the interconnections of the game's systems and the strength of its quest design make it a very promising experience, and it could well become one of the standout Action-RPGs of 2026.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 4 / 5

The narrative might be subservient to the mechanics, and not as thematically evocative as I might like, but excellent writing does combine with quality, well-executed mechanics to give us the equivalent of a pulp fantasy page-turner, and like the stories of dark pulp fantasy writer, Robert E. Howard, it’s really (really) difficult to put down.

Digitec Magazine - Simon Balissat - German - 3 / 5

The Blood of Dawnwalker nearly strikes a successful balance between classic open-world design and fresh ideas. Its day-night cycle and time pressure are intriguing additions, but neither is used consistently enough. Fans of open worlds and vampires will find plenty to enjoy, although the game offers few major surprises. Technical issues and the lack of a performance mode (in my review build) also hold it back. On the other hand, the charming story is particularly strong at the beginning and end, while the lively world is a joy to explore. Rebel Wolf's debut is far from a masterpiece, but it shows plenty of talent and leaves me hoping for a sequel.

EmuGlx.org - Vladan Nastanović - Unknown - 9 / 10

Blood of the Dawnwalker is an impressive debut from Rebel Wolves that, despite flaws such as problematic lip-sync and technical issues, manages to overcome and even surpass the initial skepticism carried over from the Cyberpunk 2077 era. For fans of deep storytelling, dark Slavic atmosphere, and thoughtfully implemented vampire mechanics, time spent in Vale Sangora comes highly recommended.

Eternal Games - محمد الأحمري - Arabic - 8.5 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is considered an excellent Action RPG experience that delivers a wonderful, poetic story alongside carefully written characters and a meticulously crafted protagonist, while introducing a new and distinctive time system that serves the experience in a dark world full of secrets and mystery. It features an enjoyable and addictive gameplay system with two different forms—as a human by day and a vampire by night—backed by deep RPG elements that grant you complete freedom in building your character and shaping your story's path through masterfully crafted, unforgettable quests. This blend is completed by a enchanting soundtrack and a stunning art direction to deliver an epic experience that leaves a clear mark, despite a few flaws in enemy variety and side content.

Eurogamer - Robert Purchese - 4 / 5

CD Projekt Red alumni create a familiar dark fantasy adventure, but one with bold and provocative ideas of its own, that's mostly, enormously successful.

GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 88%

"The Blood of Dawnwalker" is the first big hit of a crazy second half of the gaming year 2026.

GAMINGbible - Kate Harrold - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker deserves to be a new AAA mainstay, and I’d gladly join Coen on future ventures. Rebel Wolves’ debut outing is everything you could want from the former director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but it’s also something entirely new.

Gadgets 360 - Manas Mitul - 9 / 10

Rebel Wolves' story-driven RPG is clearly built on the role-playing ethos established by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but it's the breadth and depth of original ideas at play that make the game stand on its own merits.

GameOnly - Michał Marasek - Polish - 8 / 10

Video Review - Quote not available

GameRant - Josh Cotts - 6 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker has strong ideas and a compelling story, but repetitive design, uneven systems, and constant jank hold it back.

Gameblog - French - 9 / 10

Quote not yet available

Gameblog - Geralt of Reeves - French - 9 / 10

Rebel Wolves delivers a dark fantasy RPG that can hold its own against its illustrious cousin and is a firstborn that we hope will produce other gems in the same vein in the future.

Gameliner - Claudia Tjia - Dutch - 3.5 / 5

The Blood of Dawnwalker has an interesting identity thanks to its combination of human and vampire gameplay, the day-and-night cycle, the time system and meaningful choices. However, the empty open world, awkward blood and health system, time pressure, uneven combat and several visual and technical bugs keep the experience from reaching its full potential. I enjoyed my time with it, but I often found myself thinking how much stronger the game could have been with a livelier world and a better balance between freedom and time pressure.

Gamer Guides - Echo Apsey - 87 / 100

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a true narrative sandbox with a malleable and flexible structure that allows you to play your way and see where the wind takes you. While its combat isn’t as strong, the game’s narrative framework is consistently mesmerizing.

GamerFocus - Julián Ramírez - Spanish - 8.9 / 10

Comparisons between The Blood of Dawnwalker and The Witcher 3 are inevitable, but it has nothing to fear -even when faced with Geralt's best adventure- because Rebel Wolves' game is excellent. It offers an open world full of secrets and quests—all of them interesting—and the ability to forge a narrative however we want to navigate this world of horror, fantasy, and political intrigue. It has some technical issues, and not all of its mechanics work as well as they could, but it is undoubtedly one of the best games of the year.

Gamers Heroes - Johnny Hurricane - 75 / 100

While The Blood of Dawnwalker and its dark fantasy vampire setting is well worth exploring, best wait for a few patches before exploring its vast open world.

GamingBolt - Stuart Glover - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a fascinating action-RPG, where every choice to save Coen's family feels rightly consequential.

IGN - Travis Northup - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an impressive, bloody cocktail of interesting ideas and well-written characters, making it one of this year’s best open-world RPGs.

IGN Italy - Stefano Castagnola - Italian - 8.5 / 10

A new and intriguing action RPG that doesn's stray far away from The Witcher III's template, but delivers an engaging narrative experience full of memorable characters in a fascinating setting.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 7 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker has an interesting core, but it throws too many obstacles in your way before you can get to it. Rebel Wolves builds a rich universe with many stories worth discovering, but its clunky mechanics and various issues with its main systems are hard to ignore.

Impulsegamer - Dean Yamak - 5 / 5

Join me and stay up until near-dawn playing The Blood of Dawn Walker. It was a brilliant time that tapped into my nostalgic Skyrim and Witcher 3 itch, whilst also offering novel advances on combat mechanics, character progression and the gravity of quest choices. Strongly recommend.

Just Play it - Mounir Bensaci - Arabic - 8 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a dark and thrilling journey through a rich open world filled with exploration, featuring an exceptional day-and-night cycle that meaningfully impacts quest design, abilities, and gameplay. Despite several technical issues, including frame-rate drops, inconsistent visual quality, and lengthy loading screens, these shortcomings do not diminish the fact that we experienced a distinctive and bold adventure with plenty of room to improve.

Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Toyad - 80 / 100

Despite its open-world technical issues and certain aspects of its combat, you're in for a bloody good time with this vampire-laced role-playing tale. The Blood of Dawnwalker is this year's spotlight CRPG entry that hit all the right notes with its story, characters, world-building, and overall adventure & capstones.

KonsoliFIN - Tommi Viitanen - Finnish - 4 / 5

The former Witcher 3 developers show how a dark fantasy setting should be handled.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent open-world fantasy RPG with some unique, interesting ideas.

MMORPG.com - Myles Obenza - 8.5 / 10

Rebel Wolves’ debut game The Blood of Dawnwalker is a triumphant achievement in the art of telling rich, raw, human stories set with a more fantastical backdrop.

MeuPlayStation - Raphael Batista Cabral Xavier - Portuguese - 78 / 100

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a compelling action RPG with solid directional combat, engaging time management, and an intriguing duality between human and vampire abilities. Repetitive activities and technical issues hold it back, but Rebel Wolves delivers a promising and enjoyable debut.

MondoXbox - Mirko Rossi - Italian - 8 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a high-quality action RPG, built around a unique combat system, a very convincing "dual" gameplay, and an open narrative structure that stays rich and coherent even while leaving almost every choice in our hands. The time limit and the tangible weight of every decision make the whole experience deeper, within a beautifully detailed world; it's just a pity that the technical side and some production limits are not always up to par.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 5 / 5

The Blood of Dawnwalker is one of the most impressive games I’ve played this generation. The sprawling world and multifaceted story are wonders to behold, while the combat walks the perfect line between complexity and accessibility. Though there is a little bit of open-world jank to contend with, you’d be missing out by choosing not to play this game, as it may already be the best release in an extremely competitive September.

Multiplayer First - Alex Co - 10 / 10

In The Blood of Dawnwalker, Rebel Wolves gambled on a new IP and didn’t hold back in their ambition. Thankfully, it has paid off in spades, and from the looks of it, this is the start of a new RPG franchise. It might not have the same notoriety as The Witcher series for now, but if Rebel Wolves can produce the sequels with the same level of quality, then The Blood of Dawnwalker might just be the next great RPG series.

Simply put: The Blood of Dawnwalker is an all-new, AAA action-RPG that manages to impress in every way, and one that’s our frontrunner as the Game of the Year. We might possibly be witnessing the birth of a new powerhouse IP, and I, for one, am all for it.

NextPlay - Brad Goodwin - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a familiar take on the RPG genre, but its dense human-Vrakhiri dual gameplay loop and time management, accompanied by a banging story, make this one of the best RPGs of the year.

One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an amazing first effort from Rebel Wolves, proving that open‑world RPGs can still surprise us. By stripping away genre bloat and focusing on meaningful mechanics such as the use of the day and night cycle, a gripping narrative, and morally complex characters, the developers have delivered a dark fantasy experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Oyungezer Online - Onur Kaya - Turkish - 7 / 10

Fails to live up to its potential and the expectations created by being associated with The Witcher series, but one I could recommend giving a chance during a quieter period.

PC Gamer - Shaun Prescott - 83 / 100

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a resolutely miserable horror RPG with some great ideas of its own, though it doesn't always have the courage to follow them through.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 8.5 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent start to a new universe, one that draws on the experience of the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but which, thanks to the 30-day system, Coen’s transformation and the consequences of your decisions, quickly finds its own identity. The game’s greatest strengths are its superbly written quests, interesting characters and a world you’ll want to return to in order to experience completely different versions of events. The underdeveloped combat and technical issues can be irritating, but they do not detract from the fact that Rebel Wolves has created a large, ambitious RPG that is well worth checking out.

PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 84 / 100

Although it has some flaws in combat, The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a solid and characterful experience. Its time management system, the freedom to explore, and the choices that shape Coen's journey are its greatest strengths and make Rebel Wolves' RPG stand out from other games in the genre.

Pizza Fria - Álvaro Saluan da Cunha - Portuguese - 9.2 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is well worth playing for those who enjoy narrative RPGs, dark fantasy, vampires, difficult choices, and open worlds populated and created with personality. It has the kind of adventure that makes the player think about a quest while away from their PC or console.

Press Start - James Berich - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an incredible RPG that sinks its fangs into you from the moment you start playing, signalling an incredibly strong start for Rebel Wolves. Choices feel meaningful, combat is satisfying, and the time system makes you stop and think about just what you're doing when you play games. While some quests drag and there were some technical hiccups along the way, nothing made me want to stop playing this adventure that trades breadth for depth. As such, The Blood of Dawnwalker is easily one of my favourite RPGs in years and well worth a taste.

Push Square - Robert Ramsey - 7 / 10

According to Rebel Wolves, The Blood of Dawnwalker is just the first instalment in a planned series. And honestly, that's what it feels like: a starting point.Fans of vampire fiction or choice-driven RPGs should still gel with Dawnwalker based on the strength of its world building, characters, and deliciously dark tones. But you'll need to stomach some of the most serviceable, yet frustratingly stunted gameplay I've encountered in quite some time.

RPG Fan - Zek Lu - 92 / 100

Some things are worth your time.

RPG Site - James Galizio - 9 / 10

Rebel Wolves' debut project is an instant classic, and one of the best RPGs of 2026

ReGame It - Taha Omar - Arabic - 8.5 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is more than an attempt to replicate The Witcher’s success, depending on its own unique charm and atmosphere. Its time-limited story system and freedom of choice work exceptionally well, while the gameplay delivers two distinct experiences. Despite some repetition, it lays a strong foundation for what could become a remarkable series.

República DG - Ruancarlo Silva - Portuguese - 8.2 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a great first step by Rebel Wolves. With well-written characters, a mature story, and a fascinating lore, the game is entertaining and leaves a huge taste of 'wanting more.' Unfortunately, it just isn't better due to a problematic technical side that shows the game needed more time in the oven.

Rocket Chainsaw - David Latham - 4 / 5

We loved the fact that you can just give in to the feed and kill main characters along the way, and that there were many different ways to end the story. It was great to hear that this is just chapter one of Coen’s story, as we can see Rebel Wolves growing and becoming a real powerhouse in this genre.

SECTOR.sk - Branislav Kohút - Slovak - 9.5 / 10

You will enjoy spending time with the vampire hero as he demonstrates his power, engaging in combat and exploring a perilous open world. With dozens of hours of battles, moving scenes and conversations, the game is sure to win you over.

Saudi Gamer - عبد الله محمد - Arabic - 4.5 / 5

The Blood of Dawnwalker executes its ideas brilliantly, to the point where you barely notice its limited budget, while delivering an RPG experience that can stand alongside The Witcher 3 in terms of its storytelling, atmosphere, and side quests, making it one of the most unique RPG titles of this generation

Shacknews - Aidan O'Brien - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an ambitious project that occasionally wears both the best and worst aspects of its inspirations on its sleeve. Where it shines is in allowing players to make their own choices and learn from their own mistakes. It’s incredible fun to play in a world where the clock is ever-ticking, and the results of our actions and words have real consequences not just for us but for those around us.

SomGeek - Slovak - 95%

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a triumphant and uncompromising action RPG that brilliantly combines mature storytelling with ferocious vampire gameplay. The contrast between the human day and the monstrous night works flawlessly, while the breathtaking city of Svartrau will captivate you from the very first moment. If the developers manage to iron out the inconsistent optimization with a Day One patch, we have an undeniable Game of the Year contender on our hands.

The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 6 / 10

From key parts of the team that brought us The Witcher 3, The Blood of Dawnwalker turned out to be a disappointing letdown. Repetitive combat, forgettable quests and frequent crashes leave its promising vampire adventure feeling like a major missed opportunity.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent dark fantasy RPG that shines thanks to its strong sandbox elements. As a debut title, Rebel Wolves has done a terrific job of finally doing justice to vampires in video games.

The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4.5 / 5

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent dark fantasy RPG that combines meaningful choices, a clever time-management system and satisfying combat with a world that constantly encourages another playthrough. Rebel Wolves wears its Witcher 3 influence proudly, but this is a game with a strong identity of its own.

TheGamer - Kaitlyn Peterson - 4 / 5

For a game I wasn’t entirely sure about at first, I’m happy to be walking away with a new addition to my lineup of favorite RPGs, and one that I’d love to see influence the genre.

TheSixthAxis - Gareth Chadwick - 8 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is excellent, if not quite successful in everything it tries. It's fun to teleport around in a cloud of smoke and bats or walk on ceilings, but the story is also fantastic. It's probably even darker and grimmer than you're expecting, and it gripped me throughout and was complimented by equally fascinating side quest stories that I had to choose between. If you like RPGs, vampires, or great stories, you won't want to miss The Blood of Dawnwalker.

Thumb Wars - Liam Magee - 4.5 / 5

While I played through The Blood of Dawnwalker, I had a fantastic time exploring the game’s open world as I fought the numerous monsters and humans in gruelling combat with fantastic abilities that look as cool as they feel. I was also able to enjoy the large story with its numerous consequences and choices that lasted the entire game. Although the gameplay is fun it can get repetitive doing the same side content, but it is very far and few between allowing a break between them.

Twisted Voxel - Salal Awan - 8 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker makes an impressive debut with compelling writing, meaningful day night mechanics, and versatile combat. Repetitive enemies, awkward traversal, and technical roughness undermine its ambitious open world, but Rebel Wolves establishes a promising foundation for the new IP.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8.5 / 10

In a month packed with big-name releases, The Blood of Dawnwalker might be one of the best games of the bunch. It's a well-crafted adventure with an engaging story, an enjoyable world, interesting powers and a genuinely compelling approach to player choice. The time limit gives every decision weight. The open-ended storytelling makes exploration meaningful. The day/night system gives Coen two distinct ways to interact with the world. Most importantly, the game trusts you to make choices without constantly telling you whether you've made the "right" one.

XGN.nl - Luuc ten Velde - Dutch - 8.5 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a fantastic open world RPG with a sharply written story, great characters and meaningfull choices throughout. It wears it's Witcher 3 inspirations on it's sleeve, but isn't afraid to add some twists to keep it fresh.

Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 80%

It's clear from the off that there's a strong RPG pedigree at work in The Blood of Dawnwalker. The work of Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by forme...

Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 8.5 / 10

The Blood of Dawnwalker is the kind of ambitious RPG that invites you to lose yourself in its world, where your choices play a major role in shaping the story and allow you to experience it on your own terms. This freedom is the game’s biggest strength, while its deep RPG mechanics and engaging combat complement the experience nicely. Despite some shortcomings, Dawnwalker ultimately delivers a satisfying and memorable experience. With plenty of replay value and different paths to explore, it’s a game you can return to and experience in a whole new way. If you’re a fan of open-world RPGs with deep stories and meaningful choices, The Blood of Dawnwalker is a journey worth taking.

Game Information

Game Title: Pragmata

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 17, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (Apr 17, 2026)
• PC (Apr 17, 2026)
• Nintendo Switch 2 (Apr 17, 2026)

Trailers:

• Pragmata - Official 90-Second Overview Trailer
• PRAGMATA - Main Trailer
• Pragmata - Pre-Order Trailer | PS5 Games

Publisher: Capcom

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 87 average - 94% recommended - 79 reviews

Critic Reviews

AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 95 / 100

Pragmata is a triumph of incredible video game design that nails almost every aspect of what makes games such a fun and engaging experience.

