CrossCode

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 45

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CrossCode is one of the best RPGs of the year, marrying 90s JRPG nostalgia with modern combat and ingenious puzzle design in a lush, vibrant world.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 45

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 45

CrossCode is one of the best RPGs of the year, marrying 90s JRPG nostalgia with modern combat and ingenious puzzle design in a lush, vibrant world.

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What did you think of CrossCode?

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Critic Reviews for CrossCode

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

45

Reviews

Average Score

100

Ranges

9/10

GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)

A fantastic retro-styled action role-player that honours the past but is in no way beholden to it, with great combat, an intriguing storyline, and a massive game world.

July 7, 2020 |

Full Review

Like Owlboy and Iconoclasts before it, CrossCode is the latest in a long line of longer-gestating labors of love that emerge with varying degrees of cohesion. The best thing that can be said about CrossCode is it doesn’t feel at all dated or clunky on the other end of a prolonged development time. The biggest knock against it is that CrossCode can and often does wind up feeling both bloated and inspired simultaneously.

July 10, 2020 |

Full Review

6/10

David Wolinsky (GameSpot)

83/100

Ricky Knight (COGconnected)

All in all, CrossCode is a love letter to fans of the pixel days without skimping on the gameplay. It plays like a modern third person action game, requiring precision and timing. The plot is breezy enough and there’s a certain zen-like quality to all the quests that can be relaxing. If you’re in need of a solid action RPG with content for days, then this is one you don’t want to miss.

July 16, 2020 |

Full Review

GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)

9/10 - (Read Review)

A fantastic retro-styled action role-player that honours the past but is in no way beholden to it, with great combat, an intriguing storyline, and a massive game world.

David Wolinsky (GameSpot)

6/10 - (Read Review)

Ricky Knight (COGconnected)

83/100 - (Read Review)

