Popular Games by PlatinumGames
Reviews of PlatinumGames Games
Review Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon (Switch) - A Placid Prequel For Platinum's Star
A Kind of Magic
If you happened to read our Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon preview a few weeks back you'll know that after the first five chapters of the game, we were pretty excited to continue our adventures through PlatinumGames' bewitching spin-off from the main Bayonetta series. We were impressed with its mix of gameplay mechanics...
Review Bayonetta 3 (Switch) - A Stunning Return For An Icon, And The Best Game In The Series
Stone-cold sober, as a matter of fact
What's the greatest pure action game series of all time? Is it Ninja Gaiden? Max Payne? Devil May Cry or something else entirely? Whatever your own personal preferences in this regard, one certainty is that there are only a handful of franchises which have truly managed to knock it out of the park with regards...
Review NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition (Switch) - A Modern Classic Shines On Switch
NieR-ly perfect
NieR:Automata is perhaps a story of the power of word of mouth. A sequel in an IP with a devoted but modest following by Square Enix standards, it became a notable sales success over time as initial fans convinced neutrals that something special had arrived. Director Yoko Taro was also clever in his approach to storytelling - playing...
Review Sol Cresta (Switch) - PlatinumGames' Intriguing Shmup Doesn't Do Enough To Stand Out
Ready, aim, formation change
Platinum Games, best known for the Bayonetta series, is an odd fit for a sequel to an '80s shoot-em-up that started life as a Galaxian hack. Moon Cresta, by Nichibitsu, introduced a ‘docking’ system that would power up the craft after four alien attack waves. It was a novel idea at the time, and landed well with...
Review The Wonderful 101: Remastered (Switch) - Kamiya's Comeback Kid Lives Up To The Hype
Is it any wonder?
No game captures the ebb and flow of a titanic battle between the forces of good and evil quite like The Wonderful 101. There are dozens of almighty scraps in PlatinumGames’ idiosyncratic action game, against enemies so colossal that even your 100-strong squad feels hopelessly outmatched. And the best moment in each of them is...
Review The Wonderful 101 (Wii U) - A Thrilling Assault On The Senses
Chaos and colour multiplied by 101
Editor’s Note: With The Wonderful 101: Remastered Kickstarter now in full swing, we thought you might like to read our 2013 review for the Wii U original. Playing The Wonderful 101 for the first time on "normal" difficulty is a stressful, headache-inducing experience that, nevertheless, delivers a genuine...
Latest PlatinumGames News
Monday31st Mar 2025
News Nier Automata's Dev Was "Ordered" To Ignore What The West Thinks Of His Game
"you can’t make games for overseas"
Nier Automata is widely regarded as one of the finest action games in recent years thanks to its remarkably compelling gameplay and deceptively deep storytelling. In a new interview with AV Watch (thanks, Automaton), PlayStation vet Shuhei Yoshida went so far as to credit Automata as the "game that
Wednesday12th Mar 2025
News "I Couldn’t Allow Myself To Kill My Soul" - Kamiya Dives Deeper On Why He Left PlatinumGames
Says Clovers offers a "fresh start"
Hideki Kamiya has spoken pretty openly about his decision to leave PlatinumGames in late 2023, but in a new interview with Japanese outlet Game*Spark, he dived even deeper into what prompted his departure from the Bayonetta studio. Kamiya cut his teeth in the games industry at Capcom's Studio 4, where he worked...
Tuesday4th Feb 2025
News Hideki Kamiya Seemingly Confirms More Departures From PlatinumGames
Including Bayonetta 3's director
Following reports that PlatinumGames — the studio behind the Bayonetta series, Astral Chain, and who helped Square Enix on NieR:Automata — had lost several key directors and creators back in December 2024, former vice president Hideki Kamiya appears to have confirmed that at least five directors have left the...
Monday3rd Feb 2025
News PlatinumGames Wipes Several Games From Its Website's Portfolio
Including Star Fox Zero and 'Project G.G.'
Developer and publisher PlatinumGames has wiped a bunch of games from the 'all works' section of its official website, including an in-development project (thanks, Eurogamer). No explanation has been provided regarding the change, but games such as Star Fox Zero, Transformers: Devastation, Ma
Friday24th Jan 2025
News Astral Chain Director Seemingly Forms New Studio After Leaving PlatinumGames
NieR, far, wherever you are
Late last year, it was reported that several PlatinumGames veterans had seemingly left the studio. While only Bayonetta Origins' Abebe Tinari confirmed this news, it looks increasingly likely that Astral Chain director Takahisa
Tuesday7th Jan 2025
News Bayonetta Veteran Confirms PlatinumGames Departure
He's moved to a PlayStation team
The Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames reportedly said goodbye to multiple veterans (including Hideki Kamiya) last year. Now, in another studio update, it's been confirmed the Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon director Abebe Tinari has also left. According to his LinkedIn, he's moved on to PlayStation's...
