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Sifu
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Sifu is not for everyone and has a brutal learning curve. So if you’re looking for a simple and direct action game, run far away. But if you have the patience to master its combat system, you’ll be rewarded with an intelligent brawler, breathtaking atmosphere, and a masterful ageing mechanic.
Game Info
A third person action game featuring intense hand-to-hand combat, it puts you in control of a young Kung-Fu student on his path of revenge throughout the city.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 94
Silver TIER
37% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action
DEVELOPER(S):
- Sloclap
PUBLISHER(S):
- Sloclap
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- Unreal Engine 4
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
94
Critic Reviews
81
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
99%
Median Score
85%
Low Score
40%
What did you think of Sifu?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Mitchell Saltzman (IGN)
February 6, 2022
9/10
Sifu’s brutal learning curve and unique structure that requires you to beat it in just one lifetime are significant barriers to overcome, but on the other side is truly one of the best modern action games around.
Tyler Wilde (PC Gamer)
February 7, 2022
85/100
Sifu will test your patience, but learning how to coolly dismantle a room full of goons with virtual kung fu is worth the pain.
Jason Coles (TheSixthAxis)
February 6, 2022
4/10
Sifu is a game that I wanted to love. I had high hopes for it being one of my game of the year contenders, but it left me feeling intensely deflated instead. It’s a game that confuses the precise mechanical difficulty of Sekiro with a forced difficulty brought on by simply giving bosses armour. I find myself irrationally angry with Sifu. Sifu is a game that had exceptional potential, but squandered it on the wrong lessons.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (94 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DNews | Михаил Пономарев | 8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Spectacular, brutal, and tense ride, unfortunately without a flashing finish line. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 02-06-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
| AnaitGames | Víctor Manuel Martínez García | 9 / 10 | 02-07-2022 | An incredible showcase of combat mechanics, at the same time an homage to martial arts cinema and beat ’em up games and a truly unique and fresh take on the roguelike formula. | Read review |
| Areajugones | Juan Linares | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | In summary I can tell you that without me being a big fan of the beat ’em up genre I can not stop recommending this game. Not only for its excellent staging and for its original progression system. If not for being a title where you yourself are your greatest enemy and where it is possible that you get hooked to want to improve and improve until you become a master with the command. As with souls, you feel good when you manage to eliminate a boss or complete an area without suffering damage as you had planned. The word is gratifying. The game is Sifu. | Read review |
| Atomix | Sebastian Quiroz | 90 / 100 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is one of the best indie games of recent years. The passion that Sloclap clearly had for this project can be felt in every aspect of it. From its story it takes the conventions of the Hong Kong action genre, and gives it an interesting twist, although coming to the conclusion is a bit clumsy; going through its great visual and auditory presentation, which manage to transport us to a world that is based on our reality, but also shows us the corrupted minds of the villains; to its gameplay that nourishes beat’em ups by borrowing a number of concepts from rogue-lites, and adds an original idea. What we see here is top-notch. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Shaun Cichacki | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is an incredible journey. Featuring top-notch animations, music tracks, and visuals that are hard to match by even a big-budget animation studio, you will find your jaw-dropping as you make your journey through this story of revenge. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Javad Mohseni | 8.5 / 10 | 02-10-2022 | SIFU puts you in the shoes of a martial artist, and I mean it literally, as you will have to have patience and practice a lot to master your skills and time every single one of your moves precisely to be able to beat your enemies. It’s not an easy game and probably not too appealing for everybody, but it certainly rewards patience and practice, and once you finally get into its core, you will have a hell of a good time. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Mick Abrahamson | 9.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is surprisingly difficult, at a level that will deter most players. However, getting past that wall will reward you with an amazingly crafted game that stays true to the developer’s vision, one that celebrates kung fu and its core meaning. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Clement Goh | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu may be the most definitive martial arts game to date, offering unapologetic roguelike combat that rewards patient players with full mastery by the end. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Lisa Pollifroni | 5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a game that could have been something amazing, with its fascinating premise and superbly crafted and fluid combat mechanics and animations. However, the game’s frustrating need to make the gameplay ridiculously hard just left me tired and annoyed. Sloclap really needs to think about how they can make this game more accessible, possibly by including more shortcuts, an adjustable difficulty setting, or just lowering the impact of health lost from fighting your average foe. Hopefully they will bring in some patches that will address these issues, but as it stands, I’d wait before investing time in the world of Sifu. | Read review |
| COGconnected | Jaz Sagoo | 88 / 100 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is built around the idea of mastering a skill. Whilst this is the mantra of the protagonist, you will also play by this code and refine your skills after each attempt. The combat is sophisticated, containing enough variety and depth to be challenging yet accessible. Without any difficulty options, some may struggle as it requires time and patience, however, learn the mechanics and you’ll find one of the greatest and most rewarding fighters in the genre. | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Ashley Bates | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | A potential GOTY contender already, Sifu is martial arts excellence that’ll challenge and delight in equal measure. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | Eugene Sowah | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a martial arts epic that prides itself on authenticity and realism yet without losing any of the fun and addictive gameplay. It’s great to see the lengths that the developer Sloclap have to go to create a genuine experience. Although tough and gruelling at times Sifu can be seen as one of the best martial games on the market that will greatly impress purists of the genre. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Eric Van Allen | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won’t cause massive damage. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Steven McGehee | 9 / 10 | 12-10-2018 | Sifu gets a lot more right than not, and though I typically can’t stand to play games that force heavy-handed repetitive loops, I found myself enjoying Sifu too much to put it away for long. Playing Sifu is a cycle of emotions; it’s tough, fun, frustrating, and rewarding, not always in that order. I think Sloclap did a solid job overall and I would also point out that the game is priced very reasonably at about $50, too. If you enjoy detailed, authentic martial arts action, Sifu is not only one of the only choices out there, but it’s a great one. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Otto Kratky | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | A rewarding experience from its start, Sifu delivers challenge after challenge, all of which are too exciting to turn down. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Michael Huber | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-19-2022 | Sifu is a challenging game that rewards perseverance with a combat system for the ages. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Edwin Evans-Thirlwell | Recommended | 02-07-2022 | An elegant martial arts meditation on temporality and self-possession, set in a loving but touristy idea of China. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Marco Mottura | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Wanting to think of a comparison that is not too bold, one could argue that Sifu is literally like a diamond: shining, very hard and evidently not within anyone’s reach. | Read review |
| Expansive | Brad Baker | Recommended | 02-07-2022 | There are issues with the game’s foundation which cannot, nor should not, be ignored, and the constant cycle of death with no easy resolution can be massively demoralising and off-putting. However Sifu remains one of the most entertaining brawlers in recent memory. This is a game that rewards just as quickly as it upsets and it definitely won’t go easy on you and, in turn, you’ll probably go even less easy on your poor control pad. | Read review |
| Explosion Network | Dylan Blight | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | If you’re able to practice your martial arts, breathe in and have patience and persistence, you’ll find a deep combat system, rewarding fights, and moments that make you feel like a flawless kung fu master. | Read review |
| Forbes | Erik Kain | Recommended | 02-07-2022 | Still, mileage will vary and fans of roguelikes will certainly find much to enjoy in Sifu. Hopefully further balancing and updates will help as well. The combat really is slick and fun and gives you lots of options to kick ass and take names, and the graphics and art-style are terrific. I just wish it wasn’t a roguelike. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Ben Reeves | 7.3 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Mastering Sifu’s combat system takes a high degree of dedication and practice, but like a true martial artist, you must push through the practice pains before you reap any rewards. | Read review |
