Assassin’s Creed Valhalla launches tomorrow with both the Xbox Series X and Series S. With that said, some outlets managed to gain some early access for review purposes. This post is meant to gather all of those reviews into one handy place, and give you a sense of how gaming critics more generally feel about the title. Without further ado, here is your Assassin’s Creed Valhalla review roundup.
“Valhalla’s most intriguing story is one about faith, honor, and family, but it’s buried inside this massive, massive world stuffed with combat and side quests. That balance is not always ideal, but I’m glad, at least, that it forces me to spend more time seeking out interesting things in the game’s world.”
Nicole Carpenter, Polygon
“Fresh takes on several of the series’ established loot and quest systems help to keep the things fluid and nuanced, though progression could use refinement. There’s also a bigger than usual horde of bugs and blemishes to contend with from start to finish. But while it may not be the most stylish or polished, its rugged and brutal look at the muddy business of Scandanavian expansion is as memorable and dense as an Assassin’s Creed has ever been, and it makes great use of the new consoles.” SCORE: 8/10
Brandin Tyrrel, IGN
“Stronger, bolder, and with a welcome reintroduction of the best bits of the older games, Valhalla is a roaring bloodied success with a true heart.” SCORE: 4.5/5
Louise Blain, GamesRadar
“Despite its strong connection to past games, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is more than capable of standing on its own. It takes a little while to build momentum, but when it hits its stride, Valhalla is a confident Assassin’s Creed title that takes a few narrative risks which, as a whole, pay off. Eivor is a good hero with an identity that drives the mystery behind the main narrative, and she shines in the self-contained arc structure of Valhalla’s story. The supporting cast may not shine as brightly, but it’s easy to forgive that when exploring England and discovering new nuggets of worldbuilding is so rewarding.” SCORE: 8/10
Jordan Ramée, GameSpot
“I loved 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (especially after its post-release support), but that love was always tempered by a desire for improvements. I wished the content felt more carefully curated. I hated grinding to progress the story. I got sick of managing an inventory bloated with loot. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla addresses all of those issues and more, creating a rewarding experience at every turn, whether you’re pursuing the main narrative or hunting down treasure. I’m sure Valhalla is not the perfect Assassin’s Creed game for all players, but it is certainly my new favorite entry.” SCORE: 9.25/10
Joe Juba, Game Informer
Honestly? All of this sounds really, really good, and I’m now unbelievably excited to dive in myself.
Are there some disappointments? Yes. I, for one, am a little let down that Valhalla is not going to do 60 frames-per-second on the Xbox Series S. On that system — the $299 mini — Valhalla will do the same 30 FPS gamers have been used to for a while now. That certainly flies in the face of how that console’s been marketed thus far (as “The Series X but with a lower resolution”), and isn’t the first game to be a letdown in that department. It likely comes down to optimization, so I’m hoping that, as more next-gen games come out, developers take the time to make sure the Series S achieves higher frame rates.
It looks like the Xbox Series X will have the best version of this game, however, which is good news if you have one of those on the way. I know one thing: based on these reviews, I’m going to be awfully torn between playing through Destiny 2: Beyond Light or kicking off my Viking adventure.
This Assassin’s Creed Valhalla review roundup is Core Xbox’s first. If you have some thoughts on how they can be better formatted, your feedback is welcome. Also — go read the full reviews! Give those websites their clicks. All of them did a fantastic job.