Cuphead Reviews

Cuphead is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
PCMag
Top Critic
Oct 18, 2017

Cuphead pays homage to old school animation, as well as side-scrolling video game shooters of old. While it lacks the stage-heavy mayhem of other games in the genre, Cuphead more than makes up for it with its vicious boss battles.

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Jul 31, 2020

Now, as the current console generation ends, Cuphead conquers the last major player in the gaming market and remains as must-play as it has always been on other platforms.

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86 / 100
Apr 18, 2019

The developers have managed a technically flawless port to the hybrid console, which does not need to hide from the version on the more powerful console from Microsoft.

Review in German | Read full review

Everyeye.it
Marco Mottura
Top Critic
9.3 / 10.0
Apr 18, 2019

After the well-deserved success achieved on Xbox One and PC, Cuphead arrives from the parts of the Kyoto House with an exciting conversion: the already rich Nintendo Switch catalog is enriched with a prodigious instant classic ready to find a second youth where it is usually the stainless Super Mario to dictate the law. An unmissable masterpiece a couple of seasons ago and equally indispensable today, which deserves to be discovered for the first time by a new audience, or found in a walking version by those who had already adored it.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2017

Cuphead combines challenging and unforgiving gameplay with the over the top animations of the 1930's in this fun adventure. While difficult at times, the sense of reward that you'll get after each fight will have you continually coming back for more.

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9 / 10
Sep 29, 2017

It's a bit unfair to compare Cuphead to almost any other of the brutally tough platformers I've grown to love recently, as it lacks the filler. It gets straight to the good stuff and gives us an almost 'greatest hits' of boss fights. And if they don't get better and more rewarding as they go, I'll go eat. So while you've still got to be a masochist at heart to get through the 'true' Cuphead, people of all ages and backgrounds would be able to sit in front of the television and appreciate Cuphead for its sense of style and its ability to evoke that childlike wonder that was, until now, dormant in most of us.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2017

In the end, Cuphead proves to be everything I wanted it to be — challenging, stylised and fun. It's a tough, tough game — but unlike Dark Souls, my failures in Cuphead made me want to keep playing. Bring it on.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2017

Ultimately the game provides too much nostalgic satisfaction for me to be upset by its conventions, no matter how punishing or familiar they may be. Style may not always offer substance, but in the case of Cuphead, I'm satisfied.

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90%
Oct 4, 2017

Cuphead will go down as a classic, that's for sure, and it's quite possibly the hardest game I've ever played, but you just have to try it. If only for a short-while. Just get out before that blood pressure rises!

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Unscored
Oct 2, 2017

Normally when a game is this tough it can be off-putting, but the combination of intense difficulty and the skill required to learn each pattern is incredibly satisfying. It’s a fine balance that Cuphead is able to achieve with every single boss you’ll encounter, and even when you’re feeling frustrated, the brilliant soundtrack and completely unique art direction will keep you smiling with every new attempt. The standard for combining style and substance in this genre has well and truly been set.

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4.5 / 5.0
Jul 29, 2020

Seemingly simple gameplay and delightful art aside, Cuphead manages to balance challenge and difficulty fairly well.

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9 / 10
Aug 4, 2020

Although unchanged since 2017, thankfully Cuphead's unique strengths have not been dulled by time. This long awaited PS4 port deserves to find a new audience with its charming character designs and frantic onscreen action.

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10 / 10.0
Aug 12, 2020

It's a game that will make your life a living hell but in a way that's addicting and forever challenging. Cuphead is a damn good time.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 5, 2019

I certainly don't regret my time spent with Cuphead, but also I don't know when I'll pick up the game again. There's too much rinse and repeat and rote memorization of bosses to be fun for me after a while. That being said, if you're looking for a steep challenge, Cuphead will certainly satisfy. The game is definitely a huge accomplishment–I just wish it was more universally accessible and fun for everyone.

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CGMagazine
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Apr 15, 2019

As it stands, Cuphead is a great addition to the Switch library, it's also a game that just feels right at home on a Nintendo platform, thanks to its colourful aesthetics and old-school difficulty.

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Fandom
Top Critic
3.5 / 5.0
Oct 3, 2017

For players that appreciate classic run-and-gun combat, punishing difficulty, constantly learning from failure, and breathtaking art, Cuphead’s experience will not disappoint.

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GameSpace
Tyler Hancock
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Apr 18, 2019

The problem lies in the gulf between a good game with unbelievable art, and a work of art. Cuphead gets so close to being more than a cool-looking game, but the gameplay and art style don't merge in any meaningful way. It's still worth playing, and it's still the best-looking exercise in humility and frustration that you can find on the market today.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2017

Cuphead is a hardcore game with a beautiful art design that recalls the classic cartoons of the '30s. Based on splendid boss fights and with some "run and gun" levels, MDHR Studios' game is challenging and satisfying.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2017

StudioMDHR transports players back into a 1930s cartoon with Cuphead, A stunning yet difficult title.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 2, 2017

Cuphead is simply fantastic, mixing a top-notch, visually unique art-style with great gameplay. The challenge might turn some people but the entire experience is definitely recommended for platforming fans.

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