| Game Rant | Anthony Taormina | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a one-of-a-kind rogue-like that marries an engaging setup with sublime combat mechanics. It scratches that integral itch that fuels subsequent runs, and it tries its best to avoid the feeling that time has been wasted. Progression exists in many different forms, but Sloclap’s standout title pulls off one of the more impressive versions of it. Sifu shows players they are actually getting better at the game. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Mack Ashworth | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | With Sifu, developer Sloclap is asking a lot from players. From the punishingly difficult combat that takes hours to learn and tens of hours to master, to the need to repeat and near-perfect levels to lower your starting age, this fighter can be an absolute slog. However, for those who can grit their teeth through the losses and frustration, you’ll come out smiling on the other side having played one of the best games of the year. | Read review |
| Gamefa | آرمان زرمهر | 9.3 / 10 | 02-14-2022 | Sloclap Studio has been able to create a work that not only offers a different experience in the Beat’em Up genre, but can even be referred to as one of the most prominent fighting titles of the last few years. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Mike Crewe | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | A brilliant take on the roguelike genre, Sifu is a game that is hard to beat, but even harder to put down. Timing, patience, and skill will see you to fulfilling your goal and exacting that sweet revenge. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | If don’t mind some challenge, and if you enjoy combat-oriented gameplay with martial arts theme, then Sifu is something you should try on. It’s a nice mix of Fighting Force and Sekiro. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Johnny Hurricane | 8 / 10 | 02-07-2022 | Fans of beat-’em-ups or kung fu movies will instantly fall in love with Sifu. If you can handle replaying levels multiple times, it’s a must buy. | Read review |
| Gamersky | 心灵奇兵 | 8.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | SIFU has quite a few highlights in scene style and action design, and its hardcore combat lets you know the true meaning of “talented pupils are trained by strict masters”. The “easy-to-die” gameplay is extremely merciless to the player, and only through blood and sweat can you transcend. All this, of course, comes at the cost of deterring many players from the game. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Thomas Wilde | 7 / 10 | 02-07-2022 | If you’re looking for a real beat’-em-up challenge, Sifu’s got it, but it’s not as fair as it is tough. | Read review |
| GameSpace | Brau3er | 9 / 10 | 02-15-2022 | Sifu turned out to be exactly the game I’ve been waiting for since the first gameplay demos. The developers have made a rather complex combat system, which is revealed in all its splendor only when the player is thoroughly familiar with it. The game allows you to deal with most opponents very quickly, doing it in style, but for this you will have to work hard in training. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | With Sifu, developer Sloclap has delivered one of the most striking and original roguelikes we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. Like the process of actually learning a martial art, this is a game that requires practice and patience – and the rewards speak for themselves. The first time we encountered a key target, for example, we aged so much that we died and had to try again. And when we did finally manage to beat him, we did so at an age in the 50s. But after yet more practice, we later returned to emerge victorious in battle at the fresh age of just 21 years old, which set us up with a much better chance of overcoming the other targets on our list. It’s achievements like this that spur you on, giving Sifu a kind of magnetism that’s rarely found elsewhere. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Richard Wakeling | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu’s unique aging mechanic and top-tier combat make the journey from a headstrong student to a wise kung fu master utterly thrilling. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Joe Donnelly | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a gorgeous, original and intelligent brawler whose self-confidence is leveraged by its masterful ageing mechanic and super tight combat. | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Henry Yu | 9.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is the epitome of a well-made martial arts video game that infuses cultural storytelling, brutal combat and a dash of roguelike. With its beautiful art direction, excellent soundtrack, and immaculate attention to detail, it is sure to rivet the attention of anyone interested. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | John Cantees | 8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Despite a of couple hang-ups, Sifu should be commended for injecting a sense of danger and realism back into the beat ‘em up genre. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Noah Anzaldua | 85 / 100 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu delivers on its promises of being one of the best Kung-Fu games ever made. With incredible animation work, flowing combat, a beautiful art style, and great music; this indie beat-em-up, roguelite game deserves more than the cult following it will probably receive. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Mick Fraser | 7.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a difficult game, and not always by design. But when the combat clicks, there are few games that make you feel so badass. | Read review |
