Platinum Games was formed in 2007 as a result of the merger of Seeds Inc. and Odd Inc. Many of the founders of Platinum games worked for Capcom before leaving to develop their own games. Since its founding, Platinum Games has made a reputation for itself as a company that produces high-quality games with a level of style that is lacking in games from most development studios.
Rarely ever does Platinum Games release a game that feels unfinished, full of bugs, or that fails to earn the praise of critics and players. Here are the ten best games from Platinum Games according to Metacritic – ranked.
10 Infinite Space – 74 Rating, 8.2 User Score
A word that is used by many critics and users in their reviews of Infinite Space is “ambitious”; some other words used to describe this game include “masterpiece” and “must-play”. Infinite Space, released exclusively for the Nintendo DS in 2010, is a role-playing game that allows the player to assemble their own fleet of starships and explore the vastness of outer space.
The level of customization for the player’s fleet is impressive. There are several ship types available: carriers that carry smaller starfighters, large battleships with tons of firepower, and smaller ships that have less firepower but are faster and more maneuverable.
9 Transformers: Devastation – 77 Rating, 7.5 User Score
The biggest complaint about most Transformers games (and the live-action movies) is that the transformers never look like they did in the cartoon series; the exception being the excellent Cybertron series published by Activision. With Devastation, Platinum Games delivered the kind of game that Transformers fans have been waiting since the 1980s to play – that is, a game that is nearly indistinguishable from the television series. The player can choose between Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Grimlock, Wheeljack, and Optimus Prime, all in their gen one glory. The game is a 3D beat ‘em up with beautiful cell-shaded graphics and most of the original voice actors from the cartoon.
8 The Wonderful 101 – 78 Rating, 8.6 User Score
The Wonderful 101 is a difficult game to assign to a particular type. It is an odd mix of playstyles that give the impression of being influenced by Diablo, Pikmin, and Viewtiful Joe. The player controls a group of heroes as they battle invading aliens, some of which are kaiju sized. The player can instruct the heroes -- they move together in a group -- to perform tasks. Some of these tasks are attacks, but there are also tasks like forming into a ladder so the main hero can get to the roof of a building. The Wonderful 101 was released exclusively for the Wii U in 2013.
7 Madworld – 81 Rating, 8.6 User Score
In the introduction it was mentioned that games from Platinum Games have a level of style that is lacking in most games. A prime example of this style is Madworld for the Wii (released in 2009). The color palette in Madworld is primarily black and white; which looks incredible when combined with the game’s highly detailed graphics.
The only actual colors in the game are red blood of your enemies and the yellow pop-up messages. Madworld is a hyper-violent 3D beat ‘em up (Platinum Games’ specialty) with a surprisingly good plot and a great soundtrack. The only repeating criticism among critics and users is that the game is perhaps a bit too violent.
6 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – 83 Rating, 8.0 User Score
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a collaboration between Kojima Studios and Platinum Games that expands the Metal Gear universe and features gameplay that focuses more on combat and less on stealth. Many fans of the series were afraid Revengeance would somehow lessen the franchise by departing from its stealth game roots, but as usual Platinum Games assuaged these fears by delivering an incredibly fun title. The protagonist in Revengeance is the cyborg ninja named Raiden instead of Snake. The “cutting” physics of Raiden’s attacks were praised by critics and fans at the time of Revengeance’s release. The game was released in 2013 for the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac.
5 Vanquish – 84 Rating, 9.2 User Score
Vanquish was widely ignored when it was first released – probably due to being released on the same day as Fallout: New Vegas. It has since been given “hidden gem” status by the gaming community; a fact that is reflected in the game’s user score on Metacritic. In Vanquish the player controls a soldier fitted with a prototype battle suit capable of increasing reaction time and boosting the wearer across the battlefield. The reaction time increase is implemented in the form of slowing time down for the player, or “bullet time”. Vanquish is fast-paced, stylish, and most importantly fun.
4 Astral Chain – 87 Rating, 8.9 User Score
Astral Chain, a Switch exclusive released in 2019, once again proves that Platinum Games is the king of the 3D action beat ‘em up/hack ‘n slash genre. In Astral Chain the player is a member of a police task force named “Neuron”, and must investigate and solve cases in the game world (called “The Ark”). A large portion of the game takes place in the Astral Plane; where players can summon an astral familiar called a “Legion”. There are numerous Legion types, which are tethered to the player via a glowing astral chain. On Metacritic there are no negative critic reviews for Astral Chain, and only fifty-five negative user reviews out of over three thousand.
3 Nier: Automata – 88 Rating, 8.9 User Score
For its sequel to the incredibly underrated game Nier, Square Enix chose Platinum Games to handle the game’s development – and time has proven that to have been a very good choice. Many reviewers on Metacritic remarked that it took a talented development studio like Platinum Games to make a game that could live up to creator Taro Yoko’s vision.
Set in the Drakengard universe, Nier: Automata is a role-playing game at its core, but includes the adrenaline-fueled combat Platinum Games is known for. This is a 3D open-world game, but it keeps things fresh by occasionally switching to an overhead or side-scrolling viewpoint.
2 Bayonetta – 90 rating, 8.1 User Score
Bayonetta is probably Platinum Games' most famous game to date, as well as its second highest rated game on Metacritic. This is a 3D action hack ‘n slash game, and according to reviewers it may be the best in the genre. Many user reviews state that the God of War and Devil May Cry games don’t even come close to being as good as Bayonetta. The player controls a member of a secret society of witches named Bayonetta as she fights through throngs of enemies and humongous bosses. The fighting action is fast-paced and frantic with over-the-top finishing moves and a graceful flow on par with games like Batman: Arkham City.
1 Bayonetta 2 – 91 Rating, 8.9 User Score
Seeing a good thing for what it is, Nintendo made a deal with Platinum Games to make the sequel to their hit Bayonetta a Wii U exclusive in 2014 – although it would also get a release on the Switch in 2018. Somehow, Platinum Games managed to improve upon every aspect of the original; the graphics, soundtrack, level design, fighting action, and plot all border on perfection. Some of the levels are intensely fun, like fighting armored centaurs while standing on a jet fighter as it flies around the skyscrapers of a city. Many levels in this game will have players wanting to immediately re-experience them – kind of like riding a well-designed roller coaster.