Jason Flatt
But Why Tho?REVIEW: ‘The Messenger’ Sneaks Onto Xbox One
Published 7/14/2020
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
95
+8 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCritic Atlas
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PS4 / PC / PS5 / XONE / Switch - 8/30/2018
The Messenger
As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan's survival. Leveraging players expectations as a core game design ingredient, The Messenger is first presented as an 8-bit action platformer with a simple story, that unravels into an epic time traveling tale, eventually revealing itself as a 16-bit Metroidvania game packed with replay value and deadpan humor.
- Developer
- Sabotage
- Publisher
- Devolver Digital
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Critic average
87
Average of 31 scored external reviews.
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Reflex / execution-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Systems / mechanics-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Exploration-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Combat / action-focusedDefining · Curated baseline
Side-content richDefining · Curated baseline
Atmosphere-driven / aesthetic identityDefining · Curated baseline
Whimsical / playful / lightheartedStrongly · Curated baseline
Highly replayableStrongly · Curated baseline
Show 12 more descriptors
Story / character-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Punishing / high-pressureStrongly · Curated baseline
Loot / progression-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Unconventional / experimentalStrongly · Curated baseline
Strategic / planning-heavyModerately · Curated baseline
Puzzle / logic-focusedModerately · Curated baseline
Cozy / low-pressureModerately · Curated baseline
Buildcraft / customization-heavyModerately · Curated baseline
Serious / dark / groundedSlightly · Curated baseline
Short / focusedSlightly · Curated baseline
Run-based / proceduralNot present · Curated baseline
Multiplayer / socialNot present · Curated baseline
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Review coverage
Critic signal strength
Numeric critic scoring uses full scored reviews once available. Review-in-progress scores act as temporary early signal only until full review scores exist. Unscored reviews still count as coverage, but they are not included in the critic average.
High confidenceMixed response
Critic avg
87
31 scored reviews
Total coverage
31
All coverage currently scored
Score range
70–100
Lowest to highest scored review
Signal shape
Mixed response
Score range is 21–30 points
Critic landscape
The critic average is 87 across 31 scored reviews, with a 30-point spread. That suggests a mixed critic response rather than a single clear read.
How to read this
The average may hide important disagreement. Check the individual review cards and score deltas to see which critics landed above or below the pack.
Most scored reviews currently sit in the 90–100 band.
Score distribution
Shows how included scored reviews are clustered across the normalized 100-point scale.
31 included scored reviews
90–10018 reviews · 58%
80–8910 reviews · 32%
70–793 reviews · 10%
Below 700 reviews · 0%
Showing 1-10 of 31 matching critic reviews. 31 total critic reviews. Page 1 of 4.
Justin Prinsloo
Cubed3The Messenger (PlayStation 4) Review
Published 4/20/2019
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
70
-17 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalOscar Garcia Mompean
NoesPaisparaFrikisThe Messenger. Ninjas De 8 Bits, Ahora En PS4
Published 4/11/2019
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
95
+8 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJohn-Paul Jones
PlayStation UniverseThe Messenger Review - PlayStation Universe
Published 3/22/2019
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+3 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalUnknown reviewer
Metro GameCentralMetro GameCentral The Messenger Review
Published 3/21/2019
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-7 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalStephen Tailby
Push SquareThe Messenger - Pixel Perfect Platforming Action
Published 3/19/2019
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-7 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalSean Colleli
Gaming NexusThe Messenger Review - Gaming Nexus
Published 10/22/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+3 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalThe Messenger Review
Published 9/5/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-7 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalZhiqing Wan
TwinfiniteThe Messenger Review
Published 9/4/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-7 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalAndrea Fontanesi
Everyeye.itThe Messenger Recensione: ninja retrò in stile 16-bit
Published 9/3/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
86
-1 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPlayer reviews
Player reviews
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