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How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 78 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 32 | 345 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 56 | 750 |
| PlayStation store ratings | – | 55 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (46)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 60
“Everything is about the same as it was in UFC 3, but with some minor changes. Outdated graphics and animation may push new players away. UFC 4 is a game for fans, and they can add another point to the final score.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“EA Sports UFC 4 is a testament to the power an experience can have when it is wholly aware of its own identity. The gameplay is solid, online modes are good, and the career mode is more of the comfortable same that it was in UFC 3, albeit with a great tutorial mode to kick things off. UFC 4 is what a sport sim should be: simple enough on its surface to be fun right off the bat, but deep enough to reward those who practice long enough to become skilled. Oh, and it is very UFC, in case you were wondering. That's always fun.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“EA Sports UFC 4 is not a massive departure from its predecessor, but it’s a significantly better game. EA Vancouver has successfully recognised the way fans want to play, and with its array of arcade-inspired options and emphasis on Career mode, it will appeal to casual fans of the sport as well as MMA obsessives alike. While the ground game still needs work, it’s much more approachable now, and we really like the fast-paced Blitz Battles as an accompaniment to the more traditional online ranked matches. The presentation has stagnated somewhat, but combat still feels appropriately crunchy, and with rotating challenges to hold your attention, we can see ourselves sticking with this brawler for some time.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Even after achieving "G.O.A.T." status, I have a hard time peeling away from UFC 4. After hours and hours of play, I still feel like there's a lot more to learn about the fighting systems and all the moves that can branch out from each ground position. It's addicting to tinker around with it or map out a new career for another created fighter, messing around with building (or burning) bridges with either fighters to see how his or her path maps out. Whether you want a little action distraction or want to get lost in what the MMA world has to offer, UFC 4 has it. Just remember to apologize to your training partners in advance.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“UFC 4 is an evolution over UFC 3. A much better and more cohesive online, a better system for advancing your created fighters, a career mode that has a bit more depth, and gameplay that opens up the series to more people, makes UFC 4 the game that UFC 3 should have been. ”
read full review ↗ - 55
“EA Sports has scrapped Ultimate Team from UFC 3, made a few minimal (UI) updates and put a FIFA cover on it. Please, here you have UFC 4. It's that the ten-year-old fighting system still delivers some really brutal brawls, otherwise this would be a complete joke. If you already own UFC 3, I don't see any reason to buy this part.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“EA Sports UFC 4 is the best entry on the sport to date. Smart tweaks to the grappling system make it feel more fluid and natural, and a revamped series of modes will keep you coming back for more. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“EA Sports UFC 4 is a largely iterative sequel that tightens up some looser parts, makes a few smart tweaks here and there, and doesn’t rock the boat all that much. And in that sense, it’s a success. The new submission system is a big improvement over prior years, there are some great changes to career mode that make it much more fun to mold a fighter that suits your own playstyle, the new grapple assist system is a great tool to help complete newcomers not feel lost if they get taken down, and as a whole, the fighting system remains incredibly deep. Longstanding problems still remain in the ground game and some dated visuals, but without any competition for the title, EA Sports UFC 4 still remains the king of combat sports.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While UFC 4 may not shake up the formula for the franchise, it is still an incredibly fun and worthwhile game. UFC fans will be able to squeeze dozens of hours out of the career mode as well as getting to fight against friends online with their favorite fighters. The small tweaks to the mechanics were very welcome changes that help propel UFC 4 further than any other game in the series, though it remains something that's pretty inaccessible for those who aren't already interested in the sport.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“UFC 4 is quite enjoyable, and a great sports sim, but its very complex gameplay could be a problem for some, even if it's better than before. If you're a fan of MMA, don't look further.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“Apart from laggy menu and modest graphics, UFC 4 is a good finale to the series’ run on current generation of consoles. [Issue#248, p.48] ”
- 70
“A decent improvement over its predecessor, with a bulky career mode and enjoyable multiplayer. The controls are still hit-and-miss, though. Overall, still not enough to lift this fighting game out of the mists of mediocrity. ”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
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IGN
Screen Rant…and 34 more tracked reviews.