| GotGame | Brian Zuhl | 9 / 10 | 02-09-2022 | It’s not very often you come across a game with a concept as unique as Sifu. The aging mechanic is an interesting take on roguelikes that provides some serious challenge. The difficulty may be a little high at times, but satisfaction of overcoming the challenge is worth it in the end. With its fast paced action and amazing environments, Sifu is an incredible game that all gamers should give a chance. | Read review |
| Guardian | Nathan Brown | 3 / 5 stars | 02-07-2022 | Spectacular gain is preceded by drawn-out pain in this martial arts adventure where fighting prowess is the carrot and ageing is the stick | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Jordan Helm | 3 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | When taken as but a sampling of the entire experience, there does still linger some joy to savor in the combat and manner of challenge posed in Sifu. Set-pieces that unashamedly kick off with questions being asked and players put on the back-foot, even if said sequences never evolve beyond such basic a pitch as clearing out groups of foes. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Andrew Thornton | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Despite some frustrating design choices around progression and a camera which isn’t as consistent as I’d like, I had more fun with Sifu than the vast majority of action games on the market. At the end of the day, it just feels too good to play for me to deny. Even as I replayed levels dozens of times when I really wanted to see what was ahead, I couldn’t put the controller down. That’s the sign of a master right there. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Daniel Quesada | 89 / 100 | 02-06-2022 | If you are looking for simple and direct action, run away from this game. But if you are a persevering player who likes to be put to the test, here you will find one of the most exciting titles of recent times as hard and irresistible as the martial arts themselves. | Read review |
| IGN | Mitchell Saltzman | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu’s brutal learning curve and unique structure that requires you to beat it in just one lifetime are significant barriers to overcome, but on the other side is truly one of the best modern action games around. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Biagio Etna | 8.2 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is an uncompromising and merciless fighting game, but for this very reason it manages to give great satisfaction. | Read review |
| IGN Middle East | Moustafa Gad | 8 / 10 | 02-21-2022 | Sifu offers a unique experience that focuses on detailed martial arts gameplay and dealing with enemies smoothly and quickly that are always on bar with your hero abilities and dangerous in any situation, you will go through tough boss fights that require you to learn how to read their movement in order to beat them, the game only set itself back with an over-simplistic story and a lack of adequate explanations of the main systems, and a confusing camera in many battles, and some skills that make little difference | Read review |
| IGN Spain | David Oña | 8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu aims to bring the essence of Kung-fu to the screen, and to the controls, with a combat system as demanding as it is inspired, set in an inspired space that draws on all the tropes that usually accompany this type of story. The result is an experience that achieves what it sets out to do, making each confrontation feel like a real duel between martial arts experts. A must for anyone who enjoys a good combat system. | Read review |
| JVL | Raptor | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | A “must have” that, in addition to being original, is as beautiful as it is demanding and diabolical by its gameplay. | Read review |
| Kinda Funny Games | Kinda Funny Gamescast | Recommended | 02-07-2022 | Video review. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Drishnar Abigaíl Labastida | 8.8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a great beat em’ up game that discourages mashing buttons. The combat system stands out as a mix between the Batman: Arkham series and Sekiro, with a heavy emphasis on precision. It is a demanding game that penalizes mistakes and rewards skill. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 6 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | As a straight action game the core combat is elegant and original but the roguelite structure makes the already mountainous difficulty just too much to bear. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Diego Escala | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu puts you in control of your own kung-fu film, with an exhilarating combat system and style galore. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Dylan Blereau | 82 / 100 | 02-26-2022 | Sifu’s deep combat and ageing mechanics aren’t for everyone, but those keen to roll with the kicks and punches will find one of the most satisfying and addictive brawlers of recent times. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Fingal Belmont | 6 / 10 | 02-13-2022 | If Sloclap wanted to make Sifu hard, they could have done it without making players have to re-do most of the game from the beginning. Earning and keeping shortcuts should feel rewarding, but in Sifu it only seems like it is a solution to a problem the developers created. | Read review |
