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) | – | 87 | 25 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 93 | 3 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 84 | 627 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 82 | 750 |
| Xbox store ratings | – | 77 | 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 (50)
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
“Sea of Stars is an old-school JRPG, cut on modern molds, which because of its dragging and template solutions turns from a fun adventure into a routine work.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Throughout the adventure, Sea of Stars stands on the shoulders of the giants that came before it, building on a grand lore set in motion by The Messenger and wonderful characters worthy of spending tens of hours with. Between finishing the game and writing this review, I’ve played another ten hours post-credits, attempting to see everything Sabotage put in the game. It’s not because I’m compelled to say I checked every box Sea of Stars has to offer, but I simply don’t want to say goodbye to this inviting world and my good friends in it just yet.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Despite some repetitive combat mechanics that can start to feel stale during its final act, Sea of Stars manages to be an extremely wholesome and gorgeous retro RPG that is bound to keep you smiling all throughout its 30-hour campaign.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Sea of Stars is a vibrant, beautiful RPG that's packed with gameplay conventions from yesteryear, but it has enough flair to stand out from its inspirations.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game reinterprets classic JRPGs in a modern way. Instead of trying something entirely new, it brings together some of the great systems of classic games that were previously well-received. While combining different systems into one game is undoubtedly impressive, it falls short of delivering something more innovative and enjoyable, which is a bit disappointing.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Sea of Stars is a pitch-perfect nostalgic take on a JRPG, with beautiful visuals, a fun combat system, and a top-notch soundtrack. My only major criticism is that the story is a touch weak and disjointed, and the combat system falls off a bit toward the end. Sea of Stars hit its mark hard, and it's a damn impressive first effort from Sabotage Studios. If you've been looking for a simple, fun and lighthearted old-school RPG, look no further than Sea of Stars. It's not quite a new classic, but it doesn't need to be, either.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A polished, cleverly designed, and utterly joyful experience, Sea of Stars takes the best parts of classic RPGs and distils their essence into something at once comfortingly nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Its combat system twists traditional turn-based combat into a satisfyingly tactile blend of strategy and execution, making exploring every inch of its gorgeous world an absolute pleasure. Despite some odd pacing in the final act and the occasional cringey joke, Sea of Stars holds up as a fantastic modern RPG and a must-play for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Sea of Stars is an amazing-looking and sounding title that has captured all you love from classic turn-based RPGs and improved upon it. I can’t recommend this game enough; this is how you modernise and pay tribute to a classic genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sea of Stars is a work of incredible craftsmanship that takes inspiration from classic RPGs and uses modern capabilities to make something memorable and new.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sea of Stars has clearly been made by people with a deep and abiding love of JRPGs. That level of passion is hard to mimic, and the result is a heavily playable game with morish visuals, a cracking story and deeply considered level design. However, while it is very good, it isn’t quite perfect. Combat needed to be deeper (or at least escapable) and while the dynamism was a great touch, it wasn’t enough to carry it all the way through to the end. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, Sea of Stars is a phenomenal entry into the turn-based RPG genre. The story vastly expands on the world first introduced in The Messenger. It’s gripping through all aspects of gameplay, from the characters to the areas you explore. It does have its detriments, but those are far outshined by the overall experience presented. It’s a solid game with hours of content to entertain you with.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“Sea of Stars may not truly recapture the magic of '90s RPGs, but it's still a polished, enjoyable blend of old and new.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
The Indie Informer
Gfinity
PCMag
INVEN
Worth Playing
Checkpoint Gaming
GameGrin
Easy Allies
TheSixthAxis
GameSkinny
PC Gamer…and 38 more tracked reviews.