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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) | – | 73 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 73 | 47 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 70 | 51 |
| Xbox store ratings | – | 67 | 165 |
| 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 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (20)
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
“An improvement on the first episode, but still marred by technical issues and. A move in the right direction, but it's still too early to tell if this is more The Killing Joke or Batman & Robin.”
read full review ↗ - 86
“Telltale raises the heat with a story that feels both intensely personal and refreshingly little explored in Batman’s mainstream canon. For about an hour and half, the Bat fantasy comes alive. ”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Anyone expecting Telltale to continue deconstructing Bruce Wayne and his alter ego will come away from Children of Arkham unsatisfied. It effectively lays the groundwork for future events with the help of a few unexpected twists, but in leaving out meaningful detective work, it falls short of the series' first episode.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“So short Batman himself should be investigating, but what they have added is a decent and different interpretation of the Batman lore. Those of us on the train will enjoy and be looking forward to the third installment.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Children of Arkham eventually gets to really interesting places, but it takes them a little too long to get there, and many interesting story threads from the premier aren't given proper attention gameplay-wise or story-wise. Still, it's nice to see Bruce Wayne and Batman taken in such a dark new direction.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A great addition to a series that is turning out to be one of Telltale’s best. The combat continues to improve, the story is fantastically written, the choices are tough in the best way, and everything really feels like a cohesive package.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Takes all of the solid foundations established by Episode 1, trims most of the fat, and continues to build an engaging Dark Knight story in a unique and uncharted version of the D.C. legend’s universe. Old Bat-fans will get much more out of the unexpected twists and turns than a newcomer, but the relationships Bruce Wayne forms and develops with the people around him appeal equally.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Episode 2 improves on its predecessor in terms of plot and pacing as well as offering a potentially MAJOR fork in it's story, though how true this statement is remains to be determined by future installments.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“You still have your patented "safe" approach from Telltale with Batman: A Telltale Games Series: Children of Arkham, but its heart is in the right place.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Well paced throughout, and offering at least one scene changing choice, I can only hope that the future episodes can remain at the high bar Children of Arkham has set. Not content to simply tell another Batman story, Telltale is putting its mark on the Caped Crusader in all the best ways.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Children Of Arkham does build on the foundations laid by Realm Of Shadows, going for more of a slow burn than firing off surprise after surprise. If there’s a satisfying outcome in a few months then it’ll be a worthwhile wait, especially as Telltale does have a great understanding of not only Batman himself, but of the version of Batman it wants to represent.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Telltale continues to craft its own version of Batman and Bruce Wayne. The action is still solid, but this is all about the story: Who is Bruce Wayne when everything he knows to be true is a lie? Given the truth of his origins, who is Batman? Telltale's Batman relies on safety and familiarity to subvert expectations here and it works well.”
read full review ↗
PC Invasion
GameSpot
GameGrin
We Got This Covered
GameSpew
IGN
RPG Fan
Destructoid
Darkstation
TrustedReviews
USgamer…and 8 more tracked reviews.