Samson Gets First Reviews—And Receives Mixed Reactions

One of the most anticipated video games of April, Samson, has finally been released. Developed by Liquid Studios, the former developers of Mad Max and Just Cause game series, and led by Just Cause creator Christofer Sundberg. The game is receiving its first reviews, and it’s not really impressive.

At this point, Samson has 58/100 at Opencritic (Top Critic Average) with 40% Critics Recommended. The situation is looking quite similar on Metacritic —it's 54/100 based on 11 critic reviews. The game is being criticized for boring gameplay, an uninspiring combat system, and technical issues, even comparing it to last year’s worst game—Mindseye. However, good sides of the game are action-packed scenes, thrilling chases, and a good price—Samson is available for $25 on Steam. More reviews from gaming outlets you can check out below:

The Outerhaven – 80/100

“Samson is exactly what it set out to be. Its limited scope and scale will undoubtedly turn some people away, particularly because that restraint can make its weaker elements more noticeable. Even so, there is something genuinely refreshing about its simple, no-nonsense approach in an era where so many open-world games feel determined to be as large and time-consuming as possible.”

Wccftech – 55/100

“Liquid Swords' debut title, Samson: A Tyndalston Story, has the potential to one day be an incredibly strong double-A experience. At a bargain price of $25 and with strong foundations, even in its broken state, I can see through to the vision of what the game could be and how much fun it is when it's all running smoothly. But at launch, that's simply not the case, and $25 for anything is still a rip-off if you're just buying something that's broken to begin with. One day, there will be more than a few good reasons to recommend you go out and buy Samson: A Tyndalston Story for yourself. But not on launch day.”

Game Rant – 30/100

“I take no joy in lambasting a studio's debut, but to downplay Samson's fundamental flaws would be to misrepresent it. I could say that you might enjoy the game if you temper your expectations, or that it will be improved once Liquid Swords fixes its devastating bugs, or even that beneath its repetitive gameplay and bland story is the beating heart of passion, but the reality is that Samson is more than just a decent-but-flawed game. It's a passionless, joyless, derivative chore, and I wouldn't suggest playing it unless you're being paid to do so.”

Cloud Dosage – 4.5/5

“Samson reminds me of the days when games didn’t need a hundred map icons to be worth playing. It’s a punchy AA brawler that swaps out massive maps for a focused story about paying back a gang before your sister pays the price. The bugs are a headache right now, but the heavy-hitting action and the vibe of Tyndalston kept me interested. It’s an honest, short-distance run for anyone tired of bloated blockbusters.”

Prima Games – 6/10

“Samson is ultimately a janky but endearing experience, with the foundation of something genuinely compelling. Beneath the rough edges lies a strong core and a likeable cast, but the lack of polish and unreliable combat hold it back at every turn. It’s easy to see what the developers were going for, but in its current state, it’s hard to fully recommend.”

AltChar – 65/100

“At $24.99 (which is a great price to be fair), it's a solid deal if you're desperate for something GTA-lite. Just go in knowing that Samson never fully delivers on its own potential, and given how promising that potential is, that's the most frustrating thing about it.”

• GamingBolt – 7/10
• The Nerd Stash – 7/10
• Destructoid – 6/10
• SteamDeckHQ – 6/10
• Console Creatures – 6/10
• IGN Germany – 5/10
• CGM – 4/10
• DayOne – 4/10
• GameReactor UK – 4/10

The game is also currently having mixed reviews on Steam, where players are not satisfied with Samson’s technical side, but in the latest interview with PC Gamer, Christofer Sundberg confirmed Samson will have technical issues at the start.

Samson is a 1990s-set action-crime game. You play for Samson McCray, who returns to the brutal city of Tyndalston to pay off a heavy debt and protect his sister, engaging in intense, close-quarters combat and car-based combat.

Samson is now available on PC.