Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

The majority of critics praised Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for its compelling narrative, character development, and thematic depth, highlighting its evolution from its predecessor. Many lauded the story’s exploration of Cal Kestis’ emotional growth, with VideoGamer calling it “one of the best in the Star Wars franchise” due to its twists, shocks, and focus on internal struggle. Gaming Nexus and TheSixthAxis noted the game’s emphasis on Cal’s transformation and the introduction of new characters that added layers to the Jedi’s quest. Themes of trauma, hope, and resistance against the Empire were frequently praised, with Meristation and Inverse appreciating the emotional bonds and philosophical questions about the Jedi Order’s legacy. The narrative also expanded Star Wars lore effectively, as Post Arcade and GamesRadar+ pointed out, while Gameblog.fr and Gamer.no emphasized its richer world-building and deeper character relationships compared to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The story’s ability to balance personal stakes with broader galactic conflicts, such as the Rebel Alliance’s formation, was seen as a strength by several reviewers. However, several critics pointed out flaws in pacing, coherence, and originality. Gameblog.fr and Gamer.no criticized the story for feeling rushed or repetitive, with Gameblog.fr noting “twists and characters introduced in a rushed manner” that left questions unanswered. Eurogamer Poland and The Jimquisition highlighted a slow start and a reliance on platforming/combat sections over narrative progression, while Shacknews and TheSixthAxis mentioned inconsistencies in character motivations and predictability. GRYOnline.pl and GamingTrend felt the antagonists lacked originality, and NME described the story as “paper-thin,” though they acknowledged its visual and emotional appeal. Some reviewers, like Gaming Age, noted that the lore-heavy content might alienate newcomers, while Softpedia and Checkpoint Gaming pointed to a lack of urgency or tension in certain sections. These critiques often centered on the game’s structure and execution rather than its core themes or world-building. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among critics was overwhelmingly positive, with the story being regarded as a significant improvement over Fallen Order. VideoGamer and GamingTrend emphasized its emotional resonance and narrative ambition, while Noisy Pixel and GameByte praised its boldness and isolation from the original trilogy, allowing for fresh storytelling. Even reviewers who pointed out flaws, like Comicbook.com and The Loadout, acknowledged the game’s strong character development and connection to Star Wars lore. While some issues with pacing and originality were noted, the majority saw Jedi: Survivor as a mature, engaging, and thematically rich entry in the franchise. Critics like Eurogamer Poland and GameMAG recognized its balance of personal journey and galactic stakes, and Jeuxvideo.com and Meristation appreciated its focus on survival and hope amid oppression. The game’s ability to blend Star Wars’ iconic elements with a more intimate, character-driven tale solidified its reputation as a standout narrative in the franchise.

The gameplay of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is widely praised for its dynamic combat, exploration, and customization, with many critics highlighting its strengths. Reviewers like GameSpot and IGN laud the "exhilarating lightsaber combat" and "refined combat mechanics," emphasizing the variety of lightsaber stances and Force powers that allow for strategic playstyles. PCGamesN and VG247 commend the Metroidvania-inspired exploration, noting the engaging puzzles, hidden items, and environmental challenges that reward curiosity. The game’s skill tree and ability upgrades are also frequently praised, with GameSpew and TierraGamer pointing to the depth and flexibility they add to combat. Digital Spy and CGMagazine highlight the "perfected level design" and "balanced difficulty," while DualShockers and SECTOR.sk appreciate the "excellent traversal" and "new traversal abilities" that enhance the experience. Overall, the gameplay’s blend of action, platforming, and exploration is seen as a strong evolution from its predecessor, with many critics calling it "satisfying" and "engaging." However, several critics point to notable flaws that detract from the experience. MGG and Power Unlimited criticize the "artificial obstacles" and "confusing level design," arguing that exploration is underrewarded and navigation is hindered by map inaccuracies. The Jimquisition and Gamersky mention technical issues like "unreliable combat" and "unpolished mechanics," while Siliconera and IGN Portugal note struggles with enemy AI and control responsiveness. Comicbook.com and ComicBook express frustration over the "limitation of equipping only two stances at a time," and PCGamesN points to repetitive combat that lacks variety. GameMAG and GameSpew also highlight navigation challenges and "jankiness" in movement, while Power Unlimited criticizes the "frustrating" respawn system. These issues, while not universal, suggest that the game’s design occasionally clashes with its ambitious scope. Despite these criticisms, the majority of critics agree that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor delivers a strong and enjoyable gameplay experience. GameSpot, IGN, and VG247 emphasize its "refined combat," "engaging exploration," and "satisfying progression," while GameCritics and GamingBolt praise its "visceral combat" and "enjoyable exploration." Even critics who pointed out flaws, like MGG and Power Unlimited, acknowledge the game’s overall strengths, such as its "satisfying puzzles" and "deep customization." The consensus is that while the game has technical and design imperfections, its core mechanics, variety, and ambition make it a standout entry in the genre. As Digital Spy notes, the "intuitive movement combos" and "rewarding exploration" make the gameplay a "delight," reinforcing the sense that Survivor succeeds in delivering a compelling, Jedi-themed adventure.