AnaitGames - Víctor Manuel Martínez García - Spanish - 9 / 10

A moving and surprising story about humanity and AI envelops this excellent action game, always interesting and expansive.

Analog Stick Gaming - Jeff M Young - 9 / 10

Pragmata pleasantly surprised me, and if Capcom does intend to return to this in a few years, I’d love to see the hacking systems become even deeper and more personalized. Hugh and Diana are a wonderful pair, and each nearly steals the show from one another. Their journey to stop IDUS may play it a bit too safe, but the journey nonetheless had me over the moon.

BaziCenter - Bahram Bigharaz - Persian - 8.5 / 10

Capcom’s newest franchise, Pragmata, is a bold gamble that largely pays off, thanks in no small part to the power of the RE Engine and the studio’s proven talent. Set in a cold, dark sci-fi world, the game clearly draws inspiration from Dead Space while still striving to carve out its own identity through a memorable story, epic boss encounters, and strong character relationships. If you’re looking for a high-quality sci-fi action-adventure with an engaging narrative and top-tier visuals, Pragmata is well worth your time and money.

But Why Tho? - Abdul Saad - 8.5 / 10

Pragmata is a great sci-fi action adventure game that doesn’t demand much from its players and provides an entertaining experience throughout.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 90 / 100

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Cerealkillerz - Stefan Meidl - German - 9 / 10

For me, this game is definitely a recommendation to buy. The gameplay is quick to learn, and the story leaves you wanting more. The player is constantly wondering what will happen next with Hugh and Diana. There’s also something to enjoy for collectors and outfit enthusiasts, as there are items to gather for Diana and various outfits to unlock.

Generally, I’m not a fan of enemies respawning in areas. However, in this game it doesn’t bother me, as the number of enemies is quite manageable.

I do have one small criticism regarding the standard weapon: after reloading, you have to wait a short moment for the weapon to “cool down” in order to use the full magazine effectively. Otherwise, you often fire only a single shot before being forced to reload again. This can be quite frustrating, especially in situations where the enemy only needs two or three more hits.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10

As far as I'm concerned, Capcom's developers hit a stride so few achieve. Pragmata clicks from beginning, delivering an incredible campaign with stellar mechanics, held together by Hugh and Diana's relationship.

Console-Tribe - Marco Licandro - Italian - 89 / 100

Pragmata is a joy to play. Capcom hits the mark, delivering a video game in the purest sense of the term—one that offers both challenge and fun, driven by constant variety and a fluid narrative that carries the player throughout the entire adventure. Don’t miss it.

Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - 4 / 5

Hugh and Diana’s journey may admittedly rely heavily on sci-fi tropes and the broader story suffers and ends up feeling quite small stakes as a result, yet the pair’s relationship never failed to make me care about the wider universe it hints at. A good thing, too, as it’s one I hope we get to see more of in the not too distant future.

DayOne - Jesse Norris - 9 / 10

PRAGMATA is a fantastic video game. Solid gunplay, excellent variety in its hacking, incredible visuals, and an enjoyable story work together to create what I hope is a new IP that we’ll see a lot more of in the future.

Digital Spy - Joe Draper - 4 / 5

This charming action-adventure deserves to be a massive hit and you should take a chance on one of this year's best games.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 5 / 5

Pragmata is Capcom at its best. As good as this company can be with its established franchises, it’s when it tries to do something different that we get the real gold. As far as “big budget” games go, Pragmata is the most different and thought-provoking game I’ve played since Death Stranding, and I love it almost as much as Kojima’s masterpiece. If only Capcom did this more often. Like they used to.

Digitec Magazine - Rainer Etzweiler - German - 4 / 5

After hacking my first robot, I briefly wondered whether the concept could carry me all the way through. The game quickly puts that concern to rest. Pragmata strikes a confident balance between accessibility and challenge without ever losing its footing. The hacking system evolves alongside you, the combat stays fresh until the very end, and the hideout ensures progression never feels like a chore. As Hugh and Diana grow closer on screen, the thin story hardly matters. Capcom’s moon landing is a success.

ElderPlayers - Mohammed Ahmed Alsharif - Arabic - 9 / 10

Pragmata is a stunning masterpiece, and its true soul is Daiana. A character designed with captivating beauty and details overflowing with life and innocence, making her the beating heart of the game and its unforgettable icon. This aesthetic beauty extends to the world's excellent world design, which, despite its clear linearity and the occasional disturbance in combat due to the crowded nature of the combat areas, it still offers an experience rare to see these days.

Enternity.gr - Konstantinos Kalkanis - Greek - 8 / 10

"Pragmata" isn't the kind of title that makes waves, but it is a remarkable production that breathes new life into a genre that has been stagnant for years.

Everyeye.it - Italian - 8.5 / 10

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Final Weapon - Noah Hunter - 4.5 / 5

Pragmata dreams big with inventive hacking-shooting gameplay, and Capcom has hit a home run. Hugh and Diana's journey across the moon is one to remember, with an excellent gameplay system that never fails to be exciting. While I wish Pragmata spent more time developing its central relationship, that shortcoming never comes close to dulling what is otherwise one of Capcom’s most inventive and exciting new releases in years.

Forbes - Ollie Barder - 9 / 10

Overall, Pragmata is a very fresh take on a modern third-person shooter, with a unique combat setup that is equal parts tactics and brute force skill. It also looks wonderful throughout, and the interactions between Hugh, Diana, and Cabin are a lot of fun and genuinely sweet. It may be a bit too early to call, but thus far, this is easily my game of the year.

Forever Classic Games - Danreb Victorio - 9.8 / 10

Enjoyable chaos is exactly what PRAGMATA is. Everything about this version of the world is terrifying, but I just loved being there, especially when it came to taking a breather at the shelter with Diana. I couldn’t stop thinking about how fun most aspects of this game were, so much so that I immediately jumped back in after rolling credits.

GRYOnline.pl - Michał Grygorcewicz - Polish - 8.5 / 10

I enjoyed Pragmata very much. Its unique and satisfying combat system, solid execution of the other gameplay elements, and likeable main characters all combine to make this another hit from Capcom. It’s just a shame that the boss battles are rather disappointing.

GameOnly - Michał Marasek - Polish - 7 / 10

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GamePro - Eleen Reinke - German - 77 / 100

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GameRant - Dalton Cooper - 7 / 10

Capcom's new sci-fi game features thrilling action and exploration, but drops the ball with its story and characters.

GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 10 / 10

Capcom has taken a gamble with Pragmata, blending together multiple genres to create something that feels fresh and unique. At the heart of it is hacking-infused third-person shooter combat, which remains engaging and exciting throughout. And when paired with a story that tugs on the heartstrings, the result is something rather special. Ultimately, Pragmata is not only game of the year material, but also one of the most exciting new IPs in recent years.

GameSpot - Steve Watts - 9 / 10

This all led to a thrilling conclusion that tested my skills, stirred my heart, and left me wanting more. Pragmata offers a robust post-game with plenty to do, but I hope that's not the last I see of Hugh and Diana. This combination of sharp combat mechanics, rich strategic depth, and lovely storytelling doesn't come along often. Pragmata shouldn't be missed.

GameWatcher - Michael Murphy - 9.5 / 10

It goes without saying that Pragmata is a terrific game and one of 2026's must-play titles. It fires on all cylinders and doesn't let you go, even after the credits roll. The frenetic action, charming characters, and striking visuals help bolster a creativity rarely seen in AAA titles. While it can play it safe in the story and settings, it is one of Capcom's best games this decade and a sure-fire Game of the Year contender in my book.

Gameblog - French - 8 / 10

After years of anticipation and numerous previews, we can finally confirm it: Pragmata is indeed the surprise we've been waiting for. With refreshing gameplay and a pair of highly endearing protagonists, Capcom's new franchise plunges us into the heart of a fabulous world that we enjoy roaming from start to finish, despite a few minor flaws here and there. And while these flaws may prevent the game from having as significant impact as we originally hoped for, it remains a resounding success for the studio, which continues to deliver new, original games that are a breath of fresh air.

Gameliner - Simon Verbeke - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

I've got a lot of respect for Capcom and Pragmata: releasing a brand-new game that isn't tied to any existing universe is quite a gamble. Fortunately, that risk paid off for Pragmata.

Gamer Guides - Echo Apsey - 79 / 100

Pragmata doesn’t feel like anything else in the AAA action game market. While it isn’t a home run, the majority of its parts are strong and memorable, marking another excellent release from Capcom in 2026.

Gamers Heroes - Johnny Hurricane - 85 / 100

A moonshot six years in the making, Capcom's bold new IP PRAGMATA sends Hugh and Diana to new heights with a successful landing.

Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8.6 / 10

As an experimental title, Pragmata won't be for everyone, but once it clicks with you, it delivers a superb and truly irreplaceable experience. Despite a lengthy development cycle, this game-spearheaded by Capcom's new generation of developers-successfully establishes a brand-new IP. It showcases the team's design prowess and unique vision for gameplay, distinctly setting it apart from Capcom's traditional offerings. It leaves me eagerly anticipating what this team will bring us next.

GamingBolt - Shubhankar Parijat - 9 / 10

Pragmata combines a host of immaculately executed well-worn ideas with a handful of unique and fascinating ones of its own to deliver a thrilling, high-octane sci-fi shooter experience.

Giant Bomb - Mike Minotti - 4.5 / 5

It’s rare we get a new IP from a big publisher like Capcom these days, especially one with production values like this. It’s a risk when you could just keep pumping out Resident Evil remakes and sequels while making guaranteed money. Well, this risk pays off.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

Pragmata is an enjoyable and exhilarating blockbuster action that delivers frantic combat encounters and an engaging story. It is exactly the “new” we have been asking for from Capcom.

HCL.hr - Dominik Vadas - Unknown - 86 / 100

A charming and surprisingly emotional sci-fi adventure, Pragmata stands out with its unique hacking combat and strong character dynamics, even if its story plays it a bit safe. Its tense, multitasking combat loop keeps you constantly engaged, while the bond between its protagonists adds genuine heart. Though not without flaws, it’s a memorable experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

IGN - Michael Higham - 8 / 10

Punchy shooting action and a creative hacking-puzzle gameplay mechanic make combat the true highlight of Pragmata. The story may seem like an afterthought, but its sci-fi drama gives enough to see it all the way through and experience this satisfying third-person shooter.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 9 / 10

Pragmata goes all-in with a unique gameplay approach-and it pays off. At first, it's challenging to balance the two major systems it introduces, but over time, this hybrid combat system has really won me over. That, combined with the character portrayals and the story of its two protagonists, makes Pragmata one of the must-play games of the year so far.

Just Play it - Ousadi Mohamed Seif Eddine - Arabic - 9 / 10

PRAGMATA delivered a moving artistic experience set on the surface of the moon, brought to life by artificial intelligence in a world filled with mystery and secrets that gradually unfold. This journey is shared by the duo “Diana” and “Hugh,” who experience it together in an adventure defined by an innovative gameplay style that blends hacking and shooting… in a way we’ve never seen before.

KonsoliFIN - Tero Lepistö - Finnish - 4 / 5

Pragmata spices up the traditional shooter genre with unique hacking mechanics and displays some extremely cool visuals as icing on the cake. The end result works better than expected.

LevelUp - Spanish - 9 / 10

PRAGMATA has the potential to be the new star franchise of Capcom; it has a frenetic style of combat, excellent level design, a lot of items to find, a deep variety of personalization and two protagonists that work perfectly together. It is a marvelous action and adventure game that always maintains itself interesting and exciting.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9.5 / 10

Despite a few very minor complaints, Pragmata is one of Capcom's most interesting and enjoyable adventures to date.

MeuPlayStation - Vinícus Paráboa - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Pragmata blends third-person shooting with a real-time hacking system that runs alongside combat, creating a solid and engaging gameplay loop. Enemy variety and boss fights stand out, while visuals are strong in Quality mode but less consistent in Performance. The story has an interesting premise but suffers from rushed pacing. In the end, the gameplay is the clear highlight.

MondoXbox - Matteo Merlano - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Well-conceived and beautifully crafted, Pragmata is a remarkable and enjoyable game. It might lack that extra gear needed to enter the pantheon of masterpieces, but if the goal is to offer a solid and thrilling experience, it completely hits the mark.

MonsterVine - James Carr - 5 / 5

I think Pragmata has the most engaging third-person shooting I've experienced in the last twenty years. The balancing act of hacking, dodging, and shooting, all while managing finite resources, creates a satisfying loop that builds in complexity throughout. Hugh and Diana have a tender and well-rendered relationship, one that isn't undercut by Hugh's insecurities or unnecessary conflict, but instead is elevated by its focus on what it means to show the world to someone experiencing the beauty of life for the first time.

Nintendo Life - Ken Talbot - 9 / 10

With a strong relationship at its core, a striking sci-fi aesthetic, and an addictive puzzle combat loop, Pragmata is the full package. The adventures of Hugh and Diana stands as another excellent Switch 2 port from Capcom, and hopefully marks the beginning of a new blockbuster franchise.

NintendoWorldReport - Willem Hilhorst - 9 / 10

While they have been going back to the well and redefining a lot of their long-running series, it makes sense that Pragmata stands on its own. It is a fresh idea honed to near perfection and I would love to see what else this team can do. Whether you're playing on Switch 2 or any other system, Pragmata is a great time.

One More Game - Chris Garcia - 9 / 10

Pragmata aims for the moon and definitely sticks the landing, blending emotional storytelling with intuitive and technical gameplay, proving that the industry is still very much open to original ideas that can excel when executed to perfection. The bond between Hugh and Diana is the heart of the experience, turning what could have been a cold sci‑fi shooter into a touching story about humanity. Amazing is an understatement with Pragmata, and it is a definite must-play.

While the “hack‑and‑shoot” loop and repetitive puzzle design may test some players’ patience, along with some minor nitpicks here and there, Pragmata succeeds in its main goal of delivering something different with AAA quality and polish, making it feel like it is laying the foundation for what the future of third-person shooters can expand into.

Oyungezer Online - Çağdaş Erdem Nemlioğlu - Turkish - 8.5 / 10

With its eye-catching graphics and heartwarming story, Pragmata offers a truly delightful experience. The tension that the hacking mechanic brings to the combat, in particular, has a very unique feel to it... I’m really happy with where Capcom is at right now.

PC Gamer - Justin Wagner - 87 / 100

Pragmata's confidence in its punchy shootouts and old-school cool pays off, and the two leads roved their way into my heart despite a predictable plot.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 8.5 / 10

Emotional, intense, and fast-paced—these three words best describe my experience with Pragmata. The credits roll a few hours early, but ultimately, I was pleasantly surprised by the character relationships and the excellent combat system. Capcom has another great IP on its hands, but will it want to develop it further? A lot probably depends on sales.

PSX Brasil - Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Pragmata is a great Capcom game with a good story and unusual, yet very functional gameplay. The length is ideal in some ways, and there are many extras to enjoy. In the end, the only criticism is that the game as a whole becomes repetitive in combat after you get the hang of it.

PlayStation Universe - Joe Richards - 9.5 / 10

Pragmata marks something truly special for Capcom; an experience that manages to marry action, conflict, and story into a cohesive whole that more than justifies the long wait for expectant fans. It juggles a variety of mechanics and miraculously blends them together. Every facet of this game is explored to its fullest, with still more room to grow. For all I can say in this review, Pragmata is very special.

Prima Games - Ali Hashmi - 9 / 10

Pragmata is a confidently designed action game that elegantly blends shooting and hacking into a fast, reactive puzzle-style combat system that turns every encounter into something far more engaging than a standard firefight. You constantly shift between aiming, hacking, dodging, and repositioning, creating a seamless loop that never feels cumbersome or disconnected. Backed by two genuinely likeable leads in Hugh and Diana, whose relationship gives the experience its emotional core without unnecessary melodrama.

Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 8 / 10

Pragmata knows its strengths and leans into those hard, and the result is a cracking action game that just feels brilliant to play. One could argue it could do with a little more variety throughout its campaign, but the game's unique hack-and-shoot combat is so fun and so satisfying to pull off that you won't mind doing it over and over again. A refreshingly straightforward structure and charming dual leads round things out, but it's the inventive and tactile action where it truly sings.

RPGamer - Jordan McClain - 4.5 / 5

Pragmata is boosted significantly by its sublime, crisp visuals, delightfully unusual combat system, tight level design, oppressively lonely and sterile atmosphere, and an enjoyable dynamic between its two main characters, making for an outstanding experience.

ReGame It - Mustafa Zayni - Arabic - 9 / 10

The duo of Hugh and Diana brought back many memories of games built around two characters, and it was presented excellently. it really impacted us and made it a very unique experience

Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 5 / 5

An innovative and bold genre cocktail that is packed with incredible set pieces and gameplay-first joy, Pragmata is Capcom at its finest.

República DG - Ruancarlo Silva - Portuguese - 9.4 / 10

Capcom has done it again! Pragmata is a masterclass in how to introduce a new IP and occasionally delivers highly innovative and addictive gameplay, accompanied by a great story filled with emotional moments.

