Bloodborne

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 73

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FromSoftware is one of the only developers left that constantly tests the player and actually makes you work for your satisfaction. But underneath its intimidating exterior, Bloodborne is irresistible and one of the best games of the PS4 generation.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 73

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 73

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Critic Reviews for Bloodborne

Critic Reviews

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73

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

100%

Average Score - 91/100

91%

Low Score - 80/100

80%

Recommended

Rich Stanton (Eurogamer)

The structure underlying Bloodborne is not just original but coherent, and because of this the impact of everything it does is commensurately greater. This is total design. It feels wonderful to have a world like this and, over a week of solid play later, feel that there’s so much more to discover. And it’s awful to know that, in all likelihood, it will be a painfully long time until I play anything else that matches up to Bloodborne’s breadth of vision, generosity of content, and – yes – genius.

March 27, 2015 |

Full Review

One of the best action games of the generation and a stunning achievement in terms of gameplay, art design, and encouraging players to push themselves beyond their limits.

March 24, 2015 |

Full Review

9/10

Roger Hargreaves (Metro GameCentral)

4.5/5 stars

Ben Griffin (GamesRadar+)

An invigorated spirit occupying a reassuringly recognisable body, Dark Souls’ life force flows through Bloodborne’s revitalised veins. Intelligent and intense, it’s simply PS4’s best exclusive game.

March 23, 2015 |

Full Review

Rich Stanton (Eurogamer)

Recommended - (Read Review)

Roger Hargreaves (Metro GameCentral)

9/10 - (Read Review)

One of the best action games of the generation and a stunning achievement in terms of gameplay, art design, and encouraging players to push themselves beyond their limits.

Ben Griffin (GamesRadar+)

4.5/5 stars - (Read Review)

