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) | – | 86 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 65 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 91 | 187 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 92 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 90.3, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 41,909.504 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 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (68)
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
“There are times when the story of KotOR II seems head and shoulders above that of the first game, and other times it just chugs along like a bad novel. Luckily there are far more highlights than lowlights...Sorry "Fable," this is the RPG of the year on the Xbox.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Not as good as the original as far as locations and story is concerned but better in other areas such as character development and combat.”
read full review ↗ - 91
“A greater story, more memorable characters, and improved combat options make KOTOR 2 another intergalactic trip you'll thoroughly enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 93
“This game really has everything you could want, including one of the best if not the best stories of the year, and it'll certainly slake any gamer's thirst for adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“The creators at Obsidian have crafted an amazingly compelling story with just the right tweaks and upgrades to keep the action fresh. [Jan 2005, p.30]”
- 80
“While there's a thrill in returning to locations you're familiar with ten years on in game terms, it can't overwhelm the realisation that these are just the original levels stripped bare and re-fabricated according to Obsidians whims.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“It's remarkable that the game's quest is every bit as big and complex as the original's. On the other hand, some unsightly technical issues and a general feeling of déjà vu will probably prevent you from feeling as strongly about The Sith Lords as you did or still do about the first game.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“Despite the occasionally clunky, and often ponderous narrative and glut of glitches, The Sith Lords is as engrossing an experience as its predecessor.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“While the original KOTOR was also critically acclaimed, this one is improved in almost every way. The story will keep any Star Wars fan or RPG lover pushing themselves to stay awake in order to find out what happens next.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It has more of what made the first game so outstanding and contains several improvements over its predecessor. For fans of the first game, this is a nearly perfect sequel.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“When you do get to the heart of the story, you'll find characters who are far deeper and fleshed out than most RPGs deserve to have.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The quality of the characters, story and writing is the biggest draw as far as I was concerned and is certainly the game's greatest strength. The characters are full of quirks, idiosyncrasies and flaws, making them seem like realistic individuals rather than the tool of a games designer.”
read full review ↗
Worth Playing
Eurogamer
GameSpot…and 56 more tracked reviews.