SECTOR.sk - tomass - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

A memorable and visually striking adventure filled with emotional twists and standout moments. While its unique style and pacing won't appeal to everyone, fans of story-driven experiences will find plenty to enjoy. A focused, narrative-heavy journey that rewards those willing to embrace its distinct approach.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 8 / 10

Was the wait worth it? Mostly yes, as the aesthetics and mechanics are solid and refreshing enough. The game only falters towards the end, feeling rushed, while the story which was never strong, ends up even more cliched.

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 9 / 10

Pragmata is at its best when everything clicks together at once. The bond between Hugh and Diana gives the journey real emotional weight, while the hacking and shooting combat remains sharp, demanding, and constantly rewarding. With a strong variety in weapons, mods, and hacks, Capcom has delivered a sci-fi adventure that feels both heartfelt and thrilling from start to finish.

Smash Jump - Chris Melnyk - 10 / 10

While at its center, it’s a third-person action game, it’s more than that. It’s a journey of bonding for two characters from opposite walks of life. Mostly, it’s just a fun game, something that can be replayed over and over again, while only getting better.

SmashPad - 5 / 5

I think Pragmata is the crowning jewel of all their amassed talent and good decisions, ideas, and creativity so far in the 2020s. It's really that good.

Stevivor - Matt Gosper - 9 / 10

I was really impressed with what Capcom has achieved with an all-new title, building a unique and vibrant world, even on the barren surface of the moon.

TechRaptor - Luis Joshua Gutierrez - 9.5 / 10

Pragmata is an emotional journey that'll stay with you long after you've completed the game, all while making you appreciate the little things we may take for granted.

The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 8 / 10

Being a rather odd sci-fi shooter, Pragmata thrives on its inventive tag-team combat, where hacking and gunplay collide in fast, chaotic and genuinely satisfying ways. While clunky backtracking, low difficulty and a predictable story hold it back, its unique mechanics and stylish action still make it well worth experiencing.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9.5 / 10

Pragmata is a bold and beautiful experience that shows Capcom is just as great at making new entries to its franchises as it is at creating brand-new, exciting IPs.

The Outerhaven Productions - Andrew Agress - 4 / 5

Pragmata blends the strategy of puzzle-solving and the thrill of shooting into a winning combination. It’s a simple gameplay loop set against a simple sci-fi story, but it gets a lot of thruster mileage out of its unique systems and two endearing main characters.

TheSixthAxis - Steve C - 9 / 10

Pragmata is another stunning game from Capcom. The game world is beautifully conceived and the interplay between our lead character genuinely heartwarming, but it's the combat with its dynamic blend of shooting and hacking that is the main draw here and it makes other third person games feel pedestrian by comparison.

ThreeTwoPlay - Michael Seifert - German - 4.5 / 5

With its perfectly thought-out gameplay-focused approach and unconventional combinations of ideas, Pragmata delivers a completely unique action experience which I'm glad can exist in the current AAA gaming space. While the combination of gun combat, hacking and dodging can be a bit intimidating at first and certainly isn't for everyone, it was done flawless for me and I had an incredibly good time with the game. The optional challenges provide additional motivation, the interactions between Hugh and Diana are always enjoyable and the game kept me completely entertained right up to the brilliantly staged finale.

VGC - Jordan Middler - 4 / 5

Pragmata feels like a game from a simpler time. There's no live service fluff, no needless bloat, and no sense that Capcom is hopping on a trend. It's a rock solid action game that isn't great on length, but delivers little filler, fast combat, and some charming story moments.

Video Chums - Mary Billington - 8.8 / 10

PRAGMATA is a visceral and rewarding action game set within an intriguing world that will make you want to keep coming back for more. 👧

Worth Playing - Adam Pavlacka - 9 / 10

When Capcom first announced Pragmata six years ago, they couldn't have known the game would be launching a week after the Artemis II mission set a new record for human space travel. Just as NASA's moonshot was a success, so is Capcom's latest game. If you want a polished experience that brings something new to the table, you can't go wrong with Pragmata.

Xbox Achievements - Josh Wise - 70%

The new game from Capcom, Pragmata, begins in freaky fashion. Four astronauts board a base on the moon, looking for trouble. Not looking to make trou...

ZTGD - Ken McKown - 8 / 10

Quote not yet available

Game Title: Hade 2

Platforms:

• Nintendo Switch (Sep 25, 2025)
• PC (Sep 25, 2025)
• Nintendo Switch 2 (Sep 25, 2025)

Trailer

Developer: Supergiant Games

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 93 Average - 97% Reccomend - 39 Reviews

Critic Reviews:

IGN - Leana Hafer - 10/10

How do you even sum up something as beautiful, special, memorable, and admirable as Hades 2? There is no one out there doing what Supergiant does as well as it does, and this exceptional action roguelite is some of this team’s best work on nearly every level (which is an astonishingly high bar to clear). It's the type of video game that reminds me why I love video games so damn much. The art is breathtaking, the characters are captivating, the combat is fast, fun, endlessly varied, and tactical, and the music is spectacular. May moonlight guide us. All of us.

TheGamer - Jade King - 5/5

While you are experiencing a grand journey across an uncompromising depiction of Greek mythology, it is the small moments in Hades 2 that shine brightest. Intimate conversations between old friends or bittersweet reunions with long-lost family members as the moon of Selene hangs daintily overhead. Putting aside slaughtering demons and becoming a witch so powerful that not even titans can stop you, these are what make Hades 2 so special. If Supergiant is now destined to leave this universe behind, it goes out on the highest note possible.

Dexerto - Joe Pring - 5/5

Hades 2 is an unbelievable triumph for more reasons than a pair of human hands can count. Supergiant Games' sequel is a bold evolution of the original that flawlessly executes new ideas to deliver the best roguelike of this generation.

GameSpot - Alessandro Barbosa - 10/10

Whether you were witness to all the work done on Hades 2 during early access or not, there's no denying how much effort developer Supergiant Games has put into this masterful sequel. Hades 2 is one of the best roguelite experiences ever, with clever improvements to its established formula that accentuate its strongest attributes. More importantly, it achieves this without requiring you to be the most well-versed player on what came before, but not at the expense of offering a new challenge to those that have spent hours digging away at the first game's most brutal endeavors. It's deeper and more complex than the original in every way, from its greatly expanded combat system to its larger, more complex web of character interactions that powers its more ambitious narrative.

Eurogamer - Dom Peppiatt - 5/5

I've pushed past the credits and am onto the hunt for the 'true' ending, now, and I am still being surprised by what can still be found tucked into the creases and folds of Hades 2. Supergiant's visionary approach to storytelling and roguelike design has not suffered at all from the success of Hades: it merely emboldened it. That the studio can still dole out the surprises after how rich and textural Hades was, and that I still find myself floored by the ambition, the detail, the art, the technical prowess, and the willingness to cede control to players some 60-plus hours in is miraculous. Maybe it's witchcraft. Maybe it's magic. Either way, it's epic.

GameRadar - Ali Jones - 4.5/5

Fittingly for its mythological setting, there's something sisyphean about the way Hades 2 plays with difficulty. A single boss might stand in your way night after night, a frustrating roadblock that no combination of weapons and boons will let you pass. And then it dies once, and then again, and suddenly it's just a trivial part of your journey, a minor strength check rather than a genuine obstacle. It's an approach that flies in the face of the traditional difficulty curve, and one that at times made some of Hades 2 feel unfair – until everything clicked into place and reminded me how technically excellent this game is.

PC Gamer - Tyler Colp - 88/100

Despite my issues with its pacing early on, Hades 2 won me over. It expands on the original game's imaginative take on Greek mythology, blending cerebral action RPG combat and slick narrative design into a complete package that feels distinct from the original. I'm glad I pushed through those early doubts, because it's as good a game as I've come to expect from Supergiant, which hasn't missed yet.

Slant Magazine - Nic M. Sultan - 4.5/5

Melinoë, however, can make it to the top of Olympus. But when she does, unease gnaws at her triumph. The gods commend her bravery and skill. They deny having ever doubted her. Then, with their young relative’s purpose fulfilled, if only temporarily, they nudge her back to her home between planes, where she diligently returns to her labors. Would that Melinoë, at some point in her long quest to fell Chronos, stopped to wonder: What comes after time and death?

Game Information

Game Title: Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Jul 9, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (Jul 9, 2026)
• PC (Jul 9, 2026)

Trailers:

• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: PS5 Pro Immersion Trailer
• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Official Summer Game Fest Trailer
• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Health to the Company - Cinematic

Developer: Ubisoft Singapore

Publisher: Ubisoft

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 88 average - 95% recommended - 58 reviews

Critic Reviews

A Gaming Network - Marcel Dee - 8.5 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a strong return for one of the franchise’s most beloved games. It keeps the heart of the original intact while updating the areas that need the most attention. Combat is smoother, stealth is less frustrating, naval battles are still incredible, and the pirate fantasy remains one of the best Ubisoft has ever created. This also feels like the right kind of remake for Assassin’s Creed. It proves Ubisoft can revisit classic entries without turning them into massive RPGs or stripping away what made them work in the first place. If this is the model going forward, it would be exciting to see other fan-favourite entries receive the same treatment, especially with new games released in between. As someone who never fully connected with Black Flag the first time around, Resynced finally gave me the chance to understand why this entry means so much to Assassin’s Creed fans. For players who have never experienced Black Flag, Resynced is absolutely the way to go. For longtime fans, it is a familiar voyage with enough modern polish and lore changes to make the return worthwhile.

Analog Stick Gaming - Jeff M Young - 9.5 / 10

If you haven't already dipped into Black Flag’s waters, then you're in for a treat. It's not only an impressive Assassin's Creed title, but easily one of, if not, the best pirate game to sail the seven seas. The improvements here are solid additions across the board, with upgrades and quality of life improvements that took a game that was already impressive and have made it just so much better.

Arakat Mag - Mehmet Tezcan - Turkish - 8.5 / 10

I am a gamer who found hope with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Huge thanks to everyone who contributed to its creation, and to all the players who will experience it: enjoy!

Cerealkillerz - Christoph Heick - German - 9 / 10

Resynced shows that a rework can be much more than just a visual overhaul. This is most evident in the combat system, which is, for me, the most successful change in the entire package. It strikes a balance between the deadly but monotonous counter-based gameplay of the original and the often sluggish, health-bar-focused combat of the newer Assassin's Creed games, without inheriting the weaknesses of either system. The fact that the hidden blades can no longer be used freely is less of an issue for me personally, even though it further limits the overall weapon variety.

Console-Tribe - Luca Saati - Italian - 85 / 100

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a perfect example of how a remake should be done: respectful of the original work, yet unafraid to make the changes needed to modernize it. Ubisoft has not simply relied on nostalgia, but has crafted an experience that can appeal both to long-time fans of the series and to newcomers discovering Edward Kenway’s journey for the first time. The game’s greatest strength remains unchanged: a captivating and unique pirate adventure, now enhanced by more refined gameplay, a strong technical presentation, and additional content that enriches the experience without distorting it. It’s not without flaws: the combat system still shows some structural limitations, but these are minor issues within an experience that remains consistently solid and engaging. At a delicate time for Ubisoft, Black Flag Resynced represents not only a return to the past, but also a potential new beginning.

Dexerto - Jessica Filby - 5 / 5

It's been 13 years since we first stepped onto Edward Kenway's ship in Assassin's Creed Black Flag. Now, we get that chance all over again thanks to the new Black Flag Resynced, a remake so perfect that it somehow makes one of the best Assassin's Creed games even better.

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9 / 10

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EmuGlx.org - Ognjen Gavrić - Unknown - 8.5 / 10

Black Flag Resynced doesn’t try to outdo a legend. Instead, it repackages everything that made the original great into a more modern experience, with all the strengths and shortcomings that approach brings. Is that enough to set sail across the Caribbean once again? For pirate veterans like me, absolutely. For newcomers, this may well be the best way to experience what was once the Assassin’s Creed formula at its very best.

Evilgamerz - Daan Nijboer - Dutch - 9 / 10

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced perfectly demonstrates what a remake should look like. The game takes everything that made the original so strong and updates it in the right places, without losing sight of why people were so enthusiastic about it back then. The world looks beautiful, combat feels much better, sailing remains a highlight, and there is still an incredible amount to discover and do. It is precisely that combination of the sea, storms, music, and the constant feeling that there is something to be found that still makes this one of the most unique installments in the series. That doesn't mean everything is suddenly perfect. Parkour still doesn't always work smoothly, the camera sometimes gets in the way, and the AI ​​could still use quite a bit of work. But none of these issues really hold this remake back. This is without a doubt Assassin's Creed (and Ubisoft) at its best, and the best pirate game to date.

Final Weapon - Saras Rajpal - 4.5 / 5

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is an absolutely fantastic remake. Not only does it maintain what made the original so great in the first place, but every new addition only builds upon its foundation, each of which lends itself to a gameplay loop that never gets old and a visual style that frequently had me stunned with awe. Despite some problems here and there, this is still an absolute must-play, regardless of whether you are a new fan of Assassin's Creed or you've been following it since the beginning.

GRYOnline.pl - Maciej Pawlikowski - Polish - 9 / 10

This is perhaps the best Assassin’s Creed game I’ve ever played. Black Flag, whilst a game with a vast, open world, still holds onto what the series once stood for. It holds onto its character. Because of this, I didn’t even mind the flaws all that much – the ones I’d subconsciously linked to that old, well-worn and much-loved Assassin’s Creed series. With Black Flag Resynced, Ubisoft has brought out the very best in the game, reminding us once again why this series became so popular.

Game Sandwich - Adam Gumbert - 9 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced brings back a classic from the series past, with all the necessary improvements needed for the modern day. With updated gameplay, more story and characters, as well as a stunning new take on the Caribbean, this remake is the absolute best way to experience this tale of assassins and pirates. A retread of a decade-plus-old game may not entice some, but it’s a masterful retelling sure to touch on many fans’ nostalgia and is the best suggestion for players to experience this story once more.

Gameliner - Patrick Meurs - Dutch - 4 / 5

Has Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced made me more enthusiastic? Believe it or not, the answer is a resounding “yes.” While I fully acknowledge that the game is by no means flawless or problem-free, I do believe it has matured like a deliciously sweet sipping rum that you need to sit back and enjoy at your leisure, letting it slowly sink in.

Gamer Social Club - Andrew Cooper - 9.5 / 10

The Golden Age of Piracy may be over, but Black Flag Resynced seems intent on reminding us why it's one of the most romanticized time periods of the modern age. The sheer beauty of an age long since past has been recreated in a way that makes you feel like you're sailing through the Caribbean all those centuries ago, and every voyage feels like its own homage to the beauty of nature. From its brutal melee executions to the echoing boom of cannon fire during its naval battles, Edward Kenway's tale of greed and betrayal still stands out as one of the strongest entries in the Assassin's Creed lineage.

GamesHedge - Umair Khalid - 9.5 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a remake done right, and I will praise Ubisoft for handling it this way. It is not just a visual treat; it adds new mechanics in nearly every aspect of the game to expand it and immerse the player even more in the world of piracy. I can easily say that there is no other game ever made that captures the true essence of being a pirate. Even Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones does not come close to it, and that was a proper game made for pirates. Whether you are a long-term Assassin’s Creed fan, an old Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag player, or a new player just experiencing this brilliant franchise, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a gorgeous remake that will keep you occupied for hours. This is Ubisoft gold.

GamingBolt - Shubhankar Parijat - 9 / 10

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is yet another bountiful voyage for Edward Kenway and company.

Gert Lush Gaming - Jim Smale - 8.8 / 10

If you have the time to sink into it, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a fantastic way to return to the Caribbean. It’s got a great, solid flow, the naval combat remains incredibly accessible, and the sheer amount of content available is staggering. While it’s held back by a few repetitive mission designs and some annoying, unskippable cutscenes, the core experience is as fun as it has ever been. It’s a pirate adventure that manages to stay engaging from start to finish, and if you’re looking for a game to lose yourself in, you really can’t go wrong here.

Gfinity - Andrés Aquino - 9 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is an absolute must-play. It’s a remake that may not take a lot of risks, but when you have such a legendary foundation to work with, the new quality-of-life upgrades make this an easy Game of the Year contender. I wish the combat were a bit more fleshed out and that side activities like Assassin’s Contracts weren't so bare-bones (they're barely worth mentioning), but overall, Resynced is a treasure well worth hunting down.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

Some aspects of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced can often feel dated and dumbed down in comparison to the most recent modern entries but this is a fantastic remake of the already-phenomenal game. The new additions here make this an exciting adventure to experience all over again while the simpler mechanics provide enough room to take in the gorgeous world around you.

INVEN - Jaihoon Jeong - Korean - 8.4 / 10

A masterpiece remains a masterpiece, no matter how much time has passed. Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is proof of that. While it doesn't strip away anything from the original and only adds a modest amount of new content, its visual overhaul alone makes it well worth playing. The story—the heart of the game—was already exceptional, and Resynced preserves it in its entirety.