**Read all 73 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (73 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Arcade Sushi	Alex Langley	9.5 / 10	03-30-2015	In Bloodborne, things are going to be tough, you're going to die, and, most importantly, you're going to have one hell of a good time.	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	William Schwartz	4.5 / 5 stars	03-22-2015	Those that are up for the challenge of Bloodborne are going to find a game that plays better, looks better, and has more to keep you occupied than any of the Souls games had.	Read review
AusGamers	Joaby	8 / 10	04-16-2015	I'm torn, because even with this game crash] error Bloodborne is a candidate for Game of the Year. That's how good I think it is, absent end-game, memory leak and all.	Read review
CGMagazine	Brendan Quinn	9.5 / 10	03-22-2015	All in all, the game is exactly what Souls fans have been hoping for in this new generation of consoles. It's gorgeous, terrifying, relentless and highly addictive.	Read review
Cheat Code Central	Matt Walker	4 / 5 stars	03-23-2015	Bloodborne is not a game for everyone. It simply is not going to appeal to the mass audience. However, I can say that in the time I ended up spending with the game I grew very fond of what was before me. It's not punishment just because, it's more in line with challenging you to become a different type of player when enjoying these games. You can't just hack your way through things, even when you feel like your latest upgrades should make you unstoppable. You have to have a strategy to how you play no matter what. For that, I say this is probably my new favorite title of next-gen consoles, but then again I could have just become assimilated to enjoy the pain. Now I just have to figure out if I should say thank you or just sit quietly until my next punishment.	Read review
COGconnected	Nicholas Plouffe	90 / 100	03-31-2015	This nightmare is challenging, scary, and easily one of the best games I've ever played. Both fans of From's previous work and newcomers alike should really give this a shot, and see what you're made of. May the good blood guide your way.	Read review
Critical Hit	Umar Bastra	9.5 / 10	03-31-2015	The brutal difficulty is a huge part of the experience, but don't be fooled into thinking that's all the game is about. If you take the time to really get lost in the game, you'll feel the pride and love that From Software has poured into it	Read review
Cubed3	Albert Lichi	9 / 10	04-01-2015	It will intimidate with monstrous foes and unimaginable horrors, but the satisfaction that is felt when they are overcome is quite real. Is Bloodborne a reason to get a PS4? Maybe. This game will keep people talking about it for a long time.	Read review
Daily Dot	Miguel Concepcion	5 / 5 stars	03-26-2015	I was excited to get back to Yharnam, despite all the lives I would soon lose, let alone all the Blood Echoes I would waste. And I was also sad upon the realization that I haven't felt this kind of impatience and excitement in a game in a long time, not since my initial playthrough of The Last of Us. That was two years ago.	Read review
Destructoid	Chris Carter	9 / 10	03-23-2015	Bloodborne is an interesting mix of everything From Software has learned throughout its storied developmental career. Not everything will gel with fans old and new, but for the most part, the shift towards a combat-oriented game is a net positive. From Software is still one of the only developers left that makes you work for your satisfaction, and Bloodborne is damn satisfying.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Eric Layman	9.4 / 10	03-30-2015	With aggression as its invitation, Bloodborne invokes a calculated shift in Souls parlance. Its aim isn't necessarily a course correction, but rather a Y-axis slant into an alternative series of objectives. Sacrificed are a few degrees of personal customization, only to be replaced by a renewed sense of distress and wonder. Bloodborne's demanding novelty, even with its unrepentant focus, feels built to last.	Read review
Digital Spy	Liam Martin	5 / 5 stars	03-22-2015	I want to keep playing, I want to discover its secrets, I want to fight every monster, try every weapon, discuss theories and explore as many of the community dungeons as possible. To put it bluntly, I want to bleed the game dry.	Read review
Digital Trends	Michael Rougeau	4 / 5 stars	03-30-2015	Bloodborne is a significant evolution of the Souls series, but it comes with some new problems too.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Matt S.	5 / 5 stars	03-25-2015	Combat aside, Bloodborne is a visionary work by a visionary artist. Intense in both theme and application, it's a gory concession to the tastes of the modern mainstream player, while maintaining the spirit and uncompromising narrative that was the hallmark of the Souls games at their finest. But this is far more consistent in that application than those games, making it From Software's finest work to date.	Read review
DualShockers	Giuseppe Nelva	9.5 / 10	03-24-2015	Yet, while it does have a few actual shortcomings, if you're willing to embrace its challenge and ruthless fairness, Bloodborne is most probably the best game released on PS4 so far, and one of the best experiences of this generation. It mixes pleasure and pain wisely, creating a special concoction that will keep you glued to the DualShock 4 (unless you throw it against a wall).	Read review
EGM	Josh Harmon	9.5 / 10	03-23-2015	Though built on the same core as the Souls games, Bloodborne marks the largest departure from the status quo to date. The numerous changes, many in service of a faster and more aggressive playstyle, might not be for everyone, but if you embrace that shift, you might well have a new favorite in the From Software canon.	Read review
