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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) | – | 88 | 30 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 91 | 499 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 94 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 91.7, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 70,856.036 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
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 (98)
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
“Despite some of its shortcomings in pacing and lack of new content, Thousand-Year Door does a lot of things right and showcases how good this 20-year old game still is. From its classic turn-based system, complex yet lighthearted themes, and beautifully recreated worlds that make the most out of its papery aesthetic, there is plenty to love about this remake.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door lives up to the hype as a “page-turning adventure.” It’s also a long adventure, so be sure to pencil in the time, especially if you’re a completionist. With memorable bosses, much to find, and plenty of extras, this game will keep Switch players busy.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“For 20 years, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has been held as the best Mario RPG of all time, and the Switch remake proves it has earned that title. This is a fantastic RPG adventure, whether you’re a Mario fan or not, with some best-in-class combat, brilliant writing, and a few little creases ironed out to make this the definitive way to play Thousand-Year Door. We wish there was a little more to do post-credits, but there’s no doubt about it, this is a beautiful-looking Switch remake and a must-play RPG.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remakes the original in all the elementary ways, but also improves it in a few key aspects. It recreates the mechanics and the atmosphere of the first games with genuine precision, and injects simple ways for new players to immerse themselves into the paper world of Mario.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“My first contact with the Paper Mario series turned out to be very enjoyable. The Thousand-Year Door provided me with a great adventure full of discovery (both in terms of the world, and storyline). If you want to try something a bit different, this is a good way to go.”
read full review ↗ - 96
“Nintendo gives a sublime treatment to the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Switch, adding and improving features to make the gameplay smoother than ever. The balanced combat system and brilliant exploration make it one of the best RPG games on Nintendo Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a timeless RPG that older and newer fans should definitely check out. To this day, it’s still one of the best Mario RPGs available and is easily the best in Nintendo’s Paper Mario series. If fans want more quality Paper Mario games for the next Nintendo system, definitely pick this up.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Everything that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door entails is everything that is desired in this series - turn-based timed button battles, completely original characters in familiar and new species, witty dialogue, and an emphasis on story and greater lore. This is a unique adventure full of fun and clever gameplay ideas, offering a medium-length RPG that will satisfy Mario fans eager to see more than stomping on koopas and - in the case of the more recent Paper Mario titles - repetitive battle systems and generic characters. If all goes well, fingers crossed that the success of this game can pave the way for a brand-new entry in the same vein as this one - ideally without a paper joke in sight.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a fantastic Mario RPG that's every bit as good now as it was on the GameCube.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“TTYD is everything a Paper Mario game should be, and I’m not surprised by how enthusiastic fans were when they heard the game was finally getting a remaster.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is both the best Paper Mario entry and a Switch game everyone should own and play.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“For all of these reasons, plus a good remastering job, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door for the Nintendo Switch ends up leaving you with a remarkable taste in your mouth. If you decide to experience this adventure for the first time, you'll never forget the members of your party or the stories of Peach, Bowser and some of the sidekicks. Your companions may play a minor role statistically, but their performances in combat are as original as the use of the controller in this game. If you're however aiming to revive the classic, it's a very decent remaster, and while it's not loaded with new features, it does add a few and the audio/visual package is well worth the wait.”
read full review ↗
Gamepressure
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
Gfinity
Cubed3
PCMag
Nintendojo
Siliconera…and 86 more tracked reviews.