JsemGamer - Ondřej Halíř - Czech - 90%

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a beautiful and worthy remake that turns the Caribbean into a breathtaking, living pirate playground, while improved naval combat, new story additions, and smart quality-of-life changes make it the best version of Black Flag yet. Its uneven story still deserved more care, and the revamped combat can get chaotic in larger fights, but this remains the ultimate pirate adventure for both returning fans and newcomers.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 10 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a superb remake of an already excellent adventure game, and is utterly essential for fans.

Lords Of Gaming - Daniel Amoroso - 9 / 10

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced stands as a shining example of a remake done right. The beloved original has been respected in all the ways that matter, and overhauls to the visuals, combat and traversal have ensured that even the most nostalgic gamers will be hard pressed not to admit this is the definitive way to play their favourite pirate game. While the likes of Skull and Bones and Sea of Thieves have done their best to make sure that fans of pirate games have been catered for, there can be no doubt that Assassin's Creed Black Flag remains the gold standard in pirate-themed video games, and Resynced as appeared firmly on the horizon to reclaim its crown. Developer Ubisoft has scored a huge hit here at a time when it perhaps needed one the most.

MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced successfully revitalizes a classic without losing its original spirit. Gorgeous visual upgrades and meaningful gameplay refinements make Edward Kenway’s Caribbean adventure feel fresh again, even if dated character animations remain. Whether revisiting the game or experiencing it for the first time, this is the definitive way to enjoy one of the series’ finest adventures.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4.5 / 5

I’ve come away from Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced remarkably impressed, as it’s a top-notch remake of an already excellent game. Though there are a few little bumps throughout on the technical side, the revamped mechanics and expanded story, supported by the updated visuals, do more than enough to validate this remake’s existence. Whether or not you’ve played the original Black Flag, Resynced is certainly worthy of your time.

Nerdelandslaget - Andreas Solberg Hedemann - Unknown - 84 / 100

Despite an unbearably slow opening, Black Flag Resynced is an escape from reality into a simpler life, filled with the strongest sense of freedom gaming has to offer. It overflows with rum, gambling, enormous amounts of bloodshed and crystal-clear blue oceans where treasures and undiscovered islands fill the horizon, and is strongly recommended to play before autumn arrives.

Nexus Hub - Sheree Buchholz - 9 / 10

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is now the quintessential experience for one of the best games in the series - a lovingly crafted remake that goes above and beyond to improve and refine the original in substantial ways.

Novastream - Chris Sutton - 5 / 5

Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is now my favourite Assassin’s Creed game of all time. I had played the original here and there in the past, but this remake from the ground up simply elevates the experience in all areas. While the many bloated aspects of a newer AC title remain, they never feel like a chore as the core gameplay is so solid and rewarding. Despite beating the game, I’ve returned to simply sail on the seas and listen to the shanties as a way to relax. Kudos to Ubisoft for Resyncing the right way.

One More Game - Ricki Buzon - 9 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sets sail once again as the definitive pirate adventure, rebuilt from the ground up with the latest Anvil engine and packed with technical refinements that sharpen combat, stealth, and naval mechanics. It is the sharpest and most visually impressive Assassin's Creed title to date, offering extreme levels of detail that elevate the experience. While the core narrative remains intact, the remake improves every moment, from toggling your hood and crouching through shadows to unleashing blood‑soaked duels and commanding exhilarating ship battles across the Caribbean.

Oyun Günlüğü - Ömer Faruk Aktaş - Turkish - 9 / 10

It's truly amazing to reunite with Edward Kenway after 13 years! I understand much better now why Skull and Bones was met with such criticism.

PCMag Middle East - Vincent Peter - 4.5 / 5

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is a confident modernization of one of Ubisoft's most beloved adventures. Even without the nostalgia factor, it stands on its own as a gorgeous, endlessly enjoyable pirate epic whose thrilling ship battles, expressive combat, and infectious sense of adventure make it one of the year's most entertaining games.

Pixel Arts - Sina Farahani - Persian - 8.5 / 10

Ultimately, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is a lovingly crafted tribute that successfully brings one of the franchise's finest hours to a new generation. It offers veterans a nostalgic reunion and gives newcomers a chance to experience the thrill of Caribbean privateering up to modern standards. If you were among those 13 years ago who felt Edward’s piracy strayed too far from the series' roots, give it another chance. This remaster serves as a beautiful reminder that Assassin's Creed has never truly been about the hidden blade or the white robe—it has always been about history and freedom. And who is freer than a pirate?

Pizza Fria - Lucas Soares - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Ubisoft understood that it didn't need to reinvent one of the franchise's most beloved chapters. Instead, it used over a decade of learning to refine virtually every aspect of the experience. The result is a game that preserves the pirate fantasy that captivated millions of players in 2013, but incorporates modern systems that make it feel surprisingly current.

PlayStation Universe - Michael Harradence - 9.5 / 10

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a fantastic remake that adds meaningful changes and quality-of-life improvements that make an already stellar swashbuckling adventure an absolute must-have for PS5 owners.

PowerUp! - Adam Mathew - 9.5 / 10

It doesn’t feel like Ubisoft trying to improve Black Flag. It feels like Ubisoft finally allowing Black Flag to become the series GOAT it always wanted to be.

Prima Games - Ali Hashmi - 9 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced reminded me why the original has remained my favorite game in the series for over a decade. It doesn’t reinvent Black Flag or attempt to modernize it beyond recognition with needless changes in focus, but respects the original at every turn while introducing enough meaningful improvements to justify its existence. Sailing across the Caribbean, listening to sea shanties, and boarding enemy ships is just as magical today as it was back in 2013. That’s exactly what I wanted from a remake, and Ubisoft delivered.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 8 / 10

Like a captain going down with their ship, Ubisoft has remained loyal to the classic Assassin's Creed: Black Flag experience in this new Resynced version. It's as you remember it, except better, bigger, and markedly flashier in all the right ways. Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced demonstrates there's still a charm to staying faithful.

Quest Daily - Julian Price - 8 / 10

While Resynced improves the presentation and performance, it doesn’t completely reinvent the experience. At its core, this is still a focused pirate adventure built around exploration, storytelling and the thrill of life on the open seas. There’s no endless gear grind or constant stream of RPG systems — just a great story, a memorable world and one of the best pirate fantasies in gaming. Whether you’re experiencing Edward Kenway’s journey for the first time or returning all these years later, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a great excuse to set sail again.

ReGame It - Mustafa Zayni - Arabic - 8.5 / 10

This remake is more than just a visual upgrade; it is a complete reimagining of the game, making it a more polished and cohesive experience that keeps up with modern titles. With its advanced technology and many improvements, it preserves the identity of the original while introducing numerous enhancements.

República DG - Ruancarlo Silva - Portuguese - 8.2 / 10

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is like well-made spaghetti with ground beef. Simple, tasty, popular. It will please practically any palate.

Saudi Gamer - عبد الله محمد - Arabic - 3 / 5

I had a blast with Black Flag Resynced, but it feels like someone pulled it out of the oven a little sooner than they should have

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 8.5 / 10

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is the strongest way to experience Edward Kenway’s adventure, refreshing the Caribbean with richer visuals, expanded content, and stronger naval play. Some old mission design, uneven combat, and traversal frustrations remain, but this remake is still a worthwhile dive into the past.

Saving Content - Scott Ellison II - 5 / 5

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is an exceptional celebration of what made the original game a masterpiece. By removing the pacing speed-bumps of the modern-day segments, stripping away UI clutter, using the Anvil engine to the fullest, and adding new content, Ubisoft has delivered the definitive version of Edward Kenway’s journey. The sheer joy of sailing the Caribbean freely and engaging in its chaotic naval combat remains unmatched. It looks like how you remember it, plays better than before, and is an absolute must-play for those looking to return to the high seas. We’ve spent over a decade calling Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag the undisputed high-water mark of the entire series, and with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, it unleashes an absolute juggernaut that completely blows the original out of the water.

SmashPad - Michael Murphy - 4 / 5

Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced is a great remake of the classic pirate adventure, with some small additions and adjustments. It’s the perfect entry for newcomers looking to finally sail the seas with Edward and crew. For returning fans, it’s the same swashbuckling good time, just refreshed. It doesn’t go above and beyond, but it does enough to justify its existence.

Stevivor - Matt Gosper - 8 / 10

Black Flag Resynced is an extremely fun return to an old favourite, with some of the crunchier edges sanded off for a modern-day sensibility.

The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 9 / 10

Modernising one of Ubisoft’s best adventures, Black Flag Resynced features gorgeous visuals, refined combat and smart quality-of-life improvements, even if the familiar AC jank remains.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9 / 10

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a superb remake of one of the best installments in the series, which feels fresh for veteran fans and is an excellent starting point for those getting behind the Jackdaw's helm.

The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4.5 / 5

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ThreeTwoPlay - Michael Seifert - German - 4 / 5

With Resynced Ubisoft Singapore is following in some big footsteps: the original is still celebrated by many fans and the call for a remake grew louder over the years. The title still holds a special place in my heart and as a fan I was hyped to once again take the helm of the Jackdaw. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced looks stunning and more than does justice to the original with new content and adjustments. Unfortunately though it does suffer from some bugs that detract from the overall experience. For the most part everything works as it should and I had a really good time with Resynced both on land and at sea, with a little more polish however an even better experience could have awaited fans.

Thumb Wars - Luke Addison - 4.5 / 5

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is one of the best remakes we've ever had. Maintaining what made the original special whilst making it more modern, and adding some flair of its own in new stories and content is no easy task, and yet, here it is. A good remake will make you remember what you loved about the original, and it does exactly that, and I was transported back 13 years when I first played it.

The removal of the modern day setting does leave a bad taste in my mouth, but the updated mission structure, graphical overhaul, new routes for parkour, fleshing out and a proper background for the likes of Steed and Blackbeard all make up for it, and then some. This is a return to form for Assassin's Creed, and hopefully Ubisoft take note and continue with it going forward.

Tourens - Hasipcan Kahraman - Turkish - 8.5 / 10

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a game that will satisfy you as long as you set your expectations correctly. If you're expecting a completely redesigned remake, you might not find what you're looking for. However, if your goal is to re-experience one of the most beloved games of AC series with modern graphics, enhanced presentation, and smoother gameplay, Ubisoft has largely succeeded in doing so.

Vamers - Edward Swardt - 5 / 5

By preserving the soul of one of Ubisoft's greatest achievements while thoughtfully refining nearly every aspect surrounding it, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced succeeds where many remakes struggle. It honours the past without becoming trapped by it, whether stepping aboard the Jackdaw for the very first time or returning after years away, there has rarely been a better opportunity to answer the call of the Caribbean.

Virtualni Kutak - Milan Radosavljević - Unknown - 9.5 / 10

Black Flag Resynced proves that even after more than a decade, Edward Kenway's adventure can still feel fresh, exciting, and unforgettable. Ubisoft didn't simply remaster Black Flag, they reimagined it with modern gameplay while preserving everything that made the original unforgettable. Few remakes manage to honor their source material while making it feel completely new. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced does exactly that, delivering the definitive way to experience one of the franchise's greatest adventures. The result is a pirate adventure that's every bit as magical today as it was over a decade ago.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8.5 / 10

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is a good but very safe remake. I still had a shocking amount of fun just sailing around and doing pirate things on the wide ocean, but the game lacks a certain confidence, and that keeps it from being a truly exceptional remake. It's a great way to revisit Edward's adventures with fewer rough patches, better graphics, and some extra content. Fans of the original will have a grand old time.

Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 85%

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag always seemed, to me, like a significant departure for Ubisoft's flagship series. More a pirate fantasy than an as...

ZdobywcyGier.eu - Bartosz Michalik - Polish - 9 / 10

So, how does Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced ultimately stack up? Is it worth giving this game a chance? The answer is obvious: absolutely. The original Black Flag was already considered, at the time of its release, not only one of the best pirate games but also one of the best titles of that era. It’s a game that stole the hearts of players around the world and remains highly acclaimed to this day. Resynced, on the other hand, is an incredibly faithful adaptation of this classic for modern times. It offers more beautiful audiovisuals, streamlined combat, improved stealth elements, still-outstanding naval battles, and hours of truly great, fresh content.

Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 8.5 / 10

Overall, Ubisoft has done an excellent job reamking one of the best entries in the Assassin's Creed series. Everything that made the original so memorable has been preserved, while a host of thoughtful improvements make it more enjoyable than ever. If you've been longing for the days when Assassin's Creed was at the peak of its popularity, or if you've always wanted to see why the franchise's older titles are still so beloved, Black Flag Resynced is an experience you absolutely shouldn't miss—even if it still carries over a few shortcomings, such as its dated AI.

Game Title: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Platforms:

• PC (Apr 24, 2025)
• PlayStation 5 (Apr 24, 2025)
• Xbox Series X/S (Apr 24, 2025)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 91 average - 97% recommended - 91 reviews

Critic Reviews

CGMagazine - 10 / 10

Checkpoint Gaming - 10 / 10

Digitale Anime - Arabic - 10 / 10

DualShockers - 10 / 10

Gamepressure - 10 / 10

Kakuchopurei - 100 / 100

KonsoliFIN - Finnish - 5 / 5

Manual dos Games - Portuguese - 10 / 10

One More Game - 10 / 10

Oyungezer Online - Turkish - 10 / 10

RPGamer - 5 / 5

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 10 / 10

Sirus Gaming - 10 / 10

The Nerd Stash - 10 / 10

Xbox Tavern - 10 / 10

MondoXbox - Italian - 9.7 / 10

Cerealkillerz - German - 9.5 / 10

GRYOnline.pl - Polish - 9.5 / 10

Loot Level Chill - 9.5 / 10

PlayStation Universe - 9.5 / 10

Quest Daily - 9.5 / 10

VDGMS - 9.5 / 10

WellPlayed - 9.5 / 10

XboxEra - 9.5 / 10

XGN.nl - Dutch - 9.4 / 10

Gamesource Italia - Italian - 9 / 10

Capsule Computers - 9 / 10

Console-Tribe - Italian - 90 / 100

GameSpot - 9 / 10

Gameliner - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

GamingBolt - 9 / 10

Just Play it - Arabic - 9 / 10

PSX Brasil - Portuguese - 90 / 100

Push Square - 9 / 10

TechRaptor - 9 / 10

Zoomg - Persian - 9 / 10

GamePro - German - 89 / 100

MonsterVine - 4 / 5

Restart.run - 4 / 5

Atarita - Turkish - 75 / 100

But Why Tho? - 7 / 10

SavePoint Gaming - 7 / 10

Daily Mirror - Unscored

Spaziogames - Italian - Unscored

Game Information

Game Title: Mina the Hollower

Platforms:

• PC (May 29, 2026)
• Nintendo Switch (May 29, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (May 29, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (May 29, 2026)
• Nintendo Switch 2 (May 29, 2026)

Trailer:

Publisher: Yacht Club Games

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 92 average - 98% recommended - 44 reviews

Critic Reviews

AnaitGames - Víctor Manuel Martínez García - Spanish - 10 / 10

After Shovel Knight, the new game from Yacht Club applies a similar approach of modernizing the past to create one of the best action RPGs of recent years.

But Why Tho? - Mick Abrahamson - 9.5 / 10

Mina the Hollower is simply a blast to play and is another success by Yacht Club Games that will make anyone who plays it ask for more of this darker world they’ve created.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 87 / 100

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Cat with Monocle - Seth Hay - 5 / 5

Mina the Hollower delivers a retro-inspired adventure packed with rewarding exploration, stylish pixel art, and a standout soundtrack. While its punishing difficulty may frustrate some players, the flexible Modifier system and massive amount of content make it a journey worth digging into more than once.

Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - 9 / 10

Mina the Hollower proves that time, effort, and attention to detail go a long way. Mina is a great new hero who controls incredibly well in a difficult but rewarding 2D adventure.

Cubed3 - Joshua Goldie - 10 / 10

While Mina the Hollower might not play like the games it's clearly inspired by, Yacht Club Games has instead taken bits and pieces from all of its inspiration and combined it with its years of experience on Shovel Knight to create a masterpiece. The demo may not have sold the game's full potential, but the final product surpasses expectations. Going for a full 100% run is a ton of fun, and it’s taking all sorts of strength to not go back and play another full game.

DayOne - Jesse Norris - 9 / 10

Mina the Hollower was well worth the wait. It gives you all the vibes of the best old-school games, while bringing its own modern sensibilities with smartly paced exploration and tight gameplay.

DualShockers - Tay Garcia - 10 / 10

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Entertainium - Eduardo Rebouças - 4 / 5

Yacht Club Games' highly anticipated follow-up to Shovel Knight can be a lot of fun and positively infuriating as well.

EvelonGames - David Gómez - Spanish - 10 / 10

Mina the Hollower takes the best of retro gaming and elevates it to the next level, delivering an incredibly fun, challenging, and entertaining experience that lasts dozens of hours. It breathes charisma and originality in every single pixel, making it one of the best titles of the year and an instant classic.

GameBlast - Farley Santos - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Mina the Hollower delivers expansive exploration, a world full of personality, and a constant sense of discovery through its varied situations and inventive systems. While the journey occasionally stumbles with cumbersome backtracking, some combat limitations, and minor frustrating moments, these issues never overshadow the overall experience. Few games manage to turn seemingly simple mechanics into something this creative and engaging, and with memorable encounters, secrets hidden everywhere, and an island that always feels ready to reveal something new, the game proves there is far more beneath its retro-inspired surface than first appears.