Eurogamer	Rich Stanton	Recommended	03-26-2015	The structure underlying Bloodborne is not just original but coherent, and because of this the impact of everything it does is commensurately greater. This is total design. It feels wonderful to have a world like this and, over a week of solid play later, feel that there's so much more to discover. And it's awful to know that, in all likelihood, it will be a painfully long time until I play anything else that matches up to Bloodborne's breadth of vision, generosity of content, and - yes - genius.	Read review
Fextralife	Castielle	9.5 / 10	04-10-2015	A fantastic game that holds its own against Dark Souls. A brand new setting and new gameplay mechanics add a freshness to the Souls formula. There's a lot to explore and experience including savage death. Right now, it's the best RPG of the current gen.	Read review
Forbes	Erik Kain	9.5 / 10	04-11-2015	I give Bloodborne a resounding Buy in my Buy/Hold/Sell rating scale. This is the first true system-seller for the PS4, the first game that convinces me that the PS4 is a system worth purchasing. It isn't for everyone, of course. If you don't like hard games you probably won't like this one. But even gamers who didn't like the Souls games have been pleased with Bloodborne, like our own Paul Tassi. So who knows?	Read review
Game Informer	Daniel Tack	9.8 / 10	03-23-2015	An unsettling, Lovecraftian adventure through nightmares that constantly tests and enthralls the player. Just when you think you have things figured out, new elements come into play	Read review
Game Revolution	Nicholas Tan	4 / 5 stars	03-22-2015	Bloodborne may feel like a shapeshifted offshoot of the Souls series, but it remains a beast which carries that elite badge of honor for those who can slay it.	Read review
GameCrate	Robert Workman	8.3 / 10	04-02-2015	Bloodborne is going to be a hard game for some players to accept, due to its diabolical difficulty settings and small hitches with presentation and multiplayer. If you can get past these, however, you'll find a welcome challenge courtesy of From Software's team, one with vivid visuals, exciting gameplay, and plenty of additions that make it well worth hacking away with. Action games have hardly felt this diabolical – but with this developer at the helm, that's a good thing.	Read review
Gameplanet	Matt Maguire	9 / 10	04-13-2015	Bloodborne is both perplexing and awe-inspiring, a challenging but rewarding title that will absorb or repel with equal strength.	Read review
GamesBeat	Gavin Greene	88 / 100	03-22-2015	Bloodborne is the system seller for all dedicated gamers that don't already own a PS4.	Read review
GameSkinny	Farrel Nobel	9 / 10	04-16-2015	Despite a few performance issues, Bloodborne's solid combat and innovative multiplayer make it easily the best game of this new generation, and a worthy successor to Dark Souls.	Read review
GameSpot	Kevin VanOrd	9 / 10	03-22-2015	Bloodborne's excellent action, beautiful artistry, and religious melodrama make it another must-play in the Demon's Souls tradition.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Ben Griffin	4.5 / 5 stars	03-23-2015	An invigorated spirit occupying a reassuringly recognisable body, Dark Souls' life force flows through Bloodborne's revitalised veins. Intelligent and intense, it's simply PS4's best exclusive game.	Read review
GameZone	Andrew Clouther	9 / 10	03-23-2015	If you've been the conductor of the hype train since 'Project Beast,' you absolutely won't be disappointed. This game is what you've been waiting for and more. Sure certain key features are a little wonky or perform under- par, but they don't ruin the act	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Jeremy Duff	9 / 10	03-23-2015	Despite the manner in which it will punish and abuse you, Bloodborne will have you crawling back to it and saying, "Thank you, sir, may I please have another." It's a gorgeous and dreadful world that sucks you in, and then kills you. Beautiful in every single aspect of the game and sense of the word, this progression of the Souls franchise is more accessible and addicting than ever.	Read review
GamingBolt	Leonid Melikhov	9.5 / 10	03-26-2015	Bloodborne will keep you addicted for weeks if not months. Sony finally have a winner for the PlayStation 4.	Read review
GamingTrend	Eric Van Allen	95 / 100	03-23-2015	Bloodborne takes what made Souls amazing in the past, and infuses it with speed, risk-reward play, and a haunting atmosphere. Only a few technical hiccups hold back a masterpiece from Miyazaki and From Software. This is a must-play game for any PS4 owner with a masochistic side.	Read review
GBAtemp	Jakub Kowalski	9.6 / 10	04-09-2015	Bloodborne is a game I was looking forward to since it was announced and only a few titles hyped to that extent deliver on their promises	Read review
Geeks Under Grace	Rob M	9 / 10	04-01-2015	Bloodborne is the perfect game for the hardcore gamer seeking a rewarding challenge.	Read review
God is a Geek	Mick Fraser	10 / 10	03-24-2015	Thrilling and masterfully crafted, Bloodborne is a gorgeous, grim and gruelling adventure,and unarguably the first essential exclusive of this generation.	Read review
Guardian	Simon Parkin	5 / 5 stars	03-23-2015	Its elegance, precision, humour, and challenge make Bloodborne irresistible. Ultimately, the horror is secondary; wonder is the true transfusion on offer here.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Steve Hannley	4.5 / 5 stars	03-23-2015	Make no mistake: Bloodborne will put hair on your chest.	Read review
IGN	Brandin Tyrrel	9.1 / 10	03-23-2015	Bloodborne delivers an exhausting and exhilarating journey into the depths of madness.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Sean Warhurst	4.7 / 5 stars	04-01-2015	Bloodborne is the system selling exclusive that the PS4 has been waiting for (Sorry, Infamous: Second Son; we're still cool though) and stands tall as the most accomplished game to come out of From Software's studios to date. If you dig Bloodborne then definitely go and check out From's other offerings… You won't be disappointed, even if the pace is somewhat slower (And, coincidentally, Dark Souls 2 is getting a current gen remaster sometime this month, so get on board!).	Read review