Monday6th Jan 2025
News PlatinumGames Is Celebrating 15 Years Of Bayonetta With Year-Long Event
Umbra-lievable
PlatinumGames has announced that it is conducting a year-long event focusing on the original Bayonetta after the game recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. Originally launched in Japan on 29th October 2009 with a worldwide release following in January 2010, it spawned two mainline sequels, one spin-off entry, and a whole bunch of...
Sunday29th Dec 2024
News NieR:Automata Surpasses Another Sales Milestone, Plans For 2025 Teased
The 15th anniversary takes place next year
Square Enix and PlatinumGames' excellent action-adventure RPG NieR:Automata has reached another lifetime sales milestone - surpassing the nine million mark in total shipments and digital sales. This title originally launched on the PlayStation 4 in 2017 with the Switch 'The End of YoRHa Edition' following...
Monday16th Dec 2024
News Several PlatinumGames Veterans Have Seemingly Left The Studio
Hideki and seek
In 2023, PlatinumGames made the surprise announcement that its co-founder and vice president, Hideki Kamiya, had left the company. One year on, it looks like several other veterans may be following suit. As spotted on the r/GamingLeaksAndRumours Reddit forum by user Joseki100 (off the back of an initial post by PlatinumGamesFanboy),...
Wednesday30th Oct 2024
News Bayonetta Character Designer Celebrates Series' 15th Anniversary With New Art
The first game debuted in Japan in 2009
PlatinumGames' icon Bayonetta is currently celebrating her 15th anniversary, and while there have been no major announcements, the development team and creators have now taken to social media to acknowledge the Umbra Witch's time in the spotlight Platinum shared a brief message on social media featuring a...
Monday23rd Sep 2024
News PlatinumGames Gains 'The Wonderful 101' Trademark From Nintendo
How wonderful
Developer PlatinumGames has gained full ownership of the trademark for The Wonderful 101 from Nintendo after a document was spotted detailing the transfer. The document in question was picked up by Joseki100 on Reddit and relayed by the folks over at
Wednesday21st Aug 2024
News Atsuko Tanaka, The Japanese Voice Of Bayonetta, Has Passed Away
She also played Chun-Li and Major from Ghost in the Shell
There's some incredibly sad news coming out of Japan this week about the passing of Atsuko Tanaka - the voice actor behind many major video game and anime roles. This was revealed by her son Hikaru Tanaka on social media - with Oricon News noting how she died on 20th August 2024 at 61 years...
Saturday20th Jul 2024
News Hideki Kamiya Still Wants To Make Okami 2 And Viewtiful Joe 3
How about it, Capcom?
Industry legend Hideki Kamiya, who left his job at PlatinumGames last year, has recently mentioned how he's still interested in making new entries in the Okami and Viewtiful Joe series, as both stories remain incomplete. In part two of Unseen's "Memories unblocked with Ikumi Nakamura", Kamiya menti
Thursday4th Apr 2024
News PlatinumGames' Sol Cresta Blasts Off With DLC In New 'Complete Set' Edition
Available today!
PlatinumGames launched the final wave of DLC for its free-form shoot-em-up title Sol Cresta in December 2022. Now, almost a year and a half on, the studio has returned to the space shooter with a new 'Complete Set' edition. The Sol Cresta Complete Set is now available on the Switch eShop with a special launch discount bringing the...
Monday29th Jan 2024
Feature NieR’s Orchestra Concert Delivered An Unforgettable Night, And A Yoko Taro Tease
The Curse of YoRHa
If you have plans to attend NieR:Orchestra Concert 12024 [ the end of data ], be aware that Zion discusses some of the fun and surprises of the event. For those who aren't able to go, though, we thought you'd like to know how it turned out after he was lucky enough to be in LA on Saturday for opening night... I’ve attended...
Thursday4th Jan 2024
News Hideki Kamiya Hopes To Return To The Video Game Industry In 2024
"I want to get a job making games"
Last year, the famous Japanese video game developer Hideki Kamiya decided to leave PlatinumGames, mentioning at the time how he felt the company was heading in a different direction from his own beliefs as a developer. If you're wondering what's next for the developer of series like Bayonetta, he's now provided an...