Gameliner - Claudia Tjia - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

Mina the Hollower proves that nostalgia alone isn’t enough to create a rock-solid game, but that innovation is necessary and possible without losing sight of the game’s core.

Gamer Guides - Lowell Bell - 95 / 100

Mina the Hollower pulls the gameplay right out of the Game Boy Color-era of action adventure games and mixes it with a bunch of modern mechanics to produce another instant, retro-inspired classic. Endearing and often hilarious characters, great music, and even greater puzzle-and-platforming based exploration overshadow some wonky difficulty hiccups and a flat heroine.

Gamer Social Club - Daire Behan - 9.5 / 10

Almost a full decade on from Shovel Knight, Yacht Club Games has returned in full form. Mina the Hollower is a joyously ambitious modern take on classic action-adventure games, blending carefully executed mechanics with a world that isn’t afraid to bite back, making for an experience that continuously empowers the player and rewards curiosity at every turn.

GamerFocus - Julián Ramírez - Spanish - 8.6 / 10

Many will surely compare this title to classic Zelda games or FromSoftware titles like Dark Souls or Bloodborne, but Mina the Hollower is much more than that. This fantastic game has its own unique personality and a playable charm that goes beyond its open world and difficulty. Furthermore, it understands, like few others, the satisfaction of discovering a well-hidden secret.

Gamers Heroes - Johnny Hurricane - 90 / 100

Coming in with high expectations, Mina the Hollower's tiny mouse masterfully fills some mighty big shoes. Needless to say, Yacht Club Games has another hit on its hands.

Gaming Furever - Zamir Twiggs - 5 / 5

Mina the Hollower is an amazing adventure. It pays homage to different types of horror movie monsters, and like a good horror movie, you don’t realize it’s multi-layered on the first viewing. This humble looking game embodies the spirit of the genre with its robust atmosphere, bosses, creatures, and puzzles.

GamingTrend - David Flynn - 100 / 100

Mina the Hollower is another masterpiece from Yacht Club Games, a Zelda style game that manages not only to equal the series that inspired it, but in some ways surpasses it. The world is detailed, gorgeous, and overflowing with secrets. The writing is sharp and often hilarious while maintaining a gothic horror vibe. Best of all, it feels amazing to play, with tons of ways to customize Mina and the game itself to fit your playstyle. It’s filled with freedom and challenge in equal measure, but as a Hollower you are more than up to the task.

Giant Bomb - Mike Minotti - 3.5 / 5

Somehow, the Dark Souls influences keep Mina from being the best Zelda-style game it could be, while the Zelda mechanics prevent it from reaching the heights of the best Soulslikes.

Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Toyad - 100 / 100

Mina The Hollower is a triumph in game design, fun factor, storytelling, and vision, resulting from years of blood, sweat, tears, and heart from Yacht Club Games.

Netto’s Game Room - Jeremy Schepper - 5 / 5

Mina the Hollower is a triumph. Yacht Club Games have proven themselves yet again as masters of their craft. Astonishingly beautiful art, a gripping Gothic story and challenging, yet rewarding gameplay converge together in a phenomenal package. Mina the Hollower is a must-play, and with the game's breadth of difficulty customization, I truly believe everyone could and should check this game out.

Nintendo Blast - Guilherme Lima - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Mina the Hollower is fascinating on many levels. Its world is captivating, with details everywhere, and challenges that flourish in both movement and melee combat. Given the arsenal of weapons and gadgets, which can drastically alter how the player controls the protagonist, and the non-linear progression, the replay value is immense and should certainly make this title another gem from Yacht Club Games.

NintendoWorldReport - Neal Ronaghan - 9 / 10

The combat stays varied, especially as you discover different weapons, sidearms, and trinkets to make your preferred build. This is a special game that was well worth the long wait. Hopefully Yacht Club Games gets to take this mentality to even more new frontiers in the future.

PS4Blog.net - EdEN - 10 / 10

A gem of an 8-bit-style action adventure that pays homage to The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, and Bloodborne

PSX Brasil - Victor Vitório - Portuguese - 90 / 100

Mina the Hollower shines in its building of a detailed, complex world that rewards the attentive gaze of explorers with pleasant surprises and benefits. However, its many difficulty modifiers don't help much for those who have trouble figuring out the paths, since the game's main issue is the lack of a useful map. This demanding and meticulously crafted adventure may end up dividing the audience, pleasing those who find satisfaction in exploring and progressing on their own and alienating those who prefer a more directed and convenient experience.

RPGamer - Ryan Radcliff - 4.5 / 5

There is a timeless feel to this game, with its homage to games from yesteryear, while also pushing the boundaries of what retro enthusiasts expect from titles that look like this.

Rectify Gaming - Tyler Nienburg - 9.5 / 10

Mina the Hollower is an excellent action-adventure 2D platformer that features intriguing storytelling, enjoyable yet challenging gameplay, and an overall exceptional experience

Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 5 / 5

Superbly designed, beautifully put together, and intensely rewarding at every turn, Mina the Hollower is one of the best games of the year.

SmashPad - Brandon Perkins - 5 / 5

Yacht Club has exceeded all my expectations. You can add Mina the Hollower to this generation and this year’s list of modern classics.

TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 10 / 10

Mina the Hollower is a triumphant return for Yacht Club Games, creating one of the greatest retro throwbacks of all time. With its unique burrowing mechanic and challenging combat, this is nothing short of a grand adventure. Its most glaring flaw is that it ends, but at least I can continue playing with plenty of post-game content.

The GameSlayer - Callum Marshall - 9 / 10

Mina the Hollower is a glorious modern-meets retro affair with oodles of amazing ideas, almost all of which coming together to offer a fluid and fun experience focused on freedom. Admittedly, some of the limitations of the retro-inspired top-down 2D approach do lead to clunky, imprecise platforming and cheap deaths. But all in all, this is a glorious continuation of indie excellence from the Shovel Knight Devs.

The Outerhaven Productions - Hayes Madsen - 5 / 5

Mina the Hollower is a brilliant 2D action-adventure game that takes clear inspiration from classic Zelda while building something that feels fresh, challenging, and uniquely its own. Its open-ended exploration, clever combat systems, strong sense of discovery, and flexible modifiers make every part of the adventure feel personal. While its difficulty can spike, Mina the Hollower stands out as an instant classic and one of the best games in its genre.

ThreeTwoPlay - Michael Seifert - German - 5 / 5

Mina the Hollower isn't just a fantastic homage to the good old Game Boy Color era. It combines smart gameplay mechanics with a vibrant and expansive game world, that's brimming with secrets and surprises, while looking absolutely fantastic. Countless modifiers allow you to make the game as easy, difficult or weird as you like. The boss fights are all incredibly well-designed, the diverse weapons, sidearms, and charms perfectly suit any playstyle and the combat is complemented by precise platforming and a variety of puzzles.

VDGMS - 9.5 / 10

Is Mina The Hollower better than Shovel Knight? Yacht Club Games seems to think so because In their words “Mina is the biggest and best game we’ve ever made...we squeezed every good idea we had into it."

After finishing, I agree. The combination of platforming, combat and its unique burrowing mechanic create an action-adventure that doesn't play like anything else. The learning curve is steep because the game doesn’t hold your hand, which might push away some and turning on the spark generators, which is a recurring mechanic each biome lacks precision like the rest of the game but if you have any affinity for classic adventure games like Zelda, then Mina is a must because Yacht Club have done it again.

Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 9.3 / 10

Mina the Hollower is simply one of the best games you'll ever play. Between its outstanding world design, visceral sense of challenge, beautiful retro presentation, and absurd amount of content, you'll be burrowing into this gem over and over again. 🐭

WayTooManyGames - Leonardo Faria - 9.5 / 10

I knew this was going to be a good game, considering its dev team’s track record, but even then, Mina the Hollower surpassed my expectations. It is a bonafide masterpiece of a game. Not only does it pay homage to the Game Boy era of Zelda, I’d go as far as to say that it surpasses its main source of inspiration. It’s colorful, it’s charming, it’s incredibly well-written, well-designed, with a great combat system and a dense world that just begs for you to explore every single corner.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 9 / 10

Mina the Hollower does for Zelda what Shovel Knight did for Mega Man. It's a revival of a classic franchise in spirit while having enough of its own flavor and style to avoid coming across as a simple clone or copy. It's clever, creative, and an absolute delight to play from start to finish, while having enough bonus content and modifiers to keep the game exciting even after you complete its roughly 20-hour playtime. In a year that's already filled with amazing games, Mina still shines.

Game Information

Game Title: Mixtape

Platforms:

• PC (May 7, 2026)
• Playstation 5 (May 7, 2026)
• Xbox Series X|S (May 7, 2026)
• Nintendo Switch 2 (May 7, 2026)

Trailer:

• MIXTAPE | Launch Trailer

Developer: Beethoven and Dinosaur

Publisher: Annapurna Interactive

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 92 average - 97% recommended - 38 reviews

Critic Reviews

A Gaming Network - Marcel Dee - 10 / 10

Mixtape is the kind of game we need right now. It reminds us of who we were, who we knew, and the moments that shaped us before we even understood they mattered. This is an easy game to recommend to anyone, but honestly, it is the kind of game you should recommend to everyone.

CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 10 / 10

Mixtape is a greatest hits of gameplay, storytelling, music and animation. Its a true work of art that would be a crime not to experience.

DayOne - Jon Clarke - 10 / 10

I've never felt so old - I love Mixtape for making me feel these things - but I hate it for that too. An emotional rollercoaster full of joy, heart and youthful daydreams, Mixtape is simply incredible.

DualShockers - Ethan Krieger - 10 / 10

Mixtape is a coming of age tale that hits all the right notes from beginning to end. While it's a short game that you might only play once, that does not take away from how special the journey is along the way. Witty, hilarious writing, incredible voice performances, gorgeous art direction, and consistently creative gameplay beats are paired with a flawless soundtrack that serves as the backbone for every single scene perfectly in a '90s period piece that knows exactly what to drive home. The result is a wholly unique gaming experience that's loaded with nostalgic charm, great humor, and many poignant moments that will make you reframe how you think about your own personal memories of youth. I cannot recommend it enough.

GamingTrend - Adam Moreno, Henry Viola - 100 / 100

Mixtape is an immersive game as you follow Rockford, Slater, and Cass on the last night of High School. Spanning the highs and lows of the evening, the game’s Mixtape includes music from Devo, Iggy Pop, Lush, The Cure, and more. A full game you can complete in a 4-6 hour span with an hilarious, emotional story that will leave many in tears. If you’re a fan of 80s and 90s nostalgia, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off-style cutaways, and an ode to outcasts, you’ll enjoy Mixtape.

IGN - Simon Cardy - 10 / 10

A musical delight from start to finish, Mixtape sets a new standard for coming-of-age stories in video games and does so with a masterful sense of style.

Sirus Gaming - Kimberly Mae Go - 10 / 10

Mixtape is a narrative-driven experience that uses music, atmosphere, and character-driven storytelling to recreate the feeling of growing up in a way that feels deeply personal. It’s mechanically simple, but that simplicity allows its emotional core to stand out, making it one of the most memorable and affecting games in its genre.

SmashPad - Danreb Victorio - 5 / 5

When I rolled credits on Mixtape, I whispered to myself, "Dang, I'm never gonna play anything like this again." If I do, it'll be compared to Mixtape, both fairly and unfairly. And again, the things this game does from a gameplay perspective aren't unique. It's the careful sum of its parts that makes Mixtape a modern classic, and at $20, it's an easy recommendation whether you binge or slow burn the six-hour title.

Stevivor - Steve Wright - 10 / 10

Mixtape is grunge and punk, hopeful and foolish, ultra cool and super nerdy, confident and insecure in equal measure. Simply put, this is one you need to experience for yourself.

TheSixthAxis - Dominic Leighton - 10 / 10

Mixtape is incredible. An indie narrative adventure that's part game, part movie, part album, it captures the end of teenage life, of friendship and family, all while looking to the possibilities and unknowable potential of the future. It is, in a word, essential.

Use a Potion - 10 / 10

Whether you grew up in the nineties or just appreciate a beautifully told story about friendship and… well… growing up, Mixtape hits every single emotional note wonderfully. It perfectly balances the humour of doing stupid things with your friends against the terrifying reality of moving on and leaving your childhood behind, and whilst some might argue that a four-hour linear game might lack some appeal, the sheer quality of the experience makes it something you will want to revisit just to soak in the atmosphere all over again.

Mixtape is a beautiful, hilarious, and profoundly touching experience that understands EXACTLY what it feels like to be a teenager standing on the edge of the rest of your life. I haven’t felt that way in a long, long time, but having a reminder of it here has helped make the game an instant classic, and for me, one I’ll never forget.

VDGMS - Darren Andrew - 10 / 10

Mixtape is barely a game. It’s an artful escape, an experience, a coming of age VHS classic that has been converted to the interactive medium of video games. Gameplay is almost non existent, which is only one of the reasons that Mixtape will be divisive. The setting is the end of summer 1999 and might not be fully appreciated by everyone because all of the pop culture references, as well as the sublime soundtrack is mostly from the 80’s and 90’s. Mixtape is also short at around 4 hours with minimal reason for return.

If all of those reasons don't dissaude you and you’re lucky enough to find yourself in the very small inner circle of the Venn diagram for who it’s is intended for, Mixtape has no equal, as it blurs the lines of game, music and film.

VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5

Mixtape is a tribute to "the best years of your life." It combines authentic nostalgia for being young, with witty commentary on how life doesn't actually end just because you didn't have a Hollywood-style last night in town. The game's use of music is pitch perfect, and heavily contributes to Mixtape being one of the best coming-of-age games of the modern era.

WellPlayed - Christie McQualter - 10 / 10

Mixtape's style, soundtrack and unique storytelling flair all combine to elicit feelings both new and long forgotten. Simple moments make you appreciate life for what it is: a continuous evolution rather than a static state of being. Our adolescent selves relished in that freedom, and Mixtape seeks to recapture the magic.

Xbox Tavern - Jamie Collyer - 10 / 10

Celebrating the 90’s, excellent music and how it impacts and marks our lives, and the joy of growing up with a few close friends, Mixtape is a stellar experience from start to finish.

Cloud Dosage - Jon Scarr - 4.5 / 5

Mixtape successfully translates the conflict of 90s adolescence into a gorgeous, handcrafted world backed by a legendary licensed soundtrack. The narrative pace is deliberate. This choice pays off by making every interactive vignette, from shopping cart escapes to skipping rocks, genuinely matter. If you're looking for an engrossing, emotional journey with authentic characters, this is an absolute must-play that perfectly captures the bittersweet reality of moving on.

Game8 - Lloyd Opalec - 94 / 100

Mixtape is much like many coming-of-age stories you’ve probably heard before, but it tells it with so much warmth and creativity that I wanted more of it. As a game, it won’t surprise everyone, but its writing, music, and the dreamlike essence of its presentation make even predictable story beats meteor down to the surface with so much emotion that by the time the night was over, I felt like I was saying goodbye to old friends I’d only just met.

Console Creatures - Matt Sowinski - 9 / 10

Mixtape's narrative is beautiful and fleeting; each song is carefully picked, and even though it goes by fast, Mixtape is incredible. The run time didn't end up being a problem for me, as it feels like an interactive movie with absolutely no bloat or wasted sound. A song can repeat, but the memories you make to it and the people you do it with will never be the same. Mixtape is a celebration of fleeting youth, of the people who help make you who you are, and it is worth every minute.

GAMES.CH - Fabrice Henz - German - 90%

Thanks to all these aspects, "Mixtape" is a game that can be played by every generation. The themes it addresses are, as already mentioned, timeless, and the three main characters expose you to a wide range of experiences.

GameSpot - Mark Delaney - 9 / 10

Music can make us feel incredibly powerful or cathartically vulnerable. And when the right song hits at the right moment, it may just send a happy shiver down your spine, which is how I spent much of my time with Mixtape, and why I'll never forget it.

Gamer Social Club - Adam S. D. Stewart - 9 / 10

Mixtape is fun, fantastical and heartfelt. It may be fleeting, but I expect it will stick with you for a long while. Especially when you’re inevitably playing one of the game’s songs in one of your playlists and someone asks you “where this song is from?”.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4.5 / 5

Mixtape is a fantastic game that celebrates how a specific period of time can intertwine with music to craft a memorable and touching story. The gameplay is constantly surprising and satisfying, the characters are delightful, and the aesthetic is second to none. I’m really impressed with how much this game has tunneled its way into my heart, and it’s got me feeling nostalgic in a more substantive way than most things do. I can see people the same age as the characters really latching onto this story, but even if you’re past that era, it’s a wonderful look back at the messy but unforgettable twilight of youth.

Nintendo Life - Roland Ingram - 9 / 10

Mixtape's greatest accomplishment is that it more than lives up to its name. This is a thoughtfully curated collection of music, sure, but before that, it's an exciting, sentimental, funny game. Rather than simply twiddling your thumbs while the licensed music plays, you're living life with a soundtrack – the only way Stacey Rockford would have you do it.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 9 / 10

Through utterly superb set-pieces, gorgeous visual design, and an impactful soundtrack, Mixtape crafts one of the most meaningful story games in a long time. It's beautiful to look at, a joy to listen to, and so enjoyable to play - altogether, Mixtape is a sensational achievement.