The graphics and visual design of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor received widespread praise for their ambition and immersion into the Star Wars universe. Many critics highlighted the game’s stunning environments, with GamesRadar+ noting that "planets feel expansive and alive, resembling scenes from the original trilogy," and Jeuxvideo.com emphasizing "solid technical performance with ray tracing and beautiful visuals, especially in open areas." The art direction was lauded for its vibrancy and detail, with TierraGamer describing "vibrant and realistic environments" and Digital Spy appreciating "beautiful environments" despite some character model inconsistencies. The game’s use of Unreal Engine 4 was particularly noted by Atomix, who praised the "well-designed planets and characters," while IGN France commended "clean and detailed visuals" optimized for SSDs. Additionally, the cinematic quality and world-building, such as the "gorgeously shot" set pieces and "grandiose atmosphere" mentioned by VideoGamer and Softpedia, underscored its visual appeal. These elements collectively demonstrated a strong commitment to capturing the essence of Star Wars through richly crafted settings and dynamic storytelling. However, technical issues and performance inconsistencies overshadowed the visual strengths for several reviewers. On PC, GamersRD criticized "poor optimization and visual issues like pixelation and chromatic aberration," while Shacknews pointed to "frame rate hiccups, texture pop-ins, and cutscene animation problems." PS5 critics like SpazioGames and MeuPlayStation noted "frame rate issues" and "texture loading problems," with GameGrin and GameMAG citing "FPS drops, stuttering, long load times, and crashes." Even on Xbox Series X, Riot Pixels and Games.cz acknowledged "compromises in performance" and "frame rate dips," respectively. Some reviewers, like NME and Comicbook.com, mentioned "invisible walls" and "frame rate drops during intense action," while VideoGamer specifically highlighted problematic fire textures and trees on Koboh. These technical flaws, though often minor, were seen as detractors from the otherwise impressive visuals, particularly on less powerful hardware or during high-action sequences. Overall, the consensus among critics leaned toward acknowledging the game’s visual ambition and immersive design, but with caveats about its technical execution. While titles like GamesRadar+, Jeuxvideo.com, and Cubed3 celebrated its "stunning visuals" and "best-looking titles to grace modern hardware," others like GamersRD, GameGrin, and SpazioGames emphasized persistent optimization issues and visual artifacts. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions saw mixed results, with some praising the next-gen capabilities and others pointing to frame rate hiccups and texture pop-ins. Despite these flaws, many reviewers, including Pocket-lint and God is a Geek, believed the graphical shortcomings would be addressed in future patches, leaving the core visual design as a strong achievement. The game’s ability to blend recognizable Star Wars elements with original world-building, as noted by PCGamesN and RPG Site, suggests that while technical issues exist, its artistic vision remains a highlight for fans of the franchise.

