Bethesda’s highly anticipated RPG, and their first new universe in 25 years, is almost upon us and the review embargo has lifted, giving us an idea of what to expect. Below are a few of the first reviews to go up that give an idea of what players can expect. For those unaware, while Starfield is set to release on September 6, people who own the Premium Edition (or higher) can get it a week early. Aka, today. You can already pre-install the game and you can find the exact times the game unlocks here. With that said, let’s get to the reviews.
Attack of the Fanboy | 5 out of 5
- Starfield is the most potent value proposition for Game Pass, being the killer app for the subscription service. It is also the best, most ambitious game in the Xbox Game Studios library to date. It would not be a stretch to say this could be one of the most ambitious games ever made, and that it followed through with many of those goals with relatively low compromise.
Destructoid | 10 out of 10
- I wasn’t sure if it could be done, but Bethesda has managed to raise the bar for sandbox games even higher. In the end, Starfield is an epic sandbox open-world RPG with a beautifully immersive universe, a captivating story, and fun and compelling gameplay the whole way. I’m so happy to have experienced Starfield organically, and I really hope you get to as well.
Fextralife | 9.4 out of 10
- Starfield is a compelling and engaging interstellar adventure that successfully blends core RPG mechanics with open-world exploration and deep questing. A complete delight from start to finish and an instant classic for any gamer that enjoys sci-fi and is ready for adventure.
Game Informer | 8.5 out of 10
- Go in with the expectation that it will take some time to find your footing in such a vast gameplay space, and there’s a universe well worth discovering here.
IGN | 7 out of 10
- Starfield has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually, the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist.
Noisy Pixel | 8 out of 10
- Starfield is a true space adventure that only Bethesda can deliver. It’s an experience catered to the fans of large expansive RPG narratives, but this one takes it a step further to stretch across an entire universe. There are minor systems and menus that cause confusion, and the lack of real tutorials paired with a flimsy opening holds back the opening hours. Still, the experience is undeniably memorable, and the writing for NPCs makes up the best moments. Although the many systems can be overwhelming, this is a game full of discovery for all who play.
Screen Rant | 9 out of 10
- Even though Starfield is slightly rough around the edges, it never detracts from all the fun and adventure. With engaging storytelling, charismatic characters, and an enthralling world, Starfield is an instant classic and a triumphant homecoming to blockbuster gaming for Bethesda Game Studios.
VGC | 5 out 5
- Starfield is the ultimate Bethesda game. It takes what people loved about Fallout and Skyrim, and casts it across an enormous galaxy filled with captivating characters.
Despite some outliers, most of the critics seem to agree that despite the galactic expectations, Bethesda has somehow met expectations. It also seems that Starfield is Bethesda’s most stable and bug-free game with impressive performance on not just the powerful Xbox Series X but also the less powerful Series S. After some stumbles, Xbox finally has a massive exclusive and Bethesda has given players a reason to buy an Xbox if they don’t already have one. Not to mention that the game is a Day One release on Xbox Game Pass. Our own review for Starfield is quite a ways away. We will be jumping into the game in just a few hours now and we plan to take our time. So stay tuned for more.