República DG - Gabriel Petricevich - Portuguese - 9 / 10

Mixtape is the kind of game where years can pass, and we'll never forget playing it for the first time. With an engaging narrative, memorable characters, and a unique soundtrack, the game delivers a genuine experience of friendship, loyalty, and love for its players. An absolute must-play!

Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 9 / 10

When I rolled credits on Mixtape, I was sad that it was over so soon. But then, I was immediately excited at the prospect of multiple future playthroughs where I could toy with all of the quirky minigames and their outcomes en route to seeing everything the game had to offer. It’s how I knew that I truly love a video game.

TheXboxHub - Dave Ozzy - 4.5 / 5

To call Mixtape a ride is a little one-dimensional, as there are so many feelings to be had on the way. A ‘joyride’ fits Mixtape slightly better. A joyride with a tailor-made Greatest Hits tape playing along.

Pizza Fria - Lucas Soares - Portuguese - 8.9 / 10

Mixtape doesn't aim to challenge your reflexes. It aims to touch your memories. And when that happens, it's hard to miss.

Even so, its limitations as a traditional game become evident. It's an experience that works very well within its intended purpose, but it may not have the same impact on all players.

Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 8.5 / 10

Mixtape is an adventure specifically for those of us who grew up in the angsty 90s. For those players, the top-tier soundtrack selection and unpacking themes you may have been avoiding for a few decades is going to hit very hard. For others, the rose-tinted glasses and hammy dialogue may feel distant or indulgent. Just like an actual mixtape someone makes for you, not every track lands. But it’s so clearly made with love, and the tracks that do will stay with you long after it’s over.

Pure Dead Gaming - Jessica - 8.5 / 10

Mixtape tells a great story and provides some really fun short gameplay sequences all wrapped up in a great narrative that is stylish to the core. This is all perfectly complimented by a superb soundtrack.

Arakat Mag - Tunahan İbiş - Turkish - 8 / 10

In a game industry where everything is changing one way or another and undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift, Beethoven & Dinosaur deserves praise for taking an active role in this transformation instead of taking refuge in the comfort of uniformity. Mixtape stands as an important example of how independent game development, with the right project management, can achieve both cinematic creativity and a modest, heartfelt style of storytelling at the same time.

But Why Tho? - Kate Sanchez - 8 / 10

Mixtape offers a unique experience, even if it looks familiar at first. The narrative approach to memory and growing up creates a coming-of-age story that weaves through the messiness of teenage emotions. While the very small amount of gameplay can feel repetitive, the story mitigates that weakness.

GameSpew - Kim Snaith - 8 / 10

Stunning art direction and a stellar soundtrack are what makes Mixtape so wonderful. Its narrative isn't the most meaningful, but when everything else is so good, it hardly matters. This is a game that exists to be a short, enjoyable experience: its characters and story might not leave a lasting impression on you, but its music and visuals certainly will.

Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 4 / 5

Mixtape is a colorful, emotional, and thought-provoking game about the final moments of your youth.

TheGamer - Stacey Henley - 4 / 5

Despite the limited gameplay and slightly repetitive nature of wandering around rooms to click on objects, Mixtape is an experience I’ll remember for a long while. The sharp dialogue that feels real and stays the right side of grating, easy-going storytelling, excellent soundtrack, and supreme confidence to play around with the medium make Mixtape well worth tuning into, even if some will be put off by a perceived lack of things to do. I still haven’t really figured out if Mixtape is a video game, but I do know that I thoroughly recommend you give it a spin.

Uagna - Gianluca Rossi - Italian - 8 / 10

Mixtape is a short, heartfelt and stylistically powerful narrative adventure that captures the essence of adolescence without reducing it to mere nostalgia. The way it weaves together music, memory and personal growth is the true heart of the experience, even more so than its mini-games or interactive structure.

TheReviewGeek - Greg Wheeler - 6 / 10

Mixtape desperately wants to be a coming-of-age indie film, and the moments where it remembers it’s supposed to be a video game often feel reluctant, shallow and mechanically underwhelming.

Game Information

Game Title: Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Oct 8, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (Oct 8, 2026)
• PC (Oct 8, 2026)
• Nintendo Switch 2 (Oct 9, 2026)

Trailer:

Developer: CAPCOM CO., LTD.

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 86 average - 90% recommended - 20 reviews

Critic Reviews

AltChar - Asmir Kovacevic - 9 / 10

With around 80 hours of content, a story that outclasses the base game and performance that is finally stable, Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen caps Capcom's remarkable 2026 and gives the Arisen the adventure it deserved two years ago.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 85 / 100

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Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen serves up a new land with a surprising amount of content. The move to the chilled north adds hours for returning players and sands off many of the rough edges of the base game. The downside, though, is that much of the friction is gone, and as much as I like streamlined experiences, I never once thought Dragon's Dogma needed it. The campaign is a surprising blast, with Norgan offering an excellent new land, a new loot system, and challenges to overcome.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 8 / 10

"An expansion that elevates the Dragon’s Dogma experience" Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen delivers an expansion that significantly broadens the experience without losing the essence that made the original game special. It features the distinctive Norgan region, intense encounters, and tangible improvements to Pawns, combat, and exploration. Despite a few flaws, the new content makes returning to the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 an enjoyable and worthwhile experience—especially for those craving more of the adventure and combat that the game delivers so brilliantly.

DualShockers - Usama Mehmood - 10 / 10

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EvelonGames - Joel Isern Rodríguez - Kaym - Spanish - 9 / 10

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a punishing, atmospheric and endlessly replayable expansion. Even with a level 50 character in full gear on New Game+, Norgan pushed me to my limits, and its bosses, the six weapon skill slots and the relic appraisal loop make it a must-play for anyone who loved the base game. It also ran smoothly on PS5, which is no small feat for this series.

Gamer Guides - Lowell Bell - 90 / 100

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen improves upon the base game in almost every way, introducing a much more interesting snow-covered region to explore alongside an addictive loot system. While I would’ve loved to see a competent story and more enemy variety, what’s here will keep me coming back to explore Vermund, Battahl, and Norgan for months and years to come.

Gamer Social Club - Krystle Lim - 9 / 10

If you’ve played a bit of DD2 but dropped it because of performance or a quality-of-life feature you felt was missing, try 4.0; if you like the new-and-improved DD2, I would highly recommend jumping into Dark Arisen next. If you love the idea of a grand fantasy adventure and experience a truly unique and immersive single-player game where you feel as if you’re actually accompanied by real players going on treacherous adventures together, with great moment-to-moment gameplay, then please, please play Dragon’s Dogma 2, then continue your adventure into Dark Arisen DLC and the cold lands of Norgan.

Gamers Heroes - Johnny Hurricane - 85 / 100

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an excellent addition to an already meaty game. If you liked the base game, Dark Arisen offers even more difficult challenges alongside even greater rewards.

Loot Level Chill - Kieran Singh - 8.5 / 10

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen is a thoroughly enjoyable expansion to what was already one of my favourite action RPGs, thanks to a smart new loot system and an entirely new region to explore and fight in.

NintendoWorldReport - John Rairdin - 8.5 / 10

John: And if like me, it is exactly your cup of tea, you'll have a very hard time putting it down.

PPE.pl - Krzysztof Grabarczyk - Polish - 7.5 / 10

Dragon’s Dogma II: Dark Arisen introduces a new land and addresses the technical shortcomings of the base game. There’s plenty of combat here, along with new and interesting loot to hunt down. The combat system remains unchanged, but the enemies have become stronger. The game no longer bombards you with hordes of cannon fodder, although the frequency of encounters remains high. If you enjoy Dragon’s Dogma II, I’d encourage you to venture into the colder regions of Norgan.

PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Dark Arisen is a solid expansion that expands Dragon's Dogma 2 with new challenges, plenty of exploration, and systems that make progression more interesting. Despite the lack of new vocations and some uninspired side quest choices, the expansion fulfills its purpose and reinforces the feeling that the franchise still has a lot of potential.

Pizza Fria - Bruno Josué Alves de Oliveira - Portuguese - 7.1 / 10

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a competent and quite comprehensive expansion, but it ends up being limited by the same foundations that underpin the original game. For those who already enjoyed this formula, Norgan has a lot to offer. However, for those who expected Capcom to take the opportunity to correct its main problems, the expansion may leave the feeling that it fell short of going a step further.

Push Square - Robert Ramsey - 9 / 10

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is often Capcom's open world RPG at its absolute peak. It's one hell of a meaty expansion, delivering a surprisingly involved story, joyous exploration, and deeply compelling combat. A transformative DLC.

TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 8 / 10

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a fine expansion that lengthens the base game to a comfortable degree without being overwhelming. While some jank and difficulty remain, it's clear things have improved in more ways than one.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9 / 10

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen delivers the progression, exploration, and expanded skills the base game needed, creating the definitive Dragon’s Dogma 2 experience.

The Outerhaven Productions - Kevin Kelly - 4.5 / 5

Dragon's Dogma II: Dark Arisen does what the original expansion accomplished and sets the bar higher. With both Dark Arisen's original premise and the Lost Rites challenges, there are more things to do, fight, and see within the world even before deciding to end it at the finishing fight.

Xbox Tavern - Jamie Collyer - 10 / 10

It’s been a long time since I’ve played a DLC that felt this engrossing, deep, and genuinely more like an expansion. Not only has Dark Arisen given us loads of new gameplay in both the new area and the challenge dungeons, it’s proven the perfect excuse to head back to Dragon’s Dogma II to remind us just how great of a game it is.

Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 9 / 10

While Dark Arisen has some minor technical issues, as well as occasional problems such as the camera angle during combat, its wealth of content makes it compelling enough to draw players back to Dragon's Dogma 2 more than two years after the original game's release. The new region of Norgan is well worth exploring thanks to its distinct atmosphere and rich content, while other additions, including a well-crafted story, new skills and abilities, and even the DLC's dungeons, ultimately make this story-driven expansion a worthwhile journey into its fantasy world.

Game Information

Game Title: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse

Platforms:

• PC & All Consoles (Oct 14, 2026)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 85 average - 98% recommended - 56 reviews

Critic Reviews

Arakat Mag - Ertuğrul Burak Emanet - Turkish - 8.3 / 10

Castlevania Belmont’s Curse is a game that feels thoughtfully designed from beginning to end, constantly finding ways to reinvent itself. With a better balance between boss fights and regular enemies, along with a more streamlined approach to revisiting previously explored areas, it could have been close to perfection. Even so, I think it’s a more than solid comeback for a franchise returning to the spotlight after so many years. As long as Konami maintains this level of quality, I’ll continue to look forward to all its upcoming releases. Hopefully, this game marks the definitive return of Castlevania.

Atarita - Eren Eroğlu - Turkish - 83 / 100

Despite its minor shortcomings, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a successful title that brings the series’ magnificent gothic atmosphere together with outstanding gameplay.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 90 / 100

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Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - 9 / 10

With a storied past, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse sets up the franchise for a bright (but also dark) future. Rose is a fantastic heroine with a deep, compelling story, and she wields some of the genre's most enjoyable combat mechanics. Add a few key accessibility options to make the game less punishing, and I think you have a standout title heading into the final months of 2026. Belmont's Curse is one of the best ways Konami and Evil Empire could have pushed the franchise and the genre forward.

CrazyGameCommunity.it - Alessandro Zingariello - Italian - 9 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse retains the soul of the Castlevania series perfectly intact, thanks not only to a well-written story but also to its art style and fun gameplay.

DayOne - Jesse Norris - 9.5 / 10

The music, gameplay, levels, bosses, & looks are all incredible. It's classic old-school Castlevania in many ways, for good and bad. A handful of modern conveniences, some devilishly tricky level design, and a decent story combine for something well worth your time.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10

"A promising return with a revitalized legacy in the heart of Paris" Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse successfully revitalizes the series through an experience that blends a compelling story, Deep Exploration, and a deep combat System-Supported by Arcana abilities and an innovative whip. Distinctive art design and polished technical performance further elevate the experience, while boss encounters offer a genuine challenge that rewards skill and strategy. The game delivers a complete adventure that honors the Castlevania legacy while evolving it with a modern touch.

Everyeye.it - Domenico Musicò - Italian - 8.5 / 10

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GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 82%

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GRYOnline.pl - Adam Celarek - Polish - 8.5 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a welcome return for the series, combining responsive controls, satisfying combat, and flexible character builds with striking gothic visuals. Its demanding but largely fair challenges reward experimentation, although occasionally confusing progression and frustrating save-point placement hold it back. My main issue with Belmont’s Curse is that it remains ONLY a very good example of its genre:it is a polished, compelling metroidvania that successfully brings Castlevania into the modern era.

Game8 - Ken Jacinto - 84 / 100

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is an alluringly gorgeous, polished and expressive comeback of the series. It plays things mostly safe across the board, which is a design philosophy that’s bound to alienate more expectant Castlevania veterans. For most other players, Belmont’s Curse is a gorgeous, rewarding and deeply engaging adventure that introduces the Belmont Bloodline and the series’ legacy wonderfully. It resulted in a return to form that hopefully serves as the foundation for braver titles, but until then, Belmont’s Curse is a powerful resurrection worthy of Dracula himself and a great Metroidvania all the same.

GameHope.com - Lorris Tabbone - French - 16 / 20

All in all, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse marks a particularly welcome return for a franchise that richly deserved to be back in the spotlight.

Gameblog - French - 8 / 10

There's no doubt about it: with this highly accomplished new entry, Konami marks the grand return of its franchise after twelve long years away. Castlevania Belmont's Curse may not be the most intricate or the most original metroidvania we've seen in recent years, but it arrives with real personality and a charm that will have no trouble winning over fans of the genre. The game developed by Evil Empire also makes for an excellent entry point for newcomers to the series, which could well make it the ideal springboard for a genuine Castlevania revival in the years ahead.

Gamefa - Arman Zarmehr - Persian - 8.8 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse marks a triumphant return for a franchise that has been absent from the Metroidvania genre and the gaming world for many years. The developers demonstrate a strong understanding of the series’ unique characteristics in most areas, delivering an experience that is deep, engaging, and at times downright addictive. The gameplay mechanics are remarkably rich, the interconnected level design encourages deep exploration, and the platforming sections seamlessly bring these elements together. While the Western-inspired art direction and distinctive soundtrack may stray somewhat from the franchise’s traditional identity, the gameplay retains the essence of what makes Castlevania so special.

Gameliner - Rudy Wijnberg - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

That’s the magic of this game, because even though it can be frustrating at times, you still find yourself wanting to return to the adventure Rose is experiencing in the heart of Paris. Achieving 100 percent completion during a packed review season is, therefore, the greatest compliment I can give Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.

Gamer Social Club - Vikki McGowan - 9 / 10

Ultimately, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse doesn’t just mark the end of a twelve year mainline game drought, it answers the question posed at the very beginning of this review with a resounding yes. It is an emphatic, confident return to form. While a few weapon categories fall into redundancy once you have the iconic whip in hand, that minor imbalance is easily eclipsed by how thoughtfully Evil Empire has built the rest of the game.

GamersGlobal - Benjamin Braun - German - 8 / 10

Not a new pinnacle of the genre, but a worthy comeback for Castlevania with fast combat, creative plattforming and a great world that motivates me to master each challenge and open every chest.

IGN Italy - Alessandra Borgonovo - Italian - 8 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is the glorious comeback the franchise desperately needed. Evil Empire successfully blends their fast-paced combat philosophy with the traditional igavania structure, delivering a thrilling and fluid adventure. While the weapon variety feels a bit shallow and some platforming checkpoints are frustratingly placed, the surprisingly deep narrative, the clever Tarot mechanics, and a bold electronic/orchestral soundtrack make it a highly satisfying experience. A must-play injection of vitality for the iconic series.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 9 / 10

Castlevania returns to 2D with a visually stunning experience packed with great ideas. With Rose Belmont wielding the whip, the legacy of the vampire-hunting family is in very good hands.

Just Play it - Mostafa Khedime - Arabic - 9 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse stands as one of the best 2D and Metroidvania gaming experiences, thanks to its distinctive artistic identity and gothic atmosphere. With rich exploration and varied, enjoyable gameplay that blends combat and movement, it delivers an adventure well worth experiencing.

Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Toyad - 90 / 100

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse may not play exactly like an Iga-vania, but that doesn't mean it's not a Castlevania title. It truly is in spirit, ambition, action, and overall structure, with a few new twists to the rules that make even veterans wary and up their game. [...]

Even if its music direction may leave you in bloody tears, everything else about this new search action title is as golden as the Alchemy Lab music track in Symphony of the Night.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 8 / 10

Despite some uneven difficulty and some iffy voice work, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse doesn't disappoint.

MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a classic metroidvania in the best sense, featuring excellent combat, superb level design, and outstanding acrobatic platforming. A lack of artistic ambition and a sense of disorientation in the second half keep it from reaching the genre’s recent heights, but it remains an essential experience for metroidvania fans, made all the more significant by being the first new Castlevania in many years.