The majority of critics praised the sound design and music of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for their strong alignment with the franchise’s iconic aesthetic and immersive qualities. Many highlighted the soundtrack’s ability to evoke the essence of Star Wars, with references to John Williams’ classic themes and a sense of nostalgia. For instance, IGN Italia noted that the audio complements gameplay effectively, while GameSpot and VG247 emphasized the immersive sound design with distinctive Star Wars cues and cinematic elements. TheXboxHub appreciated the levity provided by BD-1’s bleeps and bloops, and PCGamesN celebrated the charming sound effects, including new creatures and endearing audio details. Push Square and Movies Games and Tech both lauded the music as feeling like it could have been ripped from the films, with Hobby Consolas and Meristation praising original melodies that blend familiar themes. The orchestral score was frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with The Enemy and GamingBolt noting its authenticity and emotional range, while PlayStation Universe called it “top-notch” and “epic.” These reviews collectively underscore the soundtrack’s success in reinforcing the game’s Star Wars identity and enhancing player engagement. However, some critics pointed out notable shortcomings. Stevivor and GamersRD criticized the music for lacking originality, with the latter mentioning reused tracks from the original game and a general sense of familiarity over innovation. Stevivor specifically noted the soundtrack’s “generic” feel compared to previous entries in the franchise. Meanwhile, GamingTrend (PS4) mentioned audio compression issues that made some sound effects jarring, though they acknowledged the music quality remained intact. Gamer Escape also noted that technical performance problems, such as frame rate drops or glitches, detracted from the enjoyment of the sound design and music. While these critiques were less frequent, they reflected concerns about the soundtrack’s uniqueness and technical execution, particularly on certain platforms. Despite these points, the majority of reviews framed these as minor issues rather than deal-breakers, emphasizing that the overall audio experience still resonated with Star Wars fans. Overall, the consensus among critics was overwhelmingly positive, with the sound design and music being a significant strength of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. While a few reviewers expressed reservations about originality or technical fidelity, the majority celebrated the audio as a faithful and immersive representation of the Star Wars universe. IGN France and Checkpoint Gaming highlighted the emotional depth and memorable themes, while Destructoid called the soundtrack “absolutely fantastic” for elevating action and drama. The use of John Williams’ motifs, combined with new compositions, created a cohesive atmosphere that many felt enhanced the gameplay and storytelling. Even critics like Gamer.no and Oyungezer acknowledged the effective integration of sound and music into the experience, despite not delving into specifics. The game’s audio succeeded in capturing the spirit of Star Wars, making it a standout element for fans and a key contributor to its cinematic appeal.

The majority of critics praised the voice acting in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor as a standout element, with many highlighting its emotional depth and technical quality. Cameron Monaghan’s performance as Cal Kestis was consistently lauded, with reviewers like IGN, GamesRadar+, and Worth Playing noting his ability to convey Cal’s internal struggles and growth. The ensemble cast also received acclaim, with GamesRadar+ specifically praising Tina Ivlev’s portrayal of Merrin and TheGamer highlighting the addition of Cody Fern as Dagan Gera. Many critics, including Jeuxvideo.com, VG247, and New York Daily News, emphasized how the voice acting enhanced storytelling, creating immersive character interactions and emotional resonance. The game’s ability to balance dialogue with action, as noted by PCGamesN and GamesHub, further underscored the strength of its vocal performances, particularly in moments of introspection aboard the Mantis ship. However, some critiques pointed to uneven execution. The Jimquisition and Power Unlimited criticized the main cast for lacking depth, with Cal’s performance described as “emotionless” and the plot “not enthralling.” GamersRD noted that secondary characters suffered from “clichéd dialogue,” while Metro GameCentral found the main characters “lacking interest” despite enjoyable side characters like Rayvis. Eurogamer Poland and Atomix mentioned issues with localized dubs, such as the Polish version lacking charm and the Mexican Spanish dub being a notable option. Additionally, Gaming Nexus pointed to shortcomings in facial expressions during cutscenes, and GamingTrend noted audio compression issues affecting dialogue quality. These criticisms, while present, were less frequent compared to the overwhelmingly positive reception. Overall, the consensus among critics was overwhelmingly positive, with the voice acting being a core strength of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. While some reviewers like The Jimquisition and Power Unlimited raised valid concerns about character depth and localization, the majority—such as IGN, VG247, and Pocket-lint—celebrated its ability to bring characters to life and elevate the narrative. The praise for Monaghan’s performance, the emotional nuance of key interactions, and the overall professionalism of the voice cast created a cohesive and immersive experience. As GamesBolt and CGMagazine noted, the voice acting not only met but exceeded expectations, solidifying its role as a critical component of the game’s success. Despite minor flaws, the overwhelming majority of critics agreed that the voice acting was a significant highlight, contributing to the game’s emotional and narrative impact.

