"*Existence of Insight*" scores 86 on Metacritic! Capcom really made the right call this time.

When I opened up gaming news on the subway, the first thing that caught my eye was the score for Pragmata. For someone like me who just scrolls a bit during the commute, an 86 feels like one of those reliably popular milk tea shop staples—you probably won’t go wrong with it. Now that reviews for the game are out, its Metacritic media average has reached 86, which is definitely a strong result.

More importantly, this score isn’t being propped up by just a handful of outlets. Right now, 46 media outlets have given it positive reviews, 2 have given it mixed reviews, and there are 0 negative reviews. That kind of breakdown is reassuring to see, because it suggests this isn’t the sort of game that sharply divides opinion. For a brand-new IP that people were already watching with caution, this is actually a big plus out of the gate.

Interestingly, the people praising it are mostly praising the same core element. Hey Poor Player gave it a perfect 100, calling it Capcom’s boldest attempt at an original IP in years, and saying the wait was worth it. It specifically highlighted how the game centers its combat around real-time hacking mini-games. That sounds like a pretty risky design choice on paper, but it’s exactly this refusal to play by the usual rules that makes it stand out.

GameSpot gave it a 90, focusing on the emotional impact of the ending and the amount of content available after finishing the game. Simply put, it’s not the kind of disposable experience that feels empty the moment you clear the main story—it still leaves plenty of room to explore. For players who like slowly uncovering maps or jumping back in for a couple more rounds after work, that kind of design is especially welcome and less likely to be forgotten the moment it’s over.

That said, it’s not without flaws. IGN gave it an 80, which is still a solid score, but it pointed out that the narrative isn’t fully engaging, some scenes feel a bit clichéd, and there’s still more potential to explore with the characters Hugh and Diana. I can actually understand that—once an action game really nails its feel, the story can easily turn into background noise you follow while moving forward, like those short videos where people say, “The plot’s fine, but the real point is the hype moments.”

At the same time, IGN also acknowledged the game’s biggest strength: the “hacking + shooting” combination genuinely works. It borrows the best parts of modern Resident Evil’s action gameplay while incorporating a relatively rare real-time puzzle-solving system, so it probably won’t feel like just straightforward run-and-gun action. For more casual players, that’s actually quite appealing, because it adds an extra layer of interaction compared with pure hardcore shooting, making it less monotonous and more refreshing.

If you’re only looking to keep an eye on one new release lately, I’d say mark down April 17 first. Especially if you already have a favorable impression of Capcom and want to try something with a new flavor, this game is well worth adding to your wishlist and watching. If story presentation is your top priority, you might want to wait for more hands-on impressions; but if you care more about gameplay feel, stage pacing, and new mechanics, there’s a good chance this one will feel worth your time.

On top of that, the media reception this time also shows that Capcom still has confidence when it comes to making new IPs. It’s not just clinging to old series and living off past successes—it’s willing to add something new within a familiar action framework. For players, that kind of experimentation is far more interesting than endlessly playing it safe with retreads. After all, everyone wants a little freshness in their game library, not the same experience over and over with a different coat of paint.