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Read the Reviews (45 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
33bits	Pablo Jiménez Martín	80 / 100	07-09-2020	With an audiovisual section bordering on the honors, Cross Code does not remain a simple pretty face and offers us an adventure of about 40 hours in the form of Action RPG of the old school. Despite the framerate problems that it has, it is a 100% recommended experience, yes, taking into account that it does not have a Spanish translation.	Read review
BaziCenter	Mohammad Zamani	8.5 / 10	07-17-2020	CrossCode is a beautiful 2D action RPG that definitely worth your while, especially if you are a fan of the genre.	Read review
But Why Tho?	Eva Herinkova	8 / 10	07-04-2020	The music is reminiscent of all the 1990s SNES games I loved as a kid, the pixelated art style is well-done and great to look at, and the game feels exactly how I want a 2D top-down RPG to feel in 2020. It takes cues from games like A Link to the Past while updating the gameplay for modern audiences and controllers, all without losing its artistic charm and still paying tribute to beloved retro titles.	Read review
CGMagazine	Jordan Biordi	8.5 / 10	08-07-2020	CrossCode is an excellent ARPG that’s definitely worth rediscovering again.	Read review
Chalgyr’s Game Room	Richard York	9 / 10	07-10-2020	I’ve always been a huge fan of .Hack because it let me play an MMO in my solo single player style, offline, and, on my own time. CrossCode I feel has taken this a good notch higher and between the dialog, the dungeons, the exploration, the customizations, the puzzles and the visuals? It knocks it all out of the park for a hell of an experience that shows that the developers truly used their seven years to create something incredible.	Read review
COGconnected	Ricky Knight	83 / 100	07-16-2020	All in all, CrossCode is a love letter to fans of the pixel days without skimping on the gameplay.	Read review
Cubed3	Eric Ace	6 / 10	08-25-2020	This has a tremendous amount going for it, but ultimately, it is going to appeal to puzzle gamers far more than JRPG fans, as the puzzle sections are incredibly demanding. Having players do hours of complex and convoluted puzzles in a row, is something that is going to put off many gamers that otherwise would have loved this title. For a RPG romp it could have been outstanding if this was shortened, and the puzzles/trickery were reduced by at least half.	Read review
DarkZero	Dominic Sheard	9 / 10	10-15-2018	It might have taken a long time to arrival in its full form, but the developers have made the wait worthy.	Read review
Destructoid	Adzuken	7 / 10	07-20-2020	On the other hand, if you can push all that story into the background and focus on the sheer thrill of the game’s combat and the challenge of its puzzles, it has a lot more going for it. CrossCode puts its mechanics to good use in inventive ways, and at times, I found it to be legitimately impressive. However, without the beating heart of a convincing narrative, you may find yourself logging out too soon.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Harvard L.	5 / 5 stars	07-13-2020	It’s a crowd-pleaser, a game which welcomes you to have it your own way, focus on the things you enjoy, and leave a play session feeling good. It is a heavenly JRPG – one which has the love and insight to make the necessary changes and improvements to the formula, while keeping the strange idiosyncrasies which make the genre what it is.	Read review
Echo Boomer	João Canelo	Recommended	07-16-2020	The classic formula of an old school 16-bit RPG, perfected.	Read review
Fextralife	Yuria	8.1 / 10	09-23-2018	If you’re someone who loves exploring worlds, fast-paced energy-ball action, challenging puzzles and a compelling narratives that will keep you captivated for hours, then this could be your next RPG.	Read review
FingerGuns	Toby Andersen	7 / 10	07-08-2020	For an indie pixelart RPG, there’s a lot going on, and Crosscode is polished, ambitious and charming. Combat is a treat, although it can get very challenging with the tactical demands of some enemy types. The puzzles are up there with the classics of the genre, but there are so many of them that the temples can become a marathon slog, only to find an unbeatable boss that’s so hard it’s no longer fun.	Read review
GameCrate	David Sanchez	8 / 10	07-24-2020	CrossCode is a love letter to 16-bit RPGs and action-adventure games and features a fun projectile-based combat system. Its lengthy development time was well-spent, and it’s clear that time was used to put together an RPG experience that’s completely worthwhile. Whether or not you play a lot of RPGs, there’s a lot to love here.	Read review
Gamefa	Mehdi Reazaei	8.5 / 10	07-18-2020	Crosscode is a really beautiful game. Narrative, characters and combat mechanics are really enjoyable and entertaining. Of course there are some small issues in the game but in the end, If you like Action RPGs, you should try this beautiful pixel game.	Read review
GameGrin	Nikholai Koolonavich	9 / 10	11-13-2018	CrossCode is an outstanding title that is completely worth your time investment. It is beautiful, compelling and a ton of fun.	Read review
GameSkinny	Zack Palm	9 / 10	10-01-2018	A cheeky 16-bit RPG game disguised as an MMO that holds your attention throughout the dozens of hours of gameplay and challenging puzzles	Read review
GameSpot	David Wolinsky	6 / 10	07-09-2020	CrossCode is an ambitious game, but its myriad parts lack cohesion.	Read review
GamingBolt	Matt Bianucci	8 / 10	07-14-2020	CrossCode creates a wonderful world for its characters to immerse themselves and for us to explore, and its gameplay allows it to also be a wonderfully complex RPG.	Read review
GamingTrend	David Flynn	85 / 100	07-23-2020	CrossCode is an amazing puzzle action RPG with a touching story and a beautifully detailed world. Combat has tons of options and puzzles require a lot of critical thinking and creative solutions to solve. It draws inspiration from classic SNES RPGs and the Zelda series, but stands proudly among them as a modern classic.	Read review
GBAtemp	Pranavsingh Dhunnoo	8.5 / 10	07-03-2020	A hidden indie gem that will surely entice RPG fans with its nostalgic look, excellent presentation and unique blend of puzzle and RPG mechanics.	Read review
God is a Geek	Lyle Carr	10 / 10	07-03-2020	An incredible adventure from start to finish, CrossCode is a fictional MMO where the charm is anything but. With enthralling combat, intriguing puzzles and hours of enjoyable content, I cannot recommend this game enough.	Read review
GotGame	Kieran Toovey	8.5 / 10	07-10-2020	Overall, CrossCode does the overwhelming majority of things right. However, the game definitely drags in certain areas (especially the dungeons) and has frustrating platforming elements, which mar the experience. But anyone who wants a heavy dose of nostalgia that’s finished off with a smooth and refined finish should look no further than this gem of a game.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Kenny McKee	4 / 5 stars	07-03-2020	CrossCode is probably the most fun that I’ve ever had with being frustrated with a game. This game knows it’s good and wants to make absolutely sure that players know just how much time and painstaking effort went into creating it so that they know how good it is, too. Is it a bit gatekeep-y at times? Eh, sure, I guess. But it’s a gate that’s an absolute joy to climb over. And, if you still aren’t convinced, maybe you should just try logging into CrossWorlds yourself.	Read review