Kill Screen	Gareth Damian Martin	90 / 100	03-26-2015	With this in mind, if Dark Souls is medieval gothic—its dichotomies of heaven and hell gestured at by pointed arches, supporting both a true spirituality and a belief in the divine—then Bloodborne is the epitome of gothic revival—where subjectivity replaces spirituality, and man strives to plumb the depths of human experience.	Read review
Kotaku	Patrick Klepek	Recommended	04-02-2015	The most rewarding game experience I've had this year.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	Roger Hargreaves	9 / 10	03-23-2015	One of the best action games of the generation and a stunning achievement in terms of gameplay, art design, and encouraging players to push themselves beyond their limits.	Read review
MMORPG.com	William Murphy	9 / 10	03-23-2015	I could go on about Bloodborne, but I won't. I'll simply say that it's one of the best action RPGs I've ever played. It's brutally difficult, but never cheap, and it's one of the most atmospheric games in recent years. If you fancy hard games, if you love a good deep RPG that doesn't hold your hand, then you owe it to yourself to play this one. It's a shame it's only on the PS4, but frankly, Bloodborne is worth buying the system to play.	Read review
New Game Network	Alex Varankou	87 / 100	04-05-2015	If you can get into its bloody, visceral and unforgiving rhythm, Bloodborne grabs and never lets go. Not until you've seen it all and triumphed over every abomination.	Read review
Niche Gamer	Chris Gregoria	9 / 10	03-31-2015	Ultimately, the lack of available options to approach combat with doesn't make Bloodborne a bad game, at all. Where it does hurt, however, is the online longevity of the game. While Bloodborne is absolutely worth picking up and playing through a few times, it's likely that most fans of From's games will be sticking with Dark Souls 2 for their long-term PvP online.	Read review
NZGamer	Keith Milburn	8.9 / 10	03-23-2015	Bloodborne lends heavily from its forebears, but transforms the combat into a fast-paced dance of death. It rewards aggression rather than hanging back and waiting for opportunities to present themselves. While some technical, design, and pacing issues mar parts of the experience, Bloodborne is the freshest playing entry in a genre that has very narrow gameplay constraints.	Read review
Paste Magazine	Javy Gwaltney	8.8 / 10	03-31-2015	It is rare that I finish a game, especially one that's more than 6 hours, and immediately want to restart and play through it all again. Bloodborne is a deeply challenging game set in a fantastically realized gothic nightmare, an adventure of the highest quality for those willing to undergo the game's trial by fire and push past the technical hiccups.	Read review
PCMag	Gabriel Zamora	4 / 5 stars	03-24-2015	Bloodborne changes up the "Souls" formula radically with faster and more aggressive combat. The Lovecraftian horror and Victorian setting only add to the charm. One of the best PS4 releases to date.	Read review
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette	Max Parker	9 / 10	03-23-2015	While "Bloodborne" features attack and dodge maneuvers, it is not a hack-and-slash game. Approaching it as such would result in many deaths, and wouldn't be any fun for the player. This game requires saint-like patience and its difficulty increases as patience is lost. Because of this, not everybody is going to love "Bloodborne. But if it's approached as the game is designed, it's is one of the best experiences of 2015.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Adam Byrne	9.5 / 10	03-23-2015	From Software's Bloodborne is a triumphant success in what's arguably been a lackluster generation thus far. It's taken just over a year for PlayStation 4 to get its first fully fledged must-have title. Thankfully for us, it's finally arrived. Bloodborne is an undisputed revelation.	Read review
Polygon	Michael McWhertor	9 / 10	03-27-2015	Bloodborne is a shrewd turn from its souls lineage	Read review
Post Arcade (National Post)	Chad Sapieha	9 / 10	03-23-2015	From Software's daunting new RPG may not be to all tastes, but it can be pure masochistic pleasure if you let its claws dig in	Read review
Push Square	Ben Potter	9 / 10	04-10-2015	From start to finish, Bloodborne revels in its unique – if somewhat masochistic – approach to entertainment. There are very few games that cause you to curse their developer one minute and sing their praises the next – but this is one of them. It is, quite simply, a sensationally designed and superbly refined offering.	Read review
Shacknews	Daniel Perez	9 / 10	04-06-2015	From Software's Bloodborne is quite the intimidating game, but if you're able to stick with it, you'll find an extremely worthwhile experience underneath its intimidating exterior.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Aaron Riccio	4.5 / 5 stars	03-26-2015	A result of the lack of tutorials and handholding is that each bit of incremental, hard-earned progress provides an unparalleled adrenaline rush.	Read review
Softpedia	Radu Haulica	9 / 10	03-29-2015	Bloodborne is truly a remarkable game, more appealing than its predecessors, more cohesive, and more satisfying from a mechanical point of view. It also has a compelling atmosphere and a captivating world to explore, full of beautiful vistas and horrific creatures to battle, as well as an ample background to slowly discover.	Read review
TechnoBuffalo	Eric Frederiksen	Recommended	03-24-2015	Bloodborne is a frustrating game, and I don't want anyone to go in thinking otherwise. But it's worthwhile, too. Despite some yelling, I've enjoyed nearly every moment with the game, and it's a world I can't wait to dive back into for more punishment and triumph.	Read review