The technical performance of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor shows mixed results across platforms, with some reviewers highlighting minor positives. On the PS5, Jeuxvideo.com and IGN Italia noted that the game is "technically solid" despite some bugs and slowdowns, while IGN France acknowledged optimization for SSDs and a smooth experience on new-gen consoles. For Xbox Series X, MondoXbox praised improved loading times and graphical settings options, and GameGrin observed that post-launch patches alleviated some issues, though performance problems persisted. On PC, IGN France acknowledged that the game is optimized for SSDs and runs smoothly on new-gen hardware, while Jeuxvideo.com (PS5) and others mentioned that resolution mode issues were expected to be fixed in updates. These observations suggest that while certain platforms had initial stability or optimization strengths, the overall technical foundation was not universally flawless. However, the negatives across all platforms are more pronounced and consistent. The PS5 version faced criticism for frame rate drops, screen tearing, and bugs, with Eurogamer Germany and The Jimquisition citing crashes and unresponsive controls, while Hobby Consolas called the performance "deplorable." The PC version was heavily scrutinized, with Gamer.no, Gameblog.fr, and PC Gamer highlighting poor optimization, stuttering, and crashes that required high-end hardware for subpar results. Game Rant and Shacknews specifically mentioned severe issues like hard crashes, texture clipping, and game-breaking bugs during key moments. On Xbox Series X, GameGrin and GameSpot noted crashes and stuttering, while Windows Central pointed to performance hiccups in specific areas like Koboh. These problems were often described as persistent or requiring adjustments, with some critics questioning the game’s polish and stability. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor struggles with technical performance, particularly on PC and PS5, though some platforms showed slight improvements post-launch. While titles like GamesRadar+ praised the PS5 version for its seamless experience, most reviewers emphasized that optimization issues, frame rate inconsistencies, and crashes detracted from gameplay. The Xbox Series X received more balanced feedback, with some noting smoother performance but others highlighting lingering problems. Despite mentions of patches addressing certain flaws—such as IGN France’s reference to a Day One patch or GameGrin’s post-launch fixes—the technical shortcomings remained a significant hurdle. Critics like Game Rant and PC Invasion underscored that the game’s ambition was undermined by its lack of polish, while others, like Impulsegamer, acknowledged minor glitches but praised the overall polish. The technical performance was widely seen as a critical flaw, with expectations of improvement but lingering doubts about its impact on the player experience.

The majority of critics highlight the positive aspects of replay value in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, emphasizing its robust side content, customization options, and New Game+ mode. Many praise the game’s emphasis on exploration, with VG247 noting that "significant enjoyment in customizing Cal and exploring the Star Wars universe" offsets the risk of collectible burnout. PC Invasion and GamesRadar+ commend the expanded combat styles, diverse gameplay rewards, and metroidvania-inspired mechanics that encourage revisiting areas with new abilities. TheXboxHub and Games.cz specifically point to the metroidvania elements and the ability to "revisit areas for new plot developments," while IGN Italia and SECTOR.sk highlight the New Game+ mode as a key driver for multiple playthroughs. Additionally, TrueGaming and The Loadout stress that side quests, bounties, and weapon customization add depth, making the game engaging beyond the main story. These elements collectively create a sense of discovery and variety, appealing to players who enjoy tinkering with playstyles or uncovering hidden secrets. However, several critics express concerns about limitations in replay value, citing repetitive combat, restrictive traversal, and lackluster world design. Shacknews argues that the game’s "repetitive combat and restrictive traversal mechanics" may deter players from returning, while GamersRD notes that the "lack of significant new content or improvements" over its predecessor makes exploration feel less rewarding. MGG and INVEN suggest that the game’s focus on customization and exploration might not resonate with players prioritizing the main narrative, and GameGrin mentions technical issues that could hinder replayability. GamesHub points to the "mandatory puzzle padding" in the middle act as a potential drag, and Cubed3’s praise for the game’s ambition is tempered by the observation that it "may not entice players to revisit the game extensively" for some. These critiques indicate that while the game offers enough content for completionists, its core mechanics and design choices might not sustain long-term engagement for all players. Overall, the consensus among critics leans toward a balanced assessment, acknowledging that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor provides substantial replay value through its side activities, customization, and New Game+ mode, but with caveats. VG247, GamesRadar+, and Everyeye.it emphasize that the game’s collectibles and side quests cater to completionists, while INVEN and MGG suggest it may not appeal to those focused solely on the主线 story. Cubed3 and Gaming Nexus highlight its expansion and ambition, yet Shacknews and GamersRD warn of repetitive elements and underwhelming world design. Despite these mixed perspectives, the game’s combination of exploration, combat variety, and post-game content seems to satisfy most reviewers, with Push Square and NME noting that it can "extend playtime beyond the core 25 hours" and "leave players wanting more." While not universally groundbreaking, the replay value is broadly seen as sufficient for fans of the genre and the Star Wars universe.