Screenshots & trailers
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) | – | 81 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 15 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 87 | 146 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 85 | 157 |
| 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 (31)
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.
- 90
“Dating back to January of this year, Max's adventure has been quite a ride. After a couple of episodes that were pretty shaky, the French developer righted itself and delivered three consecutive home runs that absolutely blew us away, and this has culminated in a finale that delivers on everything that we could have possibly dreamed of.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A heartbreaking ending to a fascinatingly ambitious interactive story, that handles the build-up to its final dilemma with impressive confidence and heart.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Even though Episode Five may be a continuous torrent of truly dire situations, it is an experience that demands attention. Intense monologues, both venomous and heartbreaking, are its standout moments. Its clever narrative offers a sense of finality that can fill you with terror, happiness, and heartbreak in equal parts. Thank you for the year that was Life is Strange, it’s been emotional.”
read full review ↗ - 89
“Amazing and emotive finale for a very good story told by a game. This rollercoaster of emotions named Life is Strange will be remembered as one of the biggest surprises of the year. ”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Polarized has solidified Life is Strange’s spot as a frontrunner for best adventure game of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“If you've played the previous episodes, buying this one should be a no-brainer. If you haven't, then what are you waiting for? This series is more than worth every dollar you spend on it.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“What the game wants you to appreciate is how difficult it is be morally and cosmically right when no less than love itself is the alternative.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“While the episode does provide a conclusion to Max’s bittersweet story, its splintered things apart more than tied them all together. [January 2015, p75]”
- 90
“Life Is Strange’s conclusion is as effective and powerful an ending as we could hope for. It’s been an emotional, haunting, and often ridiculous time following Max and her friends on their timey-wimey quest, and I’m going to miss them.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I could not recommend this game enough, it is by far my favourite game ever and if you haven’t played it you should, even though I’ve spoilt it in this review (YOU WERE WARNED).”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It’s a great ending to a great game, and might possibly be called the best episode of the bunch.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“A fantastic series comes to an uneven, disappointing close.”
read full review ↗
Push Square
Metro GameCentral
DarkZero
Atomix
ActionTrip
Kill Screen
GamesBeat
PlayStation LifeStyle
NZGamer…and 19 more tracked reviews.