MonsterVine - Uzair Syed - 4.5 / 5

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a strong return to the franchise’s roots. The combat is excellent, the traversal feels fantastic, and player-driven exploration is a big part of why it works. The music is easily the weakest part, but it does not drastically diminish what is otherwise a near-perfect revival.

Niche Gamer - Throgmorton Belmont - 9 / 10

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NintendoWorldReport - Jordan Rudek - 7.5 / 10

I'd love to see what this team could do with a follow-up in the same vein, one that irons out some of the rough edges related to exploration and respawning. Rose is a compelling character in her own right, but the interactions between her and the souls she's captured add a nice degree of levity and charm to the story moments. It may not fly as high as some of its Castlevania predecessors, or even modern genre standouts like Silksong and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, but Belmont's Curse provides a dozen-plus hours of entertainment leading up to the height of spooky season.

Oyungezer Online - Emre Sümer - Turkish - 7.5 / 10

Belmont’s Curse is a solid enough return for such a long-running series after such a lengthy absence, and it becomes an enjoyable experience if you give it some time. However, with no new ideas to bring to the genre, it never manages to be more than a good Metroidvania.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a superb return to the legendary series, combining Rose Belmont’s surprisingly compelling, personal story with excellent exploration, demanding platforming challenges and satisfying combat. Evil Empire doesn’t set out to revolutionise the genre, but it makes brilliant use of its tried-and-tested foundations, offering stunning visuals, fantastic enemies and superbly balanced gameplay. This is exactly the kind of Castlevania that fans have been waiting for for years, and proof that Konami couldn’t have chosen a better team to bring the Belmont clan back.

PSX Brasil - Victor Vitório - Portuguese - 85 / 100

After an 18-year hiatus for the vampire-hunting series' traditional style, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse both slakes the thirst of long-time fans and offers an entry point for a new audience. It is an adventure that plays it safe—taking a somewhat understated approach to the Metroidvania elements and facing some limitations—yet its strengths ultimately shine through, making it well worth playing. Here's hoping Rose Belmont's journey breathes new life into the franchise's future—and that the current low-resolution textures get adjusted for 4K screens.

Pizza Fria - Matheus Jenevain - Portuguese - 9.3 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a treat for fans of the franchise or Metroidvanias in general, and also a great entry point for those who have never wielded the Belmont's whip or for those looking for something fun to play and pass the time. Whatever your case, you can go for it without fear!

PlayStation Universe - Garri Bagdasarov - 10 / 10

Exceptional in every way, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a one of 2026's must-play titles. In a year of great games, it's hard to stand out, but Evil Empire has crafted a bonified masterpiece in one of the game's most historic franchises.

Polygon - Unscored

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Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 7 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse gets a lot of stuff right, but in a world where Metroidvanias are a dime a dozen, it doesn't do quite enough to really stand apart.Decent combat gets the job done, while level design and some lovely art and animation are areas where the game really shines. The game can feel a little unresponsive, leading to some frustrating deaths.It's ultimately a good Metroidvania and a valiant effort to resuscitate Castlevania, but there's little new to see for anyone who's been keeping up with the genre over the last decade.

RPGamer - Ryan Costa - 3.5 / 5

Evil Empire’s Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse draws heavily from the lore, characters, story, and presentation, but the gameplay has shifted away from many of its RPG roots. This shift is met with tightly polished execution; however, there is a lingering sense that this isn’t what some fans were expecting.

Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 5 / 5

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is not just one of the best games this year; it's one of the best Castlevania games ever made. It is a challenging, consistently engaging, and superbly designed adventure epic that reminds us why this series defined an entire genre in the first place.

SECTOR.sk - Branislav Koh�t - Slovak - 8 / 10

The Belmont clan seeks to finally break their curse and rid themselves of their arch-nemesis once and for all. But it won't be easy'far from it. The default difficulty recommended by the developers is very high; while you can adjust it, the game remains a tough challenge. Certain sections are exceptionally demanding, and the advanced controls feel clunky.

STWGames Italia - Mario Ricerni - Italian - 8.6 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is the comeback fans have been waiting for for over a decade: a metroidvania that is classic in structure but modern in sensibility, crafted by a studio that knows the genre inside out and proves it with incredibly rich traversal, memorable bosses and outstanding art direction.

Saudi Gamer - عبد الله محمد - Arabic - 5 / 5

With outstanding exploration packed with mind-blowing secrets and exceptional gameplay, Belmont’s Curse stands out in an oversaturated market, proving that Castlevania is still one of the kings of the genre.

Smash Jump - Chris Melnyk - 9 / 10

Evil Empire continues to impress by adding a drawn art style and impressive visuals to the game overall. Not just from character designs but bosses, enemies, and environments too. And while its soundtrack is not the best part, the rest of the sound design fits well into the game. If you are a Castlevania or Metroidvania fan, or even a newcomer, it’s a strong entry for a titan of a series. And one that all players should try to experience as soon as they can.

SmashPad - Filippo Dinolfo - 4.5 / 5

It’s almost mind-blowing to me to be sitting here, typing up my thoughts on a new Castlevania 2D game in 2026. I never would have called this series coming back. Or if it did, I would have expected Konami to try another big-scale 3D reboot. But seeing Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse on my hard drive and being able to play it makes it feel like one part of the gaming world is working as intended. This game feels incredibly good to play, and I’d recommend checking it out as soon as possible.

TechRaptor - Robert Scarpinito - 8 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse unfurls like a tapestry of mysteries. There are so many secrets to discover, and it'll constantly tug at your curiosity, beckoning you to explore its darkest corners. Powerful spells and satisfying weapons anchor a robust combat system, and certain boss fights are a real treat. However, the difficulty is a little inconsistent, sometimes to a frustrating, punishing degree.

TheSixthAxis - Jason Coles - 8 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is an incredibly entertaining game and a wonderful return to form for a series I've loved since forever. While it isn't an echo of the entries I love the most, it's still a fantastic game. The game is pure Castlevania in the best way, and the story and voice acting are sublime as well. If you like any Castlevania games at all, you'll adore this.

ThreeTwoPlay - Michael Seifert - German - 5 / 5

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is not just a great Castlevania title, it is one of the best Metroidvanias I have played in recent years. The movement feels spot-on, the combat is challenging without being unfair and the visuals are fantastic. The story kept me fully engaged and the game frequently mixes interesting puzzles between fun platforming and combat sequences, all while equipping you with a variety of useful tools.

TodoJuegos - Jorge Guerrero - Spanish - 9 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont´s Curse combines metroidvania exploration, demanding combat and a story where Rose Belmont proves she has a personality of her own. The Arcana system adds both abilities and narrative depth, while a well-balanced difficulty makes every defeated boss feel genuinely rewarding.

TryAGame! - Guillaume Dreher - French - 9 / 10

Castlevania Belmont’s Curse is a great game (and ridiculous price) whether you are fans of the license or newcomer. This is one of the titles of the year. Irreproachable in its realization and its staging, we will evaluate our pleasure not to the martial victories on the bosses, but to discover the passages and secrets of the map and the level design. A grand cru.

Uagna - Silvia Mannu - Italian - 9 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a compelling return to its roots for Konami’s legendary series, drawing on Evil Empire’s expertise to deliver a 2D Metroidvania that masterfully combines exploration, challenging combat, and an art style brimming with care and charm. Rose Belmont’s adventure won us over thanks to a deep combat system and the Arcana, which enrich both progression and the narrative. The gothic recreation of Paris and Dracula’s castle is stunning, accompanied by a compelling soundtrack, though perhaps not quite on par with the splendor of Michiru Yamane’s work. Some limitations in enemy variety and inconsistent difficulty prevent Belmont’s Curse from reaching perfection, but they in no way detract from the overall quality of an adventure that proves just how much the Belmont family still has to tell.

VDGMS - Darren Andrew - 10 / 10

How do you bring back one of the most legendary video game franchises after a nearly two decade hiatus since its last 2D Entry? With a twenty-five hour symphony of the classics retaining everything that made the series iconic, but reworked to make the experience feel modern with gameplay inspired by one of the most successful indie games of all time. Dracula, Belmont's, demanding platforming and enemies, gothic aesthetic, whips, sub-weapons, layered map, secrets, it's all here.

Belmont’s Curse is a sublime fusion of Castlevania and Dead Cells that blends classic and modern elements effortlessly to make it feel like a natural progression for the series without losing sight of the origins that made Castevania legendary. Purists might disagree with the new feeling being too much of a departure, but for those who appreciated the series revolution that Symphony of The Night was in 1997, they will appreciate the revolution that Belmont’s Curse is in 2026.

Videogiocare.it - Fabio Fiorini - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a triumphant return for the legendary series, with outstanding level design, satisfying combat and a magnificent soundtrack. Its visuals feel somewhat dated and a few difficulty spikes frustrate, but this is a wonderfully crafted metroidvania.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8 / 10

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a fantastic return for the franchise. Mixing old and new together, it feels at once like a fresh game and something distinctly and undeniably Castlevania. It does a great job of threading the needle between the many different versions of the franchise. There are some inconsistent difficulty spikes, occasional moments of meaningless friction, and the Switch port is a little lackluster. For fans of the franchise who are looking for a return to Dracula's castle, this is exactly what it should be, and it hopefully represents a new life for the immortal franchise.

ZTGD - Ken McKown - 9 / 10

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Game Information

Game Title: Avowed

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Feb 18, 2025)
• PC (Feb 18, 2025)

Trailers:

• Avowed Story Trailer
• Avowed - Official Gameplay Trailer

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 83 average - 88% recommended - 58 reviews

Critic Reviews

4News.it - Danilo Di Gennaro - Italian - 8.8 / 10

Avowed represents quintessential game design according to Obsidian Entertainment. While not offering a radically new experience, the return to the world of Eora is an exciting action RPG, graced by the traditional care the development team put into the script. Free to be able to create one's alter ego among a thousand opportunities for customization and to direct it indiscriminately toward the paths of good or evil, Avowed puts players within a setting that is the antithesis of the dispersive risk of an endless open world, with gameplay devoted to action and fun. It may not be a revolution, and technically some hiccups are there, but for all fans of the genre it is a must.

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Wait for Sale

"Despite issues with some of the games shallower systems I found myself having a great time most of the time I played Avowed."

AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 85 / 100

Rich with a vibrant world, intriguing story, remarkable companions, and engaging combat, Obsidian's first-person fantasy RPG, Avowed, offered so much flavour that I found it hard to stop playing.

Andrenoob - Andres Perdomo - Spanish - 9 / 10

Avowed is a game that takes the risk of showing the best of Obsidian Entertainment and delivers everything you expect. Delivering an adventure worth playing if you love RPGs.

Atarita - Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu - Turkish - 90 / 100

Avowed looks like it's going to make a name for itself for a while. I have no doubt that it will give you a good time with its scenario, missions, characters and lots of content. It has some problems, but they are not insurmountable. Its structure that leaves the player free is its most impressive feature.

But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 9.5 / 10

Avowed marks another triumph for the folks at Obsidian. Through its gorgeous world, memorable characters, frenzied combat, and intuitive yet deep customization system, it highlights player agency. Everywhere in its gameplay and narrative, ensuring that each playthrough offers something new. More importantly, it does so while never compromising the strength of its core story.

CGMagazine - Dayna Eileen - 8 / 10

Avowed is a game I have had my eyes on for four years now, even before I set eyes on any gameplay. Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios always manage

Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 9.5 / 10

Avowed is impressive in almost everything it sets out to do. It has sharp writing, captivating companions, an intriguing story and a varied world that is just thrilling to explore. It's visually stunning, too, with high production values including satisfying audio that makes the Living Lands feel bustling with life. Where many games falter in offering "bigger and more", Avowed smartly focuses on its strengths, making for a breezy yet vibrant RPG that feels polished and intelligent, offering lots to do but never outstaying its welcome. Obsidian Entertainment has once again proven they are skilled storytellers, offering a must-play adventure for anyone who has a love for the fantastical.

Console-Tribe - Francesco Pellizzari - Italian - 88 / 100

To answer the question posed at the beginning of the article, for us, pronouns have absolutely nothing to do with the success or failure of a title, and Avowed is proof of that: an excellent RPG, with some flaws, but many strengths, including an engaging plot, choices that change the game world, and almost total freedom of action. Do yourself a favor: play Avowed, or you'll regret it.

Dexerto - Jessica Filby - 4 / 5

It may not be groundbreaking, but Avowed certainly leaves one hell of a mark on the RPG genre. The game's fun, challenging, and extremely enjoyable to play from start to finish, even when you're being hounded by giant mechanical undead creatures.

Digital Spy - Joe Draper - 4 / 5

Avowed is full of consequential player choices, meaningful side content and rewarding exploration all backed up by slick movement and some of the best combat in a first-person action RPG. It might not reinvent the genre, but Obsidian has achieved everything they set out to by creating a super fun adventure worth your time.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 8.5 / 10

Avowed offers an immersive RPG experience that combines exploration, combat, and storytelling in Obsidian’s signature style. The Living Lands world is alive with life, encouraging exploration and experimentation, while combat offers flexible weapon and spell choices. Companions add a personal and dynamic touch to the journey, and despite some limitations in customization and combat interaction, Avowed remains a promising experience for RPG fans, offering an adventure full of mystery and challenges.

Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - No Recommendation

There's a lot to admire in Avowed—its old-school RPG soul, captivating world, and flexible gameplay—but predictable writing and some questionable design choices make this Obsidian experience less engaging than it could be.

Enternity.gr - Christos Chatzisavvas - Greek - 9 / 10

The journey into the world of Pillars of Eternity continues through Avowed, the newest RPG from Obsidian. And it's great!

EvelonGames - Joel Isern Rodríguez - Kaym - Spanish - 7.8 / 10

Avowed is an RPG that reflects both the talent and limitations of Obsidian. It is a solid, enjoyable game with moments of quality, but it falls short of being unforgettable. Its magic system and vertical exploration stand out as strong points, complemented by an artistic design brimming with personality. Additionally, its performance is smooth, delivering a more than satisfactory technical experience.

Explosion Network - Dylan Blight - 9 / 10

I wasn't ready for the breadth of lore and world-building here that would have me both enamoured by this game, its characters, and its setting.

GRYOnline.pl - Przemysław Dygas - Polish - Unscored

Avowed is a great RPG, it’s as simple as that. This game made me forget about mediocre The Outer Worlds and refueled my trust for Obsidian. The creators of great role playing games are back and their new game is full of all the things that made New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity or Tyranny so good. (Review in progress)

GameOnly - Daniel Kucner - Polish - 8 / 10

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GameSpot - Alessandro Barbosa - 6 / 10

Avowed's impactful and satisfying combat is undone by a widely unbalanced upgrade system and an uninteresting story that wastes its potential.

Gamer Guides - Patrick Dane - 84 / 100

Avowed continues Obsidian’s tradition of creating excellent RPGs that feel heavily linked to well-trodden genres, yet not doing quite enough to carve out a new identity. There’s a lot to be charmed by, be it nuanced characters and choices, a heavy dialogue focus, and a compelling central mystery where what’s ‘good’ isn’t often clear. While it doesn’t push the envelope, it does enough to justify its place, and for just the price of a GamePass subscription, it’s easy to recommend trying.

Gamers Heroes - Blaine Smith - 85 / 100

Avowed takes a few hours to find its feet, but once it does, this RPG provides an unforgettable journey that never outstays its welcome. Avowed features a jaw-dropping world to explore, complete with a solid cast of intriguing characters and choices that will remain with you long after the credits roll.

GamesFinest - Luca Pernecker - German - 8 / 10

Avowed proves once again why Obsidian Entertainment is one of the leading studios in the RPG genre. With a world that deserves to be explored at leisure, remarkable freedom in decision-making, fascinating characters and a gripping story that draws you in, the game is an impressive achievement. The action-packed combat system also provides plenty of fun. It's just a shame that weaker side quests as well as technical problems and bugs tarnish the overall impression. Even if Avowed does not offer any groundbreaking innovations and has minor weaknesses here and there, it is a game that experienced and future role-playing game fans absolutely must experience!

Gaming Nexus - Eric Hauter - 8 / 10

While balanced in a way that forces the player to experience almost everything the game has to offer, Avowed is still a lot of fun. A great story, fun companions, and a richly designed world all contribute to an overall good time. Just remember to take your time early on, because this game wants you to see everything, and it will punish you for trying to skip ahead.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

Avowed is Obsidian at its finest. It is the fantasy RPG that I hoped it would be without consuming my entire life to experience it. We’ll be talking about this game for a long time and replaying it whenever the itch returns. Sure, it isn’t the most ambitious and grand RPG ever made, but it shines in everything it does.

Hinsusta - Pascal Kaap - German - 9 / 10

Avowed is an outstanding action-fantasy RPG with a magical world and a spectacular combat system. Avowed is a successful action RPG that impresses with its magical and spectacular combat system. Avowed not only impresses with its thrilling battles, but also with its deep and lively world

INVEN - Jaihoon Jeong - Korean - 8.3 / 10

With its well-established lore, solid narrative, and highly polished world, Avowed is a fantastic game that lives up to Obsidian Entertainment’s reputation. However, compared to other games in the genre, its world feels overly rigid and lacks the sense of being truly alive, which keeps it from standing among the very best.

