Stellar Blade has 2024's highest Metacritic user score so far | VGC

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Stellar Blade has achieved Metacritic's highest user score of 2024 so far.

The game has a 9.2 user rating from 1,899 ratings, the highest for any game with a significant amount of ratings (there are a few games with higher scores, but fewer than five ratings.)

For comparison, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth managed a 9.0 user score from 3350 ratings, Helldivers 2 earned an 8.2 from 1558 ratings, and Persona 3 Reload achieved a score of 8.5 from 645 ratings.

VGC's Stellar Blade review says the game offers "both the perfect entry point into the Souls-like genre and a refreshing refinement of the well-worn character action formula".

"For those who wished that God of War Ragnarok offered a bit more challenge or that Bayonetta had a bit more weight to its combat, this slick sci-fi slasher is the perfect tonic," we wrote.

The game has faced some criticism for in-game lag when dodging and parrying, however, the game's director has said it is intentional. 

The game recently received a New Game Plus mode in a day-one update.

Stellar Blade's day one patch also removed in-game graffiti that "unintentionally" references a racial slur.

Shift Up's plans for Stellar Blade DLC include free costume bundles for protagonist Eve, which will add to the 30 outfits available in the base game.