| NoobFeed | Sarwar Ron | 99 / 100 | 02-11-2022 | Sifu is a great game, an excellent martial arts game, and something any type of player could enjoy. It takes the beat ‘em-up genre to an unmatchable level. Sifu is absolutely a fun and engaging experience you should buy. | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Moises Taveras | 6 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | But it didn’t and despite my efforts, Sifu constantly met me with a passing disinterest in its subjects and a reckless deployment of imagery it didn’t seem to entirely understand, all the while passing itself off as admiration. Its weak writing and poor characterization strips the game’s characters and settings of tension and texture and the lens of the game’s creators seems to forget the people and culture at the heart of the movies they love to invoke. I don’t think I can square that away and I’m not sure anyone should have to. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Tyler Wilde | 85 / 100 | 02-07-2022 | Sifu will test your patience, but learning how to coolly dismantle a room full of goons with virtual kung fu is worth the pain. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Cameron Woolsey | 8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a difficult game, requiring you to master its complex combat in order to enact your revenge. But it could have used a bit more training before entering the arena. | Read review |
| PCMag | Gabriel Zamora | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a surprisingly robust and thoughtful action game that hearkens back to the quarter-munching arcade days of old, and Capcom’s cult classic, God Hand. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | David Carcasole | 7.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu has an extremely high skill ceiling and very deep gameplay, paired wonderfully with stylized visuals and great art. The gameplay is extremely refined, but Sifu’s narrative just feels unfinished as a whole, and could have been the difference from Sifu being a lot more than what it is. | Read review |
| Polygon | Patrick Gill | Recommended | 02-06-2022 | Like Hades and Returnal, Sifu is a run-based game where each attempt is an opportunity to get further than your last. But unlike those games, its execution is needlessly complex, and it’s really, really hard to tell if you’re making any permanent progress. | Read review |
| Press Start | Brodie Gibbons | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Through neoteric ideas around what combat can be, many of which were conceived with Absolver, Sloclap has carried the classic beat ’em up into the present with Sifu. It might be brutal and unforgiving, but it never feels cheap and it’s a pleasure to continually learn the complexities of kung fu while bathing in the world’s surplus of flair and ferocity. So push through and persevere, because there’s one hell of a game on offer here. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Thiago de Alencar Moura | 85 / 100 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is an amazing action game with rich and challenging combat that constantly forces you to think about how to better face and survive certain situations. The low variety of enemies and the short duration are a little disappointing, but they are minor stumbling blocks for an excellent title. | Read review |
| Push Square | Robert Ramsey | 8 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu doesn’t pull any punches. It’s a consistently challenging and demanding beat-’em-up, but persistence pays off. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more rewarding game on PlayStation | Read review |
| Rectify Gaming | Dave Rodriguez | 9.1 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | SIFU’s tight combat focus and gorgeous level design creates a compelling action experience. Sloclap has created something new, fresh and exciting to bring the beat em up genre to the next generation. | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Jai Singh Bains | Recommended | 02-06-2022 | A rewarding and excellently made third-person action game with fantastic level design, and plenty of passion for kung fu. | Read review |
| Saving Content | Harry Harrison | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Fans of Absolver will adore Sifu’s mechanics and style, but don’t expect the kind of stance-based combat Absolver did so well. Sifu is a strictly combo and skill based affair. You won’t fail for using the wrong move, you’ll fail for not observing your opponent and striking at the right time. Sifu is a game I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a whole new approach to the staling rogue-like genre. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Leo Faierman | 3.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Earlier impressions on Sifu’s camera issues have not been resolved either, and getting cornered by enemies would be less punishing with a more sensibly directed viewable angle. For beat ’em up fans starved for new games to play, Sifu remains an obvious recommendation. Even those taken by its copious charms will want for more after they’ve seen it all, however. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Oto Schultz | 8 / 10 | 02-11-2022 | Sifu made me regequit handful of times and yet it quickly became one of my favorites, especially thanks to its bald and punishing learning curve, that pushes you into mastering all sorts of moves and combos. French studio Sloclap delivers a typical revenge story, that is wrapped in a clever level design and excellent gameplay mechanics. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Blake Morse | 4 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | I played the 2nd level of Sifu so many damn times trying to grind my way through unlocking more moves that I’m sick of it. I get that there’s a grind to it, but I think most games like this put a carrot on the end of the stick. Grinding through Sifu felt like just being beaten with a stick. I think it’s also worth noting that Sifu was developed by an all-white European development team and some aspects of the game do come off as culturally tone-deaf. I suggest checking out this article by Khee Hoon Chan for more about that aspect of Sifu. There are so many games out there that do what Sifu does only better. Honestly, if you want a punishing grind where your efforts will actually pay off you’re probably better off just taking a Kung-Fu class in real life. | Read review |
| Sirus Gaming | Adrian Morales | 8.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | When everything falls into place, and you hit that flow-state mastery of Sifu’s combat, it becomes one of the most unique and refreshing action games that we have seen in a while. Add in some beautiful artwork and great homages to kung fu classics, and this game is a winner. Its challenging and repetitious nature won’t be for everybody; however, If you’re in the market for a game with mechanics that you can really sink your teeth into, Sifu is your best bet. | Read review |
| Skill Up | Ralph Panebianco | Recommended | 02-06-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Steven Scaife | 2 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Though Sifu features a few dialogue choices and scenes throughout its campaign where you don’t have to fight anyone, its surface-level engagement with martial arts film iconography betrays a lack of humanity that feels typical of works created well outside of the culture that they intend to depict. The game’s story grouses about the downsides of seeking vengeance, but this is plainly the work of people who like to fast forward to the fight scenes. | Read review |
| Softpedia | Cosmin Vasile | 8 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | Sifu is a memorable game. It is also a hard game that rewards patience and the willingness to perfect yourself. It is not perfect, but it is fair. One of the few negative aspects we encountered is the camera control that in some scenes it is not just a pain in the ass, but it can cost you an entire run. Another thing we would have oved to see is a more detailed character building, where the story is not just a frame for the action. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Karel Šír | 85 / 100 | 03-08-2022 | Sifu is not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a modern beat‘em’up with an old-school difficulty and amazingly smooth combat, you will be satisfied. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Domenico Musicò | 7.7 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a real gem with an astonishing and technical combat system that only few can master. It is undoubtedly a really hardcore game, suitable for those who love only though challenges. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Austin Suther | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu’s a revenge-fueled romp through five spectacular levels combined with a complex and exciting combat system. Just don’t get too burned out by the bosses — they’re tough! | Read review |
| The Angry Joe Show | Joe Vargas | 7 / 10 | 02-22-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
| The Escapist | KC Nwosu | Recommended | 02-06-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Gabriele Barducci | 8.3 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a well-execute marriage of gameplay and impressive aesthetics. Very entertaining and punishing, this is a game that requires attention, dedication and a little bit of strategic planning. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Karl Smart | 3 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is one of those games that sounds amazing in concept but is flawed in its execution. Playing as the unnamed martial arts master feels badass when it works, but once those deaths start to pile up, Sifu becomes such a punishing game that, more often than not, it will see you rage quitting the game for something more balanced and refined. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Jason Coles | 4 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a game that I wanted to love. I had high hopes for it being one of my game of the year contenders, but it left me feeling intensely deflated instead. It’s a game that confuses the precise mechanical difficulty of Sekiro with a forced difficulty brought on by simply giving bosses armour. I find myself irrationally angry with Sifu. Sifu is a game that had exceptional potential, but squandered it on the wrong lessons. | Read review |
