Pacific Drive

IGN

Sarah Thwaites·Feb 20, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

A singular survival game steeped in an unnerving world.

GameSpot

Mark Delaney·Feb 20, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Ironwood Studio's debut is a challenging roguelite caRPG rich in atmosphere, complexity, and fascinating lore.

Eurogamer

Chris Tapsell·Feb 20, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Eurogamer's review of Pacific Drive, a punishing, anxiety-inducing game with an oddly lovable loop.

PC Gamer

Christopher Livingston·Feb 20, 2024

Critic86/100

Agreement—

Repair, improve, and pilot a quirky station wagon in survival game Pacific Drive.

GamesRadar+

Leon Hurley·Feb 20, 2024

Critic60/100

Agreement—

As unpredictable as it is rewarding, Pacific Drive can be brilliant, infuriating, and frustrating in equal measure. There's a great idea here but much of its potential is burned up by a tough mid-game learning curve, and unpredictably cruel dangers.

Push Square

Stephen Tailby·Feb 20, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Pacific Drive is an ambitious and rewarding debut from Ironwood Studios. It's an unusual combination of factors that all coalesce; roguelike exploration, deep and challenging survival mechanics, an interesting narrative to follow, and a central vehicle that brings everything together. Fiddly controls and complex UI mean it's not free from annoyances, but the pleasure found in incrementally upgrading the car and throwing it into the unknown trumps the setbacks. It might be an arduous journey at times, but it's definitely worth the trip.

Rock Paper Shotgun

Jon Bailes·Feb 20, 2024

Critic—

Agreement—

There's much to admire in Ironwood's car-based survival sim, not least the detail that's gone into the old banger you pilot and the weird lands you have to explore, which force you to learn their quirks and keep your wits about you. As a crafting game, however, it's rather unforgiving and laborious, requiring a lot of thankless graft if you want to stay on the road and unlock more inventive equipment.