Friday29th Dec 2023
Random PlatinumGames Includes Kamiya's Exit In Its '2023 Recap' Video
"Here's to an eventful year"
As 2023 comes to a close, many major publishers and developers in the industry are looking back on what has undoubtedly been one of the most, shall we say, interesting periods in gaming history. One such publisher is PlatinumGames, which has posted a '2023 recap' video on X (formerly Twitter) to commemorate major...
Friday15th Dec 2023
News Hideki Kamiya Reveals Why He Left PlatinumGames
"Without that element of trust, I couldn’t continue working there"
Earlier this year, Hideki Kamiya shocked his fans by announcing that he would leave PlatinumGames. Now unemployed, he's spent much of his time watching streaming content and creating YouTube videos, but after sitting down with IGN, we now have a clearer picture of why he left the...
Thursday23rd Nov 2023
News Kamiya To Take His Bayonetta Vision 'To The Grave', Thinks Franchise Will Still Continue
"It's a shame"
Given that legendary developer Hideki Kamiya had such a prominent role in the creation and continuation of the Bayonetta franchise, many had understandably pondered what might become of our favourite Umbra Witch following Kamiya's departure from PlatinumGames earlier this year. In his latest YouTube video, Kamiya addresses the topic...
Wednesday1st Nov 2023
News Shinji Mikami And Hideki Kamiya Set To Host Talk On Careers And Future Plans
The start of a new venture?
Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya, who both left their respective companies in 2023, are set to host a joint conversation on their careers and future plans at the Archipel Caravan Festival in Tokyo on December 16, 2023. As reported by VGC, the talk, simply dubbed ‘Shinji Mikami x Hideki Kamiya’, will also see the...
Thursday12th Oct 2023
News Hideki Kamiya Launches YouTube Channel And Reveals His Upcoming Plans
Don't get your hopes up yet
Hideki Kamiya has officially left PlatinumGames and has now launched his very own YouTube channel, appropriately titled 'Hideki Kamiya Channel'. Presented with Kamiya's signature sense of humour, the debut video delves into his departure from his role as Vice President at PlatinumGames and what his plans are going...
Monday25th Sep 2023
News Hideki Kamiya Is Leaving PlatinumGames
"I will continue to create in my Hideki Kamiya way"
PlatinumGames has announced that Hideki Kamiya, its co-founder and vice-president, is leaving the company. The announcement on X confirmed that Kamiya's departure date will be October 12th, 2023. Hideki Kamiya has been a significant figure within PlatinumGames since its formation in 2007,...
Friday26th May 2023
News Part Two Of The Wonderful 101: Remastered's Free Stretch-Goal DLC Is Available Now
Update: Download the second part now
Update [Fri 26th May, 2023 15:00 BST]: After dropping part one last week, PlatinumGames has today released the second section of its stretch goal DLC for The Wonderful 101: Remastered titled, 'The Wonderful One: After School Hero'. The latest expansion carries the same side-scrolling gameplay as its predecessor...
Thursday18th May 2023
Random Bayonetta 3's Director Was Worried Hideki Kamiya Would Interfere
"Kamiya-san and myself would engage in heated discussions"
PlatinumGames has released the first of a four-part documentary examining the development of Bayonetta 3. It's jam-packed with fascinating anecdotes from the team, including a rather surprising revelation from the game's director, Yusuke Miyata. Miyata confirmed that Hideki Kamiya, creator...
Saturday1st Apr 2023
News PlatinumGames Announces Next Instalment In "Neo-Classic Arcade" Series On April Fools' Day
But is it legit?
You might remember that last year, PlatinumGames released a video from a clearly fake press conference at which Hideki Kamiya and co. announced nine new "upcoming" games as a part of a series called the Neo-Classic Arcade. This year, the studio is back at it again as it revealed a "Spectacular Side-Scrolling Action" game starring...
Thursday30th Mar 2023
News Bayonetta (Physical) Is Back In Stock On My Nintendo Stores In Europe
"You've played enough hide-and-seek, my scurrying little friend"
Last year, it was announced that the original Bayonetta would be getting a physical release having been exclusive to the eShop on Switch since the port arrived back in 2018. Physical Switch game collectors rejoiced and all was well. However, following delays, and having released...