Just Play it - Yacine Tebaibia - Arabic - 8 / 10

Avowed offers a fun experience with a branching story, smooth and deep gameplay, and a visually stunning world full of color and detail. Though it has some technical issues, like performance instability and simplistic AI, it’s still worth playing for RPG fans.

Le Bêta-Testeur - Patrick Tremblay - French - 10 / 10

Avowed kicks off 2025 with a bang with an epic RPG experience. It’s already establishing itself as one of the major titles of the year. After so many hours spent exploring the Living Lands, it’s hard to shake its spellbinding appeal. The world, lore, and characters are among the most carefully crafted I’ve ever encountered, a testament to the attention to detail and love that has gone into this universe.

Obsidian Entertainment has created a masterpiece, and every RPG fan should play it.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 8.5 / 10

Despite a few issues, Avowed had me hooked throughout. It's a beautiful, incredibly charming game that does its best to fill a gap where the Elder Scrolls 6 should be.

Lords Of Gaming - Mahmood Ghaffar - 8.5 / 10

Avowed is one of Obsidian’s most ambitious projects to date. They meticulously crafted vibrant zones that culminate into a beautiful, yet wild, Living Lands continent. Best of all, they delivered such an amazing experience while making it so streamlined for players. Whether that comes from the accessible lore glossary, helpful mini-map, or robust and flexible skill trees, Avowed is a joy to play and stays well within its scope. Even its rougher edges cannot deter your adventure in the Living Lands.

Manual dos Games - Joao Victor - Portuguese - 8 / 10

Avowed is a game with an expansive universe and an engaging story, complemented by solid gameplay and rich exploration. However, it fails to deliver overly simplified mechanics and an unbalanced difficulty curve, which undermines the depth of the experience.

MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 9.3 / 10

With Avowed, Obsidian confirms itself as one of the best RPG studios around, capable of reworking a now-classic formula by rejuvenating it, lightening it up, and combining it with first-rate storytelling, world building, and gameplay mechanics. We are undoubtedly in front of a true gem of the RPG genre, to be played without hesitation.

MonsterVine - Luis Joshua Gutierrez - 4.5 / 5

I'm happy to report that Avowed has the sauce, and this is perhaps Obsidian Entertainment at its absolute best. Every time I stepped away from the game to do something else, all I could think about was how much I wanted to step back into this world and find new things. The more I thought about the game, the more I enjoyed it. Avowed is a game that asks a lot of its players but delivers on it, too. It creates a unique sense of exploration while covering intense topics such as imperialism and nature preservation with a fun combat system that encourages you to try new things.

NextPlay - Brad Goodwin - 7.5 / 10

Avowed offers a serviceable RPG experience that relies a little too heavy on its ravishing combat and compelling world-building. The story, while distinguished, can falter occasionally due to some unfair dialogue choices and suffered writing. Despite this, Avowed is still a game worth playing because it capitalises and personalises action-RPG tropes and mechanics found in its peers.

Nexus Hub - Andrew Logue - 8 / 10

Avowed is easy to recommend to fans of The Outer Worlds or even Skyrim, blending epic, flexible role-playing with Obsidian's signature writing and storytelling - even if it feels more like comfort food at times.

PPE.pl - Maciej Zabłocki - Polish - 8.5 / 10

Avowed is a solid RPG that combines first-person exploration (although there is also a third-person mode) in the style of titles from Bethesda with the depth of dialogue and choices native to Pillars of Eternity. Although the optimization leaves a lot to be desired, and the side quests could be more original, the engaging storyline and extensive conversation systems make up for many of the shortcomings. The game will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Obsidian games and anyone who appreciates the freedom of conflict resolution. If you are ready to turn a blind eye to the technical pains, Avowed offers a beautiful expedition into the magical world of Eora, which you will remember for a very long time.

Pizza Fria - Matheus Feldmann da Rosa - Portuguese - 7.4 / 10

If you’re looking for an accessible RPG with a visually stunning world and rewarding exploration, Avowed could be a worthwhile option. Its focus on straightforward combat and item gathering could appeal to players who don’t care as much about narrative complexity or deep RPG systems.

PowerUp! - Leo Stevenson - 9 / 10

Avowed is a genuine triumph and one of the first major releases from Xbox game dev buying spree that will pay dividends. It's a deep, complex and though-provoking RPG from masters of the genre. It revels in being played and tugs at the back of your lizard brain beckoning you back when you take a break.

Press Start - 8.5 / 10

Like The Outer Worlds before it, Avowed is Obsidian's truncated spin on a well-worn genre-and a genre they've got plenty of experience in. For those eagerly awaiting the next Elder Scrolls, this is a satisfying scratching of that itch even if its role-playing elements are stripped back to make room for more action. It's a bright, boisterous adventure full of politics and a fluid combat system that marries all manner of might and magic.

Restart.run - John Carson - Recommended

We need more games like Avowed. It’s not impossibly huge, it doesn’t hold you hostage for hundreds of hours, and it doesn’t try to be the last game you’ll ever need to buy. Instead, Obsidian Entertainment has made another engaging addition to an existing lore-rich world that’s fun and rewarding to explore. It's filled with great characters brought to life with excellent writing.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored

Avowed is not the Obsidian fantasy RPG I wanted, but the decently fun spell-slinging parkour FPS I didn't expect.

SECTOR.sk - Táňa Matúšová - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Avowed doesn't aim to make you a superhero in an epic story on great battlefields. Instead, it wants you to listen, uncover the narrative page by page, find characters who reveal something important, and perhaps keep you uncertain about your final decision until the very end. A vast array of dialogue and combat choices is somewhat hindered by a lack of enemy variety. Minor visual and technical shortcomings slightly impact the otherwise unique aesthetic of a game that challenges you to reflect on your core principles and values.

SIFTER - Gianni Di Giovanni - Worth your time

Strong writing, a world packed with loveable weirdos, and lore for days, Obsidian have managed to transition the world of Eora from the top down to the front on, building a world that'll encourage you to pick at every nook and cranny of the Living Lands.

Seasoned Gaming - Don Lionheart - 8.5 / 10

Avowed is superb, with true RPG goodness, real choices, deep systems, fun combat, and a true understanding and reverence of Eora.

Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 9 / 10

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Stevivor - Jam Walker - 7.5 / 10

There’s just something about Avowed that makes it feel very much like a product built for a subscription service. Not in a live-service game kind of way, but in a Netflix Original Movie kind of way.

TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 9 / 10

Obsidian Entertainment continues to live up to players' expectations of delivering a game with quality writing, engaging choices, and compelling gameplay. Avowed is all those things and more: an epic fantasy that'll keep you hooked, which makes it one of the best RPGs this decade.

The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 8 / 10

Avowed delivers satisfying combat, engaging exploration and fun weapon-switching combinations, making it an enjoyable action RPG despite its generic story, weak soundtrack and frustrating technical issues. Whether this is Obsidian’s greatest is debatable, but its strong side content and Game Pass availability make it at least worth a playthrough.

The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4 / 5

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Avowed. Obsidian has crafted another fantastic RPG, and while it does nothing revolutionary, the quality it shows across board make it a joy to play. A game I would highly recommend to any RPG fan.

TheSixthAxis - Dominic Leighton - 9 / 10

Avowed is an incredible RPG. Its vibrant world and stellar cast make every moment a joy to take part in, enhanced by a script that gives equal measure to drama, action and humour. Coming hot on the heels of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, Microsoft's software revival is well underway.

Tom's Hardware Italia - Andrea Riviera - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Avowed was everything I wanted from Obsidian: a role-playing game where choices truly impact the adventure, and writing plays a fundamental role in the game's structure. It’s not a perfect production—small imperfections, less impactful voice acting, and a level of polish that could have been better prevented the team from delivering a title that could have been truly memorable. But in the end, it doesn’t matter much, because as far as I’m concerned, Obsidian’s new IP is perhaps one of their best projects to date—a true RPG that, while it may not achieve immediate acclaim, could very well become one of the team’s most beloved titles in the long run.

VGC - Chris Scullion - 4 / 5

Avowed is a solid action RPG with an entertaining script, satisfying combat and impressively detailed environments. The inability to clean up side quests after the main story is beaten can be frustrating, but take your time with it and enjoy everything it has to offer, and you'll find plenty of memorable moments.

WellPlayed - James Wood - 6 / 10

Avowed moves Obsidian Entertainment even further toward the action side of Action-RPG with a satisfying combat system and vibrant world stapled to an unengaging narrative and surface level roleplaying systems. Despite its initially promising setup, Avowed never rises above a binge and forget experience.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 7.8 / 10

Avowed is a game full of fun exploration, an interesting story tied to lackluster combat, and an annoying equipment system that keeps it from reaching its full potential. When I was engaged in Avowed, I would spend hours wandering around, talking to NPCs, and completing quests. However, when the game wasn't firing on all cylinders, I was frustrated and frequently bored. It's a game of high highs and low lows, but the highs were enough to keep me engaged despite the flaws.

XGN.nl - Ralph Beentjes - Dutch - 9.2 / 10

Obsidian has proven once again that they are the masters of role-playing games. Avowed has excellent combat, lively characters, a beautiful world and the storytelling is masterful. If they just fix a couple of bugs, they’ve got a masterpiece on their hands.

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 8.8 / 10

Avowed is an excellent game. One major issue keeps it from being an all-timer for me, with the gear progression system being as restrictive as it is at launch. They can patch that, and I hope they do as the rest of the game is excellent. Obsidian’s top-tier writing has finally been matched with gorgeous visuals and satisfying gameplay.

ZTGD - Ken McKown - 8 / 10

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ZdobywcyGier.eu - Paweł Bortkiewicz - Polish - 8 / 10

Avowed is a pretty good RPG that is limited in places by its technical state. Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable adventure from a standpoint of gameplay and storyline alone. Obsidian definitely knows how to make games that players want to play, but they still need to work on the technical elements, because in this case it could have been polished more.

Game Information

Game Title: Saros

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 30, 2026)

Trailer:

Developer: Housemarque

Publisher: PlayStation Studios

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 90 average - 93% recommended - 61 reviews

Critic Reviews

4News.it - Vincenzo D'Alcantara - Italian - 9.3 / 10

Housemarque has crafted a masterpiece in which the dynamism of the gameplay and the controlled chaos that ensues generate an ‘instinctive’ feel that is utterly addictive. It is a work that minimises the gap between intention and action, capable of making us enthusiastic ‘accomplices’ in a magnificent frenzy. If Returnal challenged us with its harshness, Saros invites us to master the storm with a newfound awareness that creeps under your skin in a damn natural way. It is a cohesive, pulsating and utterly dynamic experience that makes everything else seem to move in slow motion. It is the Finnish team’s mature masterpiece: intelligent, brutal and bloody brilliant. Once you’ve entered its loop, you’ll just want to keep going, and going, and going.

But Why Tho? - Matt Sowinski - 9.5 / 10

Saros is Housemarque at its best. It nails the roguelike formula, with each run feeling completely different than what came before thanks to changing areas and a variety of weapons. The story grips you and doesn’t let go, with Rahul Kohli’s fantastic performance at the heart of it.

CGMagazine - Zubi Khan - 9.5 / 10

SAROS carries that torch and expands on the formula to new heights, introducing an entire ensemble cast of characters that push the narrative further as players unravel the mystery on a new alien planet, Carcosa.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 96 / 100

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ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9 / 10

Housemarque has once again made one of the best-playing PS5 games and a shooter that handles wonderfully as you find upgrades and create a build to take on difficult bosses.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10

Housemarque’s Saros feels like a proper evolution of Returnal’s mechanics. It’s bold, it’s exciting, thrilling even. Each time Arjun heads out in search of answers yields clues to the truth behind Carcosa and those burdened by its existence.

Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - 5 / 5

"Come back stronger," has been pitched as the core ethos Saros wants to instil within you - and Housemarque absolutely did.

Digitec Magazine - Simon Balissat - German - 5 / 5

“Saros” is a powerhouse. Visually, sonically, and mechanically, few action titles can match this adventure on Carcosa. Six years into its lifecycle, the PS5 finally gets its first truly must-have exclusive action shooter.

Its finely balanced mix of offense and defense, breathtaking setting, and a solid—if somewhat clunky—story make this roguelite essential, even if you’re not typically a fan of shooters.

Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - Essential

With a generous progression system and well-considered design decisions, Saros is as challenging as it is motivating cycle after cycle, with Housemarque once again proving that it is an unmissable reference in chaotic action games painted in cosmic horror.

Eurogamer - Rick Lane - 4 / 5

Saros' narrative often feels at odds with the kind of experience it wants to be, but there's no denying this is another top-tier action game from Housemarque.

Eurogamer.pt - Adolfo Soares - Portuguese - 4 / 5

Saros multiplies the Returnal formula with a brutal shooter and mechanics refined to perfection. Unfortunately, this excellence comes up against an uninspired and disjointed narrative that interrupts the rhythm. Even so, there is an addictive mechanical heart that keeps you coming back.

GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 90%

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GameOnly - Przemysław Naglik - Polish - 4.25 / 5

SAROS proves that it’s possible to create a big-budget game that isn’t afraid to make bold decisions. It’s an accessible, incredibly enjoyable, and highly spectacular roguelite.

GameRant - Dalton Cooper - 9 / 10

Housemarque follows up Returnal with PS5 exclusive Saros, another wildly entertaining and action-packed third-person shooter.

GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 10 / 10

Housemarque is back with yet another fantastic fast-paced third person shooter. Saros builds on Returnal, delivering deeper and more enjoyable gameplay, as well as a new permanent progression system and modifiers which allow you to tweak the difficulty to your preferences. All in all, it's Housemarque's best game yet.

GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10

Saros is a phenomenal game that flips Housemarque's roguelite formula on its head and improves upon its spiritual predecessor in every conceivable way.

Gameliner - Rudy Wijnberg - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

Saros is undoubtedly a really fun game to play. Yes, the game is essentially very similar to its predecessor, Returnal, but it’s clear that Housemarque has directly applied the lessons learned from that game to Saros.

GamerFocus - Julián Ramírez - Spanish - 8 / 10

Saros will not only satisfy Returnal fans, but also has the potential to attract a new audience with its intense combat system and wonderful cosmic horror setting. We just hope that the difficulty spikes, how overwhelming it can be at times, and some narrative issues don't scare off some players too much.

Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8.8 / 10

Saros is a remarkably pragmatic evolution. It holds onto the spectacular bullet hell barrage and top tier gunplay that defined its predecessor, while making smart compromises to better fit mainstream playstyles. With a gentler difficulty curve and clear, intuitive progression feedback, it lowers the once-intimidating barrier to entry significantly. As a major tentpole in Sony's first party lineup this year, this game truly delivers an exhilarating, deeply satisfying alien odyssey for action-shooter fans.

Gaming Boulevard - Michiel Vonck - 9 / 10

In the end, Saros stands out as a must-play for fans of the genre and a worthy successor to Returnal, pushing roguelike shooters forward with confidence and style.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10

Saros is an incredible step up over Returnal in every way imaginable. The rogue-lite progression and quality-of-life improvements are great, but it's the more complex bullet-hell system, bolstered by a compelling world and some masterful level design, that truly elevates it.

GamingTrend - Ron Burke, David Burdette - 95 / 100

Saros is Housemarque's ultimate creation; the culmination of years of hard work and experimentation. Returnal is Game of the Year quality, no doubt. But Saros has taken what Returnal offered and refined it, only adding to the formula until the end result is Housemarque's finest release yet. In a sea of great April games, Saros' excellence stands out as another Game of the Year contender.

Geekinout.pt - Jorge Loureiro - Portuguese - 10 / 10

Saros isn’t just an evolution of Returnal; it’s the culmination of decades of mastery from Housemarque. A must-play game that showcases the PS5’s true potential. The studio hasn’t simply rested on the success of Returnal. It’s a game that manages to be faster, more beautiful and, above all, smarter in the way it respects the player’s time. By balancing challenging difficulty with addictive permanent progression and risk-based mechanics such as Eclipses, the studio has delivered what is, for me, the definitive experience in the roguelike genre.

Geeks & Com - Kevin Cormier - French - 9.5 / 10

If it hasn’t been clear up until now, let’s state it plainly here: Saros is, to date, the best game of 2026. We’re talking about a game that’s much more accessible to newcomers to the genre. A storyline that’s more fleshed out than their previous work. We’re talking about new features that elevate the game to the highest strata. And finally, a playtime that adapts to each player’s pace (yet remains more than respectable for the most experienced players). Saros improves and even transforms the genre. Few can boast of such an achievement.

HCL.hr - Hrvoje Smoljic - Unknown - 90 / 100

A blend of oppressive atmosphere and raw mechanical thrill you rarely find these days. Saros isn't just a better Returnal - it's proof that Housemarque has no equal in this genre.

IGN - Michael Higham - 7 / 10

Saros tries at an interesting and ambitious story it isn't always able to effectively tell, but Housemarque has once again proved that its bullet-hell sensibilities mesh incredibly well with fluid and challenging action.

IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 9 / 10

Saros takes everything that made Returnal hard to love and smartly refines it. The result is one of the best shooters in recent years, on PS5 and beyond.

IGN Portugal - Pedro Pestana - Portuguese - 9 / 10