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 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 71 | 20 |
| 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 (11)
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.
- 92
“An exquisite homage to the likes of Ghosts n' Goblins, Tiger Road, Willow and other 80s classics, Maldita Castilla takes old-school design to the next level and dares to amend some of the flaws of the old masters. A triumph of authenticity, good design and challenge.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While the name may be confusing, this could easily be a blueprint for the successor to Ghosts ‘n Goblins, which is what it seems they set out to do, and they nailed it. If you are like me and grew up pulling your hair out at these punishing side-scrollers, this game is an easy purchase. It captures the magic, while bringing enough of its own charm to make it feel fresh. Plenty try to capture that magic, but few achieve what the team at Abylight Studios has managed to create here.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Anyone looking for a challenging action-packed 2D adventure won’t go far wrong with Maldita Castilla EX.”
read full review ↗ - 85
- 80
“Maldita Castilla is fun, enjoyable and one of those games that will really give you something to work towards, and when you do defeat that boss in the game, you feel like you actually achieved something worthy of that achievement, even if they don't give you one.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Maldita Castilla EX: Cursed Castile is very much a love letter that will satisfy people who yearn for the good ol’ days of arcade games; however, it carries with it the same kind of content, blemishes and all. There are no bugs or crippling design choices that ruin the game, but there’s little incentive to play it more than once unless you’re truly enraptured by the initial experience.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“One of the best Ghost'n Goblins-style gaming experiences created by one single person, Locomalito, who comes to Xbox One with a lot of improvements. The best retro-style game of today.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“By modern standards, casual players will find Maldita Castilla EX a difficult game to progress through. It’s by no means unfair, but it can be frustrating to have to continue again and again from the same screen while you try to figure out a particular enemies attack pattern, or a certain platforming rhythm. The game is old school through and through, and makes no apologies for providing an experience on par with the classic Capcom platformers of yesteryear. More importantly, with varied levels and tight mechanics, it’s just great fun to play.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“Featuring new levels, bosses and soundtrack, Maldita Castilla Ex has become one of the best arcades of the market.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Maldita Castilla EX is pure retro challenge and fun. It's like time-traveling to when Ghosts'n Goblins was the ultimate experience, and if you're looking for something like that, you will certainly forget about its shortcomings.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Maldita Castilla EX succeeds at taking Locomalito´s work to a whole new world. Polished gameplay, packed with some awesome music and visually resplendent to the games of yesteryear, it´s a retro gamer´s dream come true, but also a game that will satisfy gamers who seek for a challenge.”
read full review ↗
LevelUp
ZTGD
GameSpew
IGN
Darkstation
Hobby Consolas
Areajugones
MeriStation