Friday17th Mar 2023
News Nintendo Launches Live Music Video For Bayonetta Origins' Main Theme
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios
To celebrate the launch of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon today, Nintendo has launched a new music video showcasing how the game's main theme, 'Together in the Moonlit Forest', was recorded. Performed by Lauren McGlynn with music from PlatinumGames' Hitomi Kurokawa, the song clocks in at just under six...
Poll Bayonetta Origins Is Out On Switch This Week, Are You Getting It?
Bayonetta is back!
It's another week and that means another Nintendo Switch exclusive has arrived. This time around it's the Bayonetta storybook spin-off, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. In this new adventure, players take on the role of Cereza - a young apprentice witch who goes on a fateful journey into a forbidden forest to gain...
Tuesday14th Mar 2023
Round Up The Reviews Are In For Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon
Is it magical?
The Umbra Witch is back this Friday, but not in the way you might expect. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a prequel to PlatinumGames' hit high-octane action series, but this prequel stars the young witch long before she becomes Bayonetta. Reviews dropped today and they're pretty positive for the top-down...
Wednesday8th Mar 2023
News Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon Gets Free Demo, And It's Out Now
It's witchin' time
Upcoming Bayonetta prequel Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is getting a demo ahead of its launch next week, and it's available to download now on the Switch eShop. The demo takes place in the game's first two chapters, and you can carry over your progress to the full game when it releases on 17th March. Nintendo...
Tuesday28th Feb 2023
Countdown Wii U eShop Spotlight - Star Fox Guard
#5 - We need to guard this one
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be...
Hands On Bayonetta Origins Is Shaping Up To Be An Elegant, Enchanting Spin-Off
Bewitched
If you happened to find the secret chapter in last year’s superlative Bayonetta 3, you’ll already have been treated to a surprise glimpse of the art style and general atmosphere found in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. That secret area was, as it turned out, a short playable demo, one we assumed pointed to some incoming
Tuesday7th Feb 2023
News Bayonetta 3 Has Sold Over 1 Million Units Since Launch
Kicking down the competition
Bayonetta 3 is the latest Switch exclusive to join the 1 million club. In Nintendo's latest financial report, the company reports that the long-awaited sequel from PlatinumGames just squeaked over the line with 1.04 million units sold. Launching early-ish into Q3, those sales figures are pretty decent for the Umbra...
Friday3rd Feb 2023
News Platinum Celebrates Metal Gear Rising's 10th Anniversary Later This Month
One to watch
One of the standout developers throughout the lifespan of the Nintendo Switch has been PlatinumGames. Not only has it delivered some amazing games like Bayonetta 3 and Astral Chain, but it's also released a number of past hits on the popular hybrid system including The Wonderful 101 and more recently NieR:Automata. If you're wondering...
Tuesday17th Jan 2023
Reminder Unlock A Bayonetta Origins Demo In Bayonetta 3
Try out the brief playable teaser
Another Switch exclusive coming out in the earlier half of this year is Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. In case you missed this one, it's a new spin-off in the Bayonetta series that was revealed last year at The Game Awards. This new title is set in a storybook-like world, where players take on the...
Wednesday11th Jan 2023
News Bayonetta 3 Version 1.2.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
It's a big one!
PlatinumGames isn't done with Bayonetta 3 just yet! Today it's released a second major patch update for the game. This latest patch (Version 1.2.0) comes with combat adjustments, stage condition adjustments, some game mode changes, and various other changes and bug fixes. Here's the full rundown, courtesy of the official Nintendo...
Saturday24th Dec 2022
News Platinum Teases Brand New Wonderful 101: Remastered DLC Update
Take a sneak peek
PlatinumGames has finally shared an update about the next DLC update for The Wonderful 101: Remastered. As you might recall, Luka's Mission was one of the stretch goals on the Kickstarter. Platinum has now provided a sneak peek of this upcoming content. This will take on the form of a classic 2D side-scroller, with Luka as the...
Wednesday21st Dec 2022
News Shmup Sol Cresta Lands Additional Fighters In New DLC
Free update also available
PlatinumGames has announced that its standard shmup from earlier this year, Sol Cresta, is having a whole new wave of content added to it in the form of DLC packages and a free update. While the no-cost additions focus on expanding the game's Caravan Mode as well as the usual tweaks to the player experience, the DLC is...
"This game is a brand-new gameplay experience"
Hideki Kamiya - the man responsible for games like The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 3 - is asking fans to give PlatinumGames' upcoming project Bayonetta Origins: Creza and the Lost Demon a chance. In a new blog post on the official company website, the supervising director of Bayonetta Origins begs...
