Bloodborne
Games review
As of Oct 22, 2026, Bloodborne is rated 92/100 on Metacritic (100 critic reviews), and 91/100 on OpenCritic (112 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Is Bloodborne worth it in 2026?
Backed by strong aggregate scores of 92/100 on Metacritic and 91/100 on OpenCritic, Bloodborne is highlighted by sampled reviewers as a compelling evolution of the Demon's Souls and Dark Souls formula. Critics frequently praise its superb art direction, expansive world design, and deeply rewarding combat encounters. However, multiple sampled reviews caution that the punishing difficulty can be genuinely exhausting, even while one reviewer felt it was slightly less vexing than its predecessors. An isolated technical complaint also cited annoying uploads, but the primary barrier remains its uncompromising challenge.
Fans of demanding action RPGs who appreciate atmospheric dark fantasy, intricate world design, and high-stakes combat in the Souls tradition.
The punishing difficulty offers little leniency for casual play, and a lone sampled critic found it somewhat less vexing than previous Souls games.
AI-generated editorial synthesis of the source scores and sampled review themes, not a hands-on test. Reviewer experiences and allegations are not independently verified facts.
Pros
- rewarding challenging experience7
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- Bloodborne delivers an exhausting and exhilarating journey into the depths of madness.
- 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 pla...
- The most rewarding game experience I've had this year.
- ps4 system seller6
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- 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 be...
- 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 ha...
- Bloodborne is the system seller for all dedicated gamers that don't already own a PS4.
- evolution of formula5
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- 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...
- 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 be...
- Bloodborne is a shrewd turn from its souls lineage
- superb art design4
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- Bloodborne's excellent action, beautiful artistry, and religious melodrama make it another must-play in the Demon's Souls tradition.
- Thrilling and masterfully crafted, Bloodborne is a gorgeous, grim and gruelling adventure,and unarguably the first essential exclusive of this generation.
- FromSoftware gives us another lesson in how to deliver an experience with satisfaction proportional to the frustration it makes us feel. Add a superb art direction to it and play...
- expansive world design3
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- 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 feel...
- 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...
- 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 pla...
Cons
- punishing difficulty3
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- 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 wor...
- 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 fa...
- FromSoftware gives us another lesson in how to deliver an experience with satisfaction proportional to the frustration it makes us feel. Add a superb art direction to it and play...
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text. Each score above uses its source's displayed count. Theme counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.
Rated near Bloodborne
Closest scores in games, on the same source.