
For the most part, Stellar Blade is exactly what I was hoping for: a good action-RPG that I enjoyed a lot despite several issues. It can be clunky, inelegant, and laugh-out-loud stupid, but firing on all cylinders, it delivers exhilarating combat and boss fights, endearing characters, and stunning environments. It's an uneven mix of 15 years worth of gaming tropes, intriguing but underbaked themes, and a combination of linear and open-world design that handles a few things incredibly well but fumbles others severely.
Release date: April 26, 2024
Platform(s): PS5
Developer: Shift Up
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment