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) | – | 85 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 87 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 90 | 750 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 84 | 750 |
| Xbox store ratings | – | 83 | 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 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (22)
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.
- 80
“It's the mix of the mundane and the mercurial that makes Life Is Strange worth living. - Aaron Riccio”
read full review ↗ - 85
“An honest, sometimes even painful, story about friendship and finding yourself. Life is Strange is played with a lump in the throat and its ability to make a grown man tear up is its true "power".”
read full review ↗ - 78
“The Max's journey ends with this fifth episode and she knows she has achieved many good ideas but, for the way, she also has left other important things. Life is Strange is classic and fresh at the same time, but Dontnod Studios should have had more money to develop an unforgettable game. ”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Limited Edition of Life is Strange doesn’t introduce anything new. The graphics are the same, as well as individual episodes that form this wonderful adventure. The art book and soundtrack are still a nice plus that could push some collectors to purchase this edition.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It has its weaknesses and flaws as a game, but this is a deeply impactful game that shouldn’t be missed.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Life is Strange is our sleeper hit of the year. A new benchmark for the adventure genre and a must play for everyone that enjoys a good detective story. [dec. 2015 / page 067]”
- 80
“Despite its obvious flaws the reactive story and compelling characters make this one of the best storytelling experiences of the current generation.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“With tremendous cunning, Dontnod’s game moves from a teenage super-power fantasy toward a comment on our universal wish to repair time.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“From its opening moment until its final scene plays, Life is Strange is a wonderful, beautiful, captivating, touching adventure built upon the undying friendship of two girls trying to find their place in the world.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Life is Strange is a beautiful adventure in which Max and Chloe have to struggle through time and different choices to figure out what's happening in Arcadia Bay.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The first season of Life is Strange is an experience between Quantic Dream productions and Telltale games. Something like a third lane, that becomes only darker and deeper with time. We're looking forward to see what Dontnod can make with the rewind in a second season.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“The greatest strength of Life is Strange is that the excellent character work, supernatural twists, and serene environments manage to overcome any technical issues. It was easy for us to get hooked on guiding Max through this tumultuous time in her life, and the ending left our hearts and minds drained. ”
read full review ↗
Slant Magazine
PLAY Zine
Eurogamer
TheSixthAxis
Power Unlimited
Metro GameCentral
Washington Post
EGM
IGN
GameTrailers…and 10 more tracked reviews.