TechRaptor	Wyatt Hnatiw	9 / 10	04-06-2015	Bloodborne is a fantastic game any way you slice it. If you can deal with the odd ragequit, Bloodborne should be on any PS4 owner's must play list.	Read review
Telegraph	John Robertson	5 / 5 stars	03-23-2015	Bloodborne is one of those experiences that totally consumes you when you're involved in it and working to see all that it has to offer. In that sense it's the digital edition of a round-the-world trip to foreign continents, each turning of a corner providing equal helpings of excitement and trepidation. That recipe brings it own rewards by simply being a part of it, the seemingly effortless delivery indicative of a design team and philosophy that is only getting sharper.	Read review
The Digital Fix	Edd Harwood	9 / 10	04-26-2015	It is still utterly fantastic to play. It is still one of the best action fighting mechanics in gaming. It still invokes that deadly and intense sense of failure matched with the heady highs of success that few other games (if not any entertainment) can match. It is still enriched with the uniquely mysterious touch of Miyazaki and From Software and that is all that it really needs to be.	Read review
The Escapist	Mitchell Saltzman	4.5 / 5 stars	03-23-2015	While the load times are a pretty big bummer, it doesn't change the fact that Bloodborne's combat is sublime, its challenge is second to none, and its world is unforgettable.	Read review
The Jimquisition	Jim Sterling	10 / 10	03-22-2015	Bloodborne is something truly special – a barbaric horror RPG that will giveth and taketh away in perfect measure, wrapped up in a perverse world that will refuse to let you go.	Read review
The Outerhaven Productions	Keith Mitchell	4.5 / 5 stars	03-29-2015	Bloodborne is perhaps the best reason to date to own a PlayStation 4. Despite several minor issues that I have with the game, it's easily the best looking title on the system and easily my favorite (I still love you Driveclub). It has fast based combat system, more than enough weapons to keep just about everyone happy, interesting locations that you'll wander and get lost in and more importantly, it's fun. Lots and lots of fun. Despite the game being so short, Bloodborne is exactly the shot in the arm the PlayStation 4 need and another notch on FROMSOFTWARE's games that kick ass list.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Aran Suddi	9 / 10	03-30-2015	Overall Bloodborne is a fantastic game and could be considered one of the best exclusives available on the PS4 so far. The gameplay will not be for everyone, with the difficulty and repetition a potential turn off, but if you are looking for a new challenge, Bloodborne is a fantastic choice. The twisted atmosphere of Yharnam, the great design of the monsters, and the fear it can instil within you is something that won't be forgotten in a hurry. There's a time when you realise a game will be revered and spoken of fondly years from now, and Bloodborne will be one of them.	Read review
Twinfinite	Gaston Garcia Holtzman	5 / 5 stars	03-25-2015	There is no proper way to stress how good Bloodborne actually is. The sum of its features produces a complex yet accessible gameplay experience that is amazing pretty much in every aspect.	Read review
USgamer	Bob Mackey	4.5 / 5 stars	03-27-2015	Refreshingly, Bloodborne knows what it is, and doesn't stray too far from the Souls formula—but its few alterations make for a fresh experience that will challenge even the most hardened Souls veterans. If you're looking to justify the purchase of a PS4, I can't think of a better reason.	Read review
VGChartz	Karl Koebke	Recommended	03-31-2015	It introduces enough twists to the established gameplay formula to make it feel fresh again, and will turn a sword and board turtle into a bloodthirsty, dual blade wielding madman.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	8.7 / 10	05-05-2015	Although Bloodborne may have a deficiency when it comes to variety and plenty of indefensibly irritating segments, the overall sense of satisfaction in the deeply deranged world will surely and slowly sink its teeth into you until the wee hours of the morning.	Read review
VideoGamer	Brett Phipps	10 / 10	03-23-2015	A superb, intelligent evolution of the series.	Read review
Washington Post	Christopher Byrd	Recommended	03-31-2015	When I finished "Dark Souls 2," I felt utterly burnt out with the series into which I had poured over 400 hours. But "Bloodborne's" labyrinths and fantastic creature design ensnared me from the first. Whereas "Dark Souls 2" felt to me as if it was laboring under the weight of its forebears,"Bloodborne" feels like the swaggering culmination of them. From Software has, in the best possible way, brought the evil back.	Read review
Wccftech	Archie Paras	9.6 / 10	03-25-2015	The best title of this generation, and easily the best game on the PS4. The immense drive you get to explore its desolate, yet beautiful world, is almost unprecedented. Bloodborne is a true essential for any PS4 owner, and the best reason so far to purchase Sony's system. An Exemplary Gothic Masterpiece!	Read review
We Got This Covered	Jimmy Champane	4.5 / 5 stars	04-05-2015	Bloodborne takes nearly everything that was great about the other Souls games and makes it even better.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

An action RPG in which the player embodies a Hunter who, after being transfused with the mysterious blood local to the city of Yharnam, sets off into a “night of the Hunt”, an extended night in which Hunters may phase in and out of dream and reality in order to thin the outbreak of abominable beasts that plague the land and, for the more resilient and insightful Hunters, uncover the answers to the Hunt’s many mysteries.

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