Sunday11th Dec 2022
News Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon File Size Seemingly Revealed
Arriving next March
In case you missed it, one of the big Nintendo-related announcements at The Game Awards this year was the reveal of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. This new Switch game is arriving early next year on 17th March, and as result, there's already a fair bit of information about it. The latest update comes directly from...
Friday9th Dec 2022
News Bayonetta Origins Announced Exclusively For Switch, Coming March 2023
Try out a brief playable teaser in Bayonetta 3
At The Game Awards, the show's host Geoff Keighley announced a new Bayonetta spin-off would be coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch early next year. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will be landing on the hybrid platform on 17th March 2023 for $59.99 USD, and pre-orders are now live on...
Thursday24th Nov 2022
News Bayonetta 2 Receives Another Minor Update, Here's What's Included
Download it now
The release of Bayonetta 3 isn't the only title PlatinumGames has been focused on in recent months. Before it arrived, the first and second Bayonetta titles on Switch received new updates (Version 1.1.0) - adding additional language options. Now, in another update for Bayonetta 2 (Version 1.2.0), Platinum has rolled out some more...
Monday21st Nov 2022
News Hideki Kamiya Is Already Starting To Talk About Bayonetta 4
Slow down, man!
It's not even been one month since the launch of Bayonetta 3, yet series creator and vice-president at PlatinumGames, Hideki Kamiya, has already started talking about a potential sequel. Speaking on Twitter, Kamiya made direct reference to the ending of Bayonetta 3. While we won't spoil what happens here (and please be mindful in...
Thursday10th Nov 2022
Japanese Charts Harvestella Blooms Into Second Place In A Huge Week For OLED Sales
Queen of the crop
After last week saw almost every game in the Japanese charts being a new release, things looks to have settled down a little more in this week's software sales. It should come as no surprise that Splatoon 3 continues to ink its name at the top spot, but this week also sees the charting debuts of Harvestella and Doraemon Story of...
Saturday5th Nov 2022
Ah, but did that stop Joker?
Crashing onto the scene back in 2017, NieR:Automata was a breakthrough moment for Yoko Taro. Though the director gained infamy for the Drakengard series — including the original NieR on PS3 and Xbox 360 — and his unusual interviews, Automata is the game that truly put him and his team on the m
Thursday3rd Nov 2022
Japanese Charts Bayonetta 3 Debuts In Second As PlayStation 5 Outsells Switch
Like witchcraft
It's been a busy week in the latest Japanese charts from Famitsu! And while the top spot remains unchallenged — with Splatoon 3 still clinging on firmly — nearly every other game in this week's software chart is a new release. The big new game for Switch owners in the week of 24th to 30th October was Bayonetta 3. PlatinumGames'...
Sunday30th Oct 2022
Video Here's A Closer Look At Bayonetta 3's Censored "Naive Angel" Mode
On and off
As you might recall, Bayonetta 3 has a "Naive Angel Mode" - allowing players to toggle between more or less revealing character outfits. If you are playing a certain way, and are curious to see what the other version looks like, you're in luck. GameXplain has put together a video showing off several moments from the third entry to see...
News Hideki Kamiya Thanks Nintendo For Helping Make Bayonetta 3 A Reality
"I’m forever indebted to Nintendo"
Nintendo became an important part of the Bayonetta series' future - helping fund the second game on Wii U, and going on to bankroll the third game. Platinum's Hideki Kamiya has previously mentioned how thankful he is to Nintendo for stepping in to help "kick off this project" and now he's commented on this once...
Saturday29th Oct 2022
Video Digital Foundry's Technical Analysis Of Bayonetta 3
"Temper your expectations on the tech side"
Bayonetta 3 is finally here and as usual with the latest Nintendo release, Digital Foundry has taken a closer look at the game's performance and frame rate. So how does it hold up? In short, John Linneman thinks the third game has "some serious technical hiccups", and that it's a game that "feels as if...
Friday28th Oct 2022
News Physical Switch Copies Of Bayonetta Are Returning To My Nintendo Store Later This Year
"We apologise that we could not meet demand"
After a year of waiting and months of delays, Bayonetta did get a physical release on Switch earlier this week. Not that many people will have been able to get their hands on a copy of course, as the out-of-the-blue drop sold out almost instantly. Fortunately, Nintendo has confirmed that it plans to...