Cuphead Reviews

Cuphead is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Noisy Pixel
Kevin Mai
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Aug 7, 2020

Cuphead on PS4 is an excellent port of a fun and unique boss rush run-and-gun title. Outside of a few quirks with its difficulty scale, everything about this experience is fluid and entertaining. The aesthetic is the star of the show, which pair well with the responsive controls and captivating soundtrack. You might encounter a few moments of frustration after then tenth death to a boss, but the satisfaction of overcoming these moments is a great reward.

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9.5 / 10.0
Aug 16, 2020

Cuphead is brutally difficult and incredibly rewarding to play, and plays very smoothly on PS4. Each of the levels only last a couple minutes, and the actual scrolling levels are far harder than any of the boss stages included in here. If you have the chance, pick this one up. If you’re a gamer, you shouldn’t have any excuse of it not being available to you any longer.

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8 / 10
Aug 16, 2020

I really liked Cuphead. While not having the skills to finish the game – yet – I will be plugging away at it. It’s a mountain and I am determined to reach the summit. The game has one of the best art styles I have ever seen and while I do wish there was an ‘easy mode’ so that more people could enjoy what Studio MDHR has created here, it’s impossible not to admire the execution.

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Unscored
Aug 6, 2020

Cuphead is a 2D action and platform game perfect to play alone or in company. Very fun and addictive that will make you want more of him. Its technical section is impeccable at all levels so if you did not have the opportunity to play it in its day, you no longer have an excuse not to do it.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2020

The story of Cuphead is admittedly not going to change your life, but the fact is that the game isn’t about having a Final Fantasy-esque plot, it’s a boss rush! One day Cuphead and Mugman enter the Devil’s Casino and after amassing a fortune, the Devil offers them a bet that was too hard to resist, double their money or forfeit their souls. Little did our heroes know that in the end, the house ALWAYS wins, even if by nefarious means, so of course the Devil wins, but he gives Cuphead and Mugman a deal. If they can chase down other debtors who are on the run from the Devil and collect their souls instead, he’ll consider their debt paid off.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 1, 2020

Cuphead is much more than its brilliantly nostalgic art direction. Whether solo or with a partner, facing and defeating one of its challenging bosses is always exciting and exhilarating. Cuphead’s controls are precise, the whole world and character design is phenomenal, and the music masterfully walks hand in hand with the whole experience. Above all else, it is extremely fun and rewarding, like few other games in the industry are, affirming itself as one of the best independent games of the current generation.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

10 / 10.0
Jul 31, 2020

Ultimately, Cuphead was a masterpiece when it originally released years ago and it still holds that position today. And with the upcoming “The Delicious Last Course” DLC set to add another playable character, levels, and bosses, more greatness could be on the horizon. The difficulty might rule some out, but this is a game that should be experienced by all.

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86 / 100
Oct 18, 2017

There is no doubt in my mind, that Cuphead is one of the best titles on the Xbox One. I would even go so far as to say that everyone should try it, at least once. I know the game is not for everyone, I honestly did not think it would be for me; but the adventure has been well worthwhile and the lessons learnt should, in my humble opinion, be experienced by all.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 18, 2019

If it isn’t already abundantly clear, Cuphead is an achievement of a game both for its inspired and delightful presentation and the refreshing difficulty of its cavalcade of characters, making this a swell shakedown from start to finish.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 11, 2017
Cuphead Review | Old School Cool video thumbnail
Oct 17, 2017

A deal with the Devil starts the story of Cuphead, and at times the gameplay can make the player feel as if they are in hell, yet the graphics speak to a time long past, revitalized by Studio MDHR. While the future of the title seemed uncertain at times, and the decision to go beyond a simple litany of boss battles to more of a true platformer in 2015 pushed the developers to their limits, the end result has truly taken the industry by storm. Those gamers who were smitten by the title at first sight and have waited years to see the release as well as those who have heard of the game by word of mouth or simple happy accidents should all be impressed and pleased with this result. Inherently difficult games can lose players if the rest of the production also falls flat, but no such problem can be found here. A simple narrative premise and the quintessential "easy to learn, hard to master" gameplay find a happy marriage, tied together by rich visuals and a snappy soundtrack that make every minute in the game unique. No shame should be felt in restarting levels countless times, or needing to take a breath before going on. Cuphead was not made in a day. Thus, players need not finish in one. In fact, the title is best taken in small doses, in sections and boss fights, simmering and sipped like a fine meal made by a very fine chef. The magic of the title is to be appreciated, not rushed through, and all the elements combine for an experience long in the making that will remain in the mind as fondly as the era that players are transported to when a cup makes a deal with the Devil and a soul is on the line.

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Unscored
Oct 3, 2017
Cuphead - Logic Review video thumbnail
10 / 10
Sep 10, 2017

A fusion of pure art and creativity, Cuphead is the result of the Moldenhauer Brothers' risk-taking, as well as the tireless efforts of the MDHR studio members. Cuphead brings us back to the sweet world of 1930s cartoons, but we have control over the characters this time around. The combination of eye-catching visuals, fast and rhythmic jazz music, and a speedy and challenging gameplay makes Cuphead a one-of-a-kind experience!

Review in Persian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Oct 8, 2017

Cuphead has an impressive art style and is challenging in the right way, offering satisfactory rewards after each stage. In spite of some unfortunate issues, it's still very much recommended, especially considering its current price.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Oct 27, 2017

Finally! After a long development the MDHR Studio brought us Cuphead a little gem that had salivating us since it was presented at E3 in 2014.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

10 / 10.0
Nov 17, 2017

StudioMDHR has knocked it out of the park with their debut title, as Cuphead will no doubt go down as an all-time classic.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2017

Overall Cuphead has managed to live up to the hype that chased the game all through its lengthy development. The game has a character all of its own that bleeds out of every nook and cranny while it tests the limits of your perseverance against a wonderful gallery of enemies.

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8.3 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2017

With a gorgeous look and some surprisingly taxing boss battles, Cuphead stylishly combines adorableness and adversity in equal measure, difficult enough to take multiple attempts while fun enough to warrant the repeated efforts. Take a look if you enjoy challenging and unusual titles.

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Oct 27, 2017

Cuphead is one of the most visually interesting games I’ve ever played. Its gameplay is a throwback to old-school bullet hell shooters and tough boss fights, without the need to worry about running out of lives. I wish I could tell you to ignore the discussion around difficulty and just buy the game, but that’s not fair. Cuphead is a challenging game that requires a lot of practice and patience. You may not enjoy it and that’s fine. However, if you’re at all interested in what Cuphead has to offer then you should take the risk. Dive in and see what happens. I played Cuphead for 15 hours and most of them were a hell of a lot of fun. Not all of them, but most.

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