The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Metacritic Score – A Detailed Review Roundup
Updated 2026-06-19
On this page
- Introduction: What Do the Critics Say About The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales?
- The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Metacritic Score Breakdown
- Positive Reviews: What Critics Loved
- Mixed and Negative Reviews: Where the Game Falls Short
- Key Features and Gameplay Overview
- Should You Buy The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales?
- FAQ: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
Introduction: What Do the Critics Say About The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales?
Square Enix and developer Claytech Works have unleashed a new HD-2D action RPG, and the early reception is already making waves. The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Metacritic score has landed at a solid 79, signaling a “Generally Favorable” consensus among critics. But what does that number really mean for players? With 37 critic reviews counted as of June 19, 2026, the game has earned praise for its charming world and fast-paced combat, while also drawing criticism for pacing issues and a lack of innovation. In this detailed review roundup, we break down what the critics are saying about The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Metacritic reception, highlight the standout reviews, and help you decide if this time-hopping adventure belongs in your library.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Metacritic Score Breakdown
The Metacritic page reveals a clear split: 73% of critics gave positive reviews, 27% mixed, and none negative. The overall score of 79 is built on a range of platforms, with the Nintendo Switch 2 version scoring 79 (based on 40 reviews), PC at 77, PlayStation 5 at 82, and Xbox Series X at a pending score. Here’s a quick look at the distribution:
| Review Type | Number of Reviews | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | 27 | 73% |
| Mixed | 10 | 27% |
| Negative | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 37 | 100% |
The highest score so far is a 91 from TierraGamer, while the lowest is a 60 from Gamekult. This wide range suggests a game that excels in some areas but stumbles in others. Below, we dive into the specific praise and criticism.
Positive Reviews: What Critics Loved
Several outlets awarded scores in the 80s and 90s, highlighting the game’s strengths in storytelling, combat, and visual style.
| Outlet | Score | Key Praise |
|---|---|---|
| TierraGamer | 91 | Charming adventure, solid narrative, rewarding exploration, fast-paced combat, exceptional HD-2D art direction. |
| Atomix | 85 | Charismatic experience, a worthy step in Square Enix’s HD-2D evolution, enjoyable despite minor flaws. |
| MMORPG.com | 80 | Efficiently replicates classic 2D adventures, clever map design, exciting real-time combat. |
| Pocket Tactics | 80 | Tricky puzzles, rewarding exploration, nuanced combat – a must for action RPG fans. |
| NintendoWorldReport | 80 | Understands enjoyable minute-to-minute gameplay, story pushes you forward, fulfilling detours. |
TierraGamer called it “a charming adventure that combines a solid narrative, rewarding exploration, and a fast-paced, versatile combat system.” They praised the HD-2D world for its “exceptional artistic direction” and noted that Elliot and his fairy sidekick Faie maintain engagement through strong pacing. Atomix echoed the sentiment, calling the game “charismatic” and an important step in the HD-2D genre that Square Enix pioneered with Octopath Traveler.
MMORPG.com enjoyed the time-hopping in “Philabieldia” (a playful nod to Philadelphia) and lauded the efficient replication of yesteryear’s 2D adventures. The review noted that the HD-2D format fits beautifully, and the clever map design makes a small world feel expansive. Pocket Tactics emphasized the tricky puzzle design and nuanced combat, saying that despite a lack of gameplay innovation, the quest is “well worth embarking on.”
Mixed and Negative Reviews: Where the Game Falls Short
Not every critic was completely won over. Several reviews pointed out pacing issues, repetitiveness, and a final stretch that drags.
| Outlet | Score | Key Criticism |
|---|---|---|
| Worth Playing | 75 | Gets three-quarters of the way to greatness; final stretch drags; feels slow, meandering, unfocused at times. |
| Nintendo Insider | 70 | Too much heart to dislike, but sees room for improvement; a follow-up could be legendary. |
| Gamekult | 60 | Era-hopping mechanic feels like a design shortcut; repetitiveness; retreading same areas; story takes too long to start. |
Worth Playing gave a 75, stating that the game “feels like it gets about three-quarters of the way toward being a fantastic game, but its final stretch drags it down.” They appreciated the strong soundtrack and beautiful visuals but wished for more polish and focus. Nintendo Insider scored it 70, noting that despite frustrations, the game has “too much heart” and that the developers approached it with pure passion. They expressed hope for a sequel that could be “legendary.”
The most critical review came from Gamekult (60), which argued that the era-hopping mechanic is used as a “design shortcut rather than a genuinely coherent narrative element.” They described the experience as “outrageous repetitiveness” with players retreading the same areas multiple times. While they admitted the game has a soul and working systems, they felt the story takes too long to begin, and by the time it gets good, many players may have already given up.
Key Features and Gameplay Overview
For those unfamiliar, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is an open-world action RPG set in a continent overrun by beast tribes. The Kingdom of Huther is humanity’s last safe haven, protected by a magic barrier. Adventurer Elliot and his fairy sidekick Faie explore ruins and journey across a thousand years of history. Here’s a table summarizing the core features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Open-World Action RPG |
| Developer | Claytech Works |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Release Date | June 18, 2026 |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X |
| Visual Style | HD-2D (pixel art + 3D lighting, similar to Octopath Traveler) |
| Combat | Real-time, with magic and upgrade systems |
| Story | Time-hopping across four eras, a thousand years of history |
| Puzzles | Tricky, rewarding exploration |
| ESRB Rating | Teen (T) |
The combat system has been widely praised for being “exciting and fun” (MMORPG.com) and “fast-paced and versatile” (TierraGamer). The upgrade systems and magic mechanics add depth, though some critics felt the puzzle count could be higher. The HD-2D art direction is a major selling point, with reviewers calling it “gorgeous” and “exceptional.”
Should You Buy The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales?
With a The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Metacritic score of 79, the game is clearly a solid, enjoyable experience for fans of the action RPG genre. It wears its Zelda inspirations on its sleeve but manages to carve out its own identity through charm, personality, and a heartfelt story. If you love HD-2D visuals, rewarding exploration, and real-time combat, this is a safe bet.
However, if you’re sensitive to repetitive level design or prefer a tightly paced narrative from the start, you might find the middle section frustrating. The mixed reviews highlight that the game could have been a masterpiece with more polish, but as it stands, it’s a very good game that delivers many hours of entertainment.
You can purchase the game for $59.99 on platforms like Amazon or directly from the official Square Enix store. For more details, check the Metacritic page to read full reviews.
FAQ: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
Q: What is the Metacritic score for The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales?
A: As of June 19, 2026, the game holds a Metascore of 79 based on 37 critic reviews, indicating generally favorable reception. The The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Metacritic page shows 73% positive reviews.
Q: On which platforms is the game available?
A: It is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. The Switch 2 version has the most reviews (40) and scores 79.
Q: Is the game similar to Zelda?
A: Yes, many critics note obvious parallels to The Legend of Zelda series, especially in its action-adventure gameplay and exploration. However, the game stands on its own with a unique time-hopping story and HD-2D art style.
Q: What are the main criticisms of the game?
A: Common criticisms include a slow start, repetitiveness in level design, and a final stretch that feels unfocused. Some reviewers found the era-hopping mechanic underutilized as a narrative device.
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