First PlayStation 5 Exclusive of 2026 is a Disaster
Despite its visually striking character design, "Code Violet" has been met with disappointment due to weak combat mechanics, repetitive exploration, and numerous bugs that have overshadowed the gameplay experience.
Marcus Thompson · 2 min read
PlayStation 5's Code Violet: Disastrous Debut with Poor Gameplay and Bugs
TeamKill Media's PlayStation 5 exclusive, Code Violet, launched on January 10, 2026, to overwhelmingly negative reviews. The third-person action horror game currently holds a Metacritic score of 32 out of 100, reflecting poor ratings from both critics and players. Critics cite weak combat, unchallenging enemies, repetitive exploration, and gameplay-hindering bugs. Although some found the environments interesting, most felt the game failed to create tension or fear. Player reviews are similarly unfavorable, with an average score of 2.4 out of 10, and 76% of reviews deemed unfavorable, citing confusing mechanics and numerous bugs. Despite the overwhelmingly negative reception, one potential bright spot is the protagonist, Violet Sinclair. Reviewers often praise her elegant and appealing visual design, enhanced by outfit customization options.
Critically Panned: Code Violet's Dystopian Nightmare in Trappist 1E
According to Game Rant, Code Violet is an action-horror game set in the 25th century. After a catastrophe made Earth uninhabitable, humanity's survivors relocated to Trappist 1E. Facing extinction due to sterility, the Aion colony resorts to desperate measures: using time travel to abduct women from the past to serve as surrogate mothers. This mission, however, conceals a sinister conspiracy. As Violet Sinclair, the player awakens in Aion's Bioengineering Complex, which is filled with prehistoric dinosaurs and hostile forces. Players will need to carefully manage their inventory as they uncover the colony's dark secrets, fight for survival, and attempt to escape during a chaotic evacuation. PushSquare and IGN each gave Code Violet a score of 4 out of 10. All three critic reviews on Metacritic currently average 40 out of 100, and OpenCritic reviews reflect the same average score.
Code Violet's Dino Crisis-Inspired Failure Skips PC Release
TeamKill Media reportedly scrapped two previous attempts to remake Dino Crisis over the past decade. Some have noted similarities between Code Violet and Capcom's Dino Crisis, the dinosaur survival horror game from the original PlayStation. However, most reviews suggest that Code Violet does not measure up to its inspiration. The developer reportedly does not plan to release the game on PC to avoid inappropriate mods. Source: Cover image for YouTube video "Code Violet - Extended Gameplay Reveal | PS5 Games"
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// The Friday recap
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Game info
- Official Name
- Groove Coaster: Initial Initial Echo Ego
- Brief Summary
- Touhou Project music DLC for Groove CoasterTitle: Initial Initial Echo EgoArtist: RD-Sounds*Arrange from Touhou ShinreibyouDifficulty: Simple 2 / Normal 5 / Hard 8BPM: 156
- Genre
- Music
- Play Modes
- Single player
Where to buy
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Sources
- PS5 exclusive Code Violent couldn't scratch the Dino Crisis itch
- First PlayStation Exclusive of 2026 Launches With a Whimper
- Code Violet review - the PS5's first game of 2026 is also the worst game of 2026
- Dead Rising Dev Reportedly Tried To Bring Back Dino Crisis Before The Studio Was Shutdown(/dino-crisis-remake-cancelled-dead-rising-developer)