Just Push Start	Mark Fajardo	4.45 / 5 stars	07-10-2020	Games like CrossCode are fun, not because they’re super challenging or add engaging elements, as much as they’re simple and effective. Fights hinge on whether or not I can dodge an attack and unleash my own. Progression comes down to how many enemies I’ve defeated and the resources collected. It doesn’t matter how simple this stuff is, because CrossCode is just a lot of fun and will be engaging throughout. So, if you’re looking for something to get you through the summer, I strongly suggest giving this game a chance.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	9 / 10	07-07-2020	A fantastic retro-styled action role-player that honours the past but is in no way beholden to it, with great combat, an intriguing storyline, and a massive game world.	Read review
Niche Gamer	Frank Streva	8.5 / 10	11-06-2018	CrossCode has some annoying bits where improvements could be made, but if you have any interest in retro action-RPGs along the lines of Secret of Mana, then you really need to add this game to your collection. It takes a really long time to open up, but the mid-to-late game offers players a surprisingly in-depth combat system, very enjoyable characters and story, and some clever puzzles.	Read review
Nintendo Enthusiast	Dominick Ashtear	9 / 10	07-11-2020	With its high-quality story, gameplay, and delightful protagonist, I want to tell everyone to play CrossCode.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Mitch Vogel	8 / 10	07-16-2020	At its heart, CrossCode is the sort of game that basically speaks for itself. Do you like ’90s-era JRPGs? Do you like classic Zelda games? Do you like MMOs? If you answered yes to any combination of those questions, then it stands to reason that you’ll probably really enjoy CrossCode, too. Radical Fish has conjured up an impressive blend of RPG mechanics, engaging combat, and open world exploration here. It may not always run smoothly, but CrossCode is a well-crafted and enjoyable release that you certainly won’t want to miss out on.	Read review
Nintendo Times	Craig Majaski	8 / 10	07-15-2020	GREAT	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Neal Ronaghan	8 / 10	07-03-2020	While CrossCode is a superlatively excellent game, the Switch version is an astoundingly rough port.	Read review
NoesPaisparaFrikis	Julio Fuertes	9.5 / 10	07-17-2020	Cross Code, officially, my sleeper, my surprise of 2020.	Read review
Noisy Pixel	Jake Yoder	9 / 10	07-09-2020	CrossCode really impressed me. Instead of overly leaning on the retro-inspired graphics, the developers created an exceptionally unique and incredibly fun RPG experience. Thankfully, the console release doesn’t change that, even with a few controller issues.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Garri Bagdasarov	9.5 / 10	07-03-2020	Radical Fish Games has taken eight years to craft one of the best indie titles of the year. With an interesting story, great combat, exciting and rewarding exploration CrossCode not only pays homage to some of the best retro action-RPGs it also proves that a small studio with love and passion for their project can rival the million-dollar blockbusters we’ve grown so used to. Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on this future classic.	Read review
Push Square	Jenny Jones	8 / 10	07-06-2020	There’s a lot to love about CrossCode, from it’s fast and frantic combat, through to it’s tough but satisfying puzzles. The MMO setting is incredibly well done and manages to mimic the online experience whilst also taking time out to make fun of itself. This is an absolutely charming RPG where it feels like there’s always something new to experience.	Read review
RPGamer	Joe Hanley	4 / 5 stars	11-25-2018	Despite a grueling second half and an incomplete ending, the overall experience is enjoyable; everything it does right more than makes up for a few missteps.	Read review
Screen Rant	Peter Morics	4 / 5 stars	07-14-2020	CrossCode is a delightful RPG with great combat.	Read review
SpazioGames	Gianluca Arena	7.7 / 10	07-20-2020	Even on PS4, CrossCode is a quirky little action RPG that deserves credit for its combat system and the sheer amount of content. It’s not the deepest and more narrative driven RPG on the market, but it’s challenging enough to deserve a go.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Thomas Hughes	9 / 10	09-16-2020	CrossCode is without a doubt one of the best RPG titles we’ve seen this year, marrying 90s JRPG nostalgia with modern gaming sensibilities to create an exceptional experience. Whether it’s the stellar combat, ingenious puzzle design or lush and vibrant world, there’s plenty to keep you coming back to CrossCode throughout its lenghty story.	Read review
Twinfinite	Khayl Adam	4.5 / 5 stars	07-14-2020	It’s beautiful animations and art style, deep and engaging combat, and meta-commentary on the way we play games combine to make CrossCode a modern classic in its own right, and a fantastic throwback to one of gaming golden ages.	Read review
VGChartz	Evan Norris	8 / 10	08-07-2020	One of the best games of the year and one of the better indie games of the generation.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	8.4 / 10	07-05-2020	CrossCode is one of the best indie games out there. Its blend of old-school and contemporary gameplay elements is phenomenal and the wonderful cast of characters and distinct story are the icing on the cake. I highly recommend it.	Read review
viewport	Frostilyte	8 / 10	11-21-2018	Despite its shortcomings, I think CrossCode is a must play game for fans of RPGs. Its homage to MMOs is too faithful causing CrossCode to inherit negative qualities associated with the genre such as an abundance of fetch quests, and repetitive enemies. However, this same authenticity to MMOs also creates a believable meta-world. The combat, puzzles, aesthetic, and especially the characters all combine to make CrossCode a deeply satisfying game to play, which compelled me to stay with it for over fifty hours. If you haven’t already played CrossCode, it is well worth your time to do so.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Kyle Nicol	9.5 / 10	07-03-2020	Two years ago, I fell in love with CrossCode. Playing this brand new port on the Switch just reminded me of why I loved that game so much back in the day, and to be fair, this might even be the superior version of this already pristine game.	Read review

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About CrossCode

Game Description / Storyline:

A retro-inspired 2D Action RPG set in the distant future. CrossCode combines 16-bit SNES-style graphics with butter-smooth physics, a fast-paced combat system, and engaging puzzle mechanics, served with a gripping sci-fi story.

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