Evolve Reviews

Evolve is ranked in the 56th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Feb 17, 2015

With the ability to play as a monster against a human team, Evolve offers something unique – and surely one of gaming's best-ever tribute acts. When you're fleeing from the hunters and get trapped in their containment field, swatting desperately while looking for an out, you think back to those Power Pills and how far we've come.

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80 / 100
Feb 18, 2015

Evolve is a brilliant concept that, when matched with the right players, can be a lot of fun to partake in. The many unlocks and well-balanced characters build upon that at every step. That being said, simply finding random people that know how to properly strategize is hit or miss, at best. But when you do find the players, or pair up with friends, Evolve can produce some unforgettable excitement that is unlike any other multiplayer experience out there.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 10, 2015

Though its long-term ability to survive has yet to be seen, in the short run that this first-person shooter has been out in the wild, it's already proven itself as a beast of a different color, and one that certainly will provide thrills and the joy of the hunt for anyone looking to stare right back at it.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 13, 2015

Like Left 4 Dead before it, Evolve is a game that feels slightly under-nourished at times, but which takes the crummy old co-op FPS wheel and totally re-invents it.

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Feb 12, 2015

Fortunately, the hunts in Evolve stand out as the game's greatest strength. There's no denying that some players will find the formula repetitive after a short while, and the lack of other great game modes contributes to that repetition.

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Polygon
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 8, 2015

Evolve offers something different, even if it doesn't always succeed

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8 / 10
Feb 7, 2015

Evolve is a tense and gratifying online shooter.

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8.3 / 10.0
Feb 13, 2015

In the end, Evolve is a wonderful concept that boasts a surprising, appreciated amount of variety and strategy. Many may not anticipate the level of depth and practice required to really be proficient, which is why some shooter fans might feel a tad misled. Then again, I hesitate to even call this game a "FPS" because it's just so much more, and it's different when playing as the Monster.

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8.3 / 10.0
Feb 19, 2015

If it bleeds you can kill it

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PC Gamer
Top Critic
83 / 100
Feb 14, 2015

A refreshingly asymmetrical FPS with terrific competitive depth, but the thrill of the hunt eventually begins to wane.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2015

All in all, Evolve is going to be a game that gives back what you put in. If you can team up with some friends, or some random players that know what they're doing, you'll have a fun time with the hunters and it'll lead to some intense battles. If you get one or two that want to play it like Call of Duty, however, you're going to find it a frustrating experience. Hopefully as time goes on, the player base will collectively learn the "right" way to play the game, and as they do, it'll become a much more robust environment for everyone. It's the same issue with every online-focused title, and Turtle Rock seem to be committed to ensuring that the playing field remains level. Hopefully they will prove to be just as committed in keeping the game fresh with new maps and modes as well! Arguments about DLC structures aside, Evolve is a fun take on traditional class-based multiplayer. Whether you decide to be the hunter or the hunted, there are plenty of moments in Evolve that will have you on the edge of your seat, and as long as you play to your class, you'll have a good time. Whether the legs are long enough to keep the game running for an extended period of time remains to be seen, but as long as they can keep it as fun as this, I've not got many complaints at all. And that, I'm proud to say, is an entire review without saying that "Multiplayer has evolved", or any other terrible puns.

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MMOGames
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2016

Evolve is a great game in my eyes, especially for a free game. I had a lot of fun playing it. Though I enjoyed playing as a Monster, I much preferred playing as a Hunter.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 10, 2015

When it all comes together, Evolve is the finest vehicle for the player-driven narratives developer Turtle Rock covets, but inevitably pacing can be an issue.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 9, 2015

Evolve is easy to recommend to anyone looking for something different in the world of big-budget shooting games. Though the game is at its best when you can play it with friends, it also has plenty to offer for single-player gamers. You need to be ready to lose a half-dozen matches while you figure out how Evolve works, but this is a game which will absolutely reward your patience with hours and hours of fun.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2015

Evolve offers players a chance to tame the wilds of an alien landscape. Only it's never really quite clear just who is the hunter and who is being hunted.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Feb 17, 2015

Evolve accomplished what it set out to do, and I am having a blast learning all the concepts it delivers. As long as I have friends to play with, it will continue to be in my rotation of games to play. My only concern is fatigue setting in with some players, and the base dwindling. This will kill the game, as playing solo is simply not the route to go.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 20, 2015

With its balanced class-based, teamwork orientated gameplay, great graphics and slick mechanics that keep you playing into the wee hours of the night, Evolve itches that competitive urge and feels a lot more evolved that your standard, run-of-the-mill shooter.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 11, 2015

The 4v1 formula is original but inherently limited; how long Evolve holds your attention will depend on how much you enjoy the hunt.

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8.6 / 10.0
Feb 18, 2015

Evolve captures the imagination of our childhood and brings it to life. It does so with a complete sense of being there, as much as can be had in a game. It's great, but perhaps a bit too expensive.

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8.6 / 10.0
Feb 12, 2015

Evolve may not be as fleshed out as other multiplayer shooters, but it's still one of those rare games that chases after something different and actually succeeds. It's built for incredible, player-driven stories; when you just barely triumph over a level three monster, or when you wipe out a group of hunters within a few minutes. Our biggest fear going into Evolve is that it would only be fun in short bursts, but every time we play the session lasts for hours. Even now, there are still so many things we want to get better at and experiment with. Needless to say, we're going to be hunting on Shear for the foreseeable future.

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