| ThisGenGaming | Justin Oneil | 8.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Sifu set out to be the kung-fu game of your dreams and for the most part I think it succeeds in being that. When you get into that perfect flow the combat and animation is just superb and this is complimented by some great art direction and a fantastic score. It’s really the difficulty and some unclear tells that hurt the game a bit and may be too much for some to overcome. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Andrew McMahon | 3.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Overall, I was pretty disappointed with Sifu. I know that it’s an excellent game. The combat is tight, feels really fluid, and is going to provide a nice challenge for people who want one. However, its gameplay loop and punishing aging system and multiplier, mixed with a lack of proper training and tutorial elements, ruined whatever enjoyment I felt at the start. | Read review |
| VGC | Jon Bailes | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu is a master of hand-to-hand combat, injecting its kung-fu showdowns with exhilarating fluidity, tactical depth and cinematic scale. Its structure is harder to fully embrace, though, as it demands a lot of repetitious dedication to even reach the final stages. At times that feels needlessly punishing, but the thrill of the fight should help pull you through. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Josh Wise | 8 / 10 | 02-08-2022 | The coup of Sifu is that this process mirrors that of the hero; I was continually tempted to ditch my progress and start afresh, furnished with new knowledge at the expense of a little more life. | Read review |
| Washington Post | Gene Park | Recommended | 02-06-2022 | “Sifu” is a no-nonsense arcade brawler that can be played in short bursts or long sprints, depending on the commitment to perfect each level run. Despite its high skill ceiling, it offers a rare treat in video game martial arts: a brutal balletic presentation — if played well enough. If anything, it’s worth playing just for the first level. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Leonardo Faria | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | Some people will hate its art style, while others will love it. Some people will call it way too punishing and overcomplicated. I may agree that it is a punitive game, but I couldn’t stop playing it. I loved almost everything the game offered me, from its slick graphics and neat storytelling, to the cathartic sensation of clearing an entire room full of goons without losing a single chunk of health. This is a game that will demand a bit more from players, but those who decide to stick with it will be rewarded for their patience. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Jon Hueber | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2022 | Sifu preaches patience as it brutalizes your very existence in every way imaginable. But if you stick with it, and continue to learn from your mistakes, you’ll eventually get your revenge and find the peace you were looking for. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Adam Ryan | 9 / 10 | 02-07-2022 | A challenging brawler that punishes recklessness and demands perfection, Sifu’s genre-leading combat and roguelike mechanics blend together to create an early Game of the Year contender. | Read review |
| Worth Playing | Redmond Carolipio | 8.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | If there’s anything that might make me hesitate from recommending Sifu to everybody, it’s that its difficulty clearly makes it not for everyone. In addition to being a beat-’em-up, it’s also a roguelike in some ways, where repeated failure is to be expected and almost embraced. Not everybody is going to be into that, and it’s a shame because in addition to all the action, it’s got a very cool art style and outstanding soundtrack. It also just “gets” fans of fighting movies and kung-fu. There’s a sequence in the game’s first level in an abandoned building where the camera perspective shifts from over the shoulder into 2D, left to right, in a nearly spot-on replication of the hallway fight from “Oldboy.” You get to fight a hallway full of people; that alone gave me chills and makes the ensuing hardcore, hand-cramping fights to come worth it. Perhaps one of the best compliments I can give to Sifu’s essence is this: Playing and improving in this game actually seemed to make me better at other games. What’s more kung-fu than that? | Read review |
| Zoomg | علی گودرزی | 9.5 / 10 | 02-10-2022 | As much as it makes a large number of players complain and hate themselves, it becomes just as enjoyable and memorable for those who overcome all its challenges. | Read review |
| ZTGD | Terrence Johnson | 9.5 / 10 | 02-06-2022 | However, the fantastic gameplay, the beautiful graphics, and the amazing soundtrack just to name a few things make this an enjoyable experience. That being said, if you are not a fan of difficult games, I’d recommend renting this one first if possible because it is an extremely difficult game at the outset and will require a grind to be successful. But if that doesn’t bother you in the slightest, then come on in; the dojo is all set up. | Read review |
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