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) | – | 80 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 70 | 26 |
| 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 5h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (23)
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
“Mr. Driller is one of those elite few puzzle games that, like Tetris, remain immensely playable no matter what year it is. The GameCube edition was one of the finest examples of this and, a full 18 years later, it hasn't aged a single day. Given that you can easily enjoy it in 10-minute bursts or epic three-hour sessions, there are fewer games better suited to the Switch. A must-have for puzzle fans.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A wonderful puzzler with a marvellous aesthetic. Like a children's anime come to life, Mr. DRILLER DrillLand is utterly charming and delightful. Every attraction looks great, delivering sharp, vibrant, and colourful stages in every attraction. As good as it looks, it plays even better. A simple and addictive core basis that has the heart of a classic matching colour puzzler but adds an exhilarating twist to the proceedings with the drilling mechanics. This should be a no brainer purchase, but there's something that will put off many players. It's called the Atlantic Ocean. For some reason, the asking price is literally double in the US than it is in the EU. A baffling and disappointing decision that will sadly stop this reaching as many homes as it should.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Ultimately, it’s a shame it took 18 years before Mr. Driller Drill Land made it to America. We’ve missed out on an absolute marvel of an arcade puzzle game that is jam-packed with personality and gameplay variety. I highly recommend you don’t let the opportunity to play this game pass you by. Who knows when the next time is we’ll see Mr. Driller and his friends come back.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Mr. Driller Drill Land is a remaster of a game from a previous generation and eighteen years later, we can say that it does a good job at improving the original experience and bringing it up to today's standards. Varied, challenging and fun, Drill Land on the Nintendo Switch packs a lot of fun action, whether the experience is solo or with up to four players.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Mr. Driller Drill Land is the kind of game you can play for 10 minutes on a lunch break or for an entire afternoon. It's the sort of game where you'll be in a groove… only to screw up a section catastrophically and ruin a run. But you'll only be bitter about it for a minute before eagerly diving back in to try again. If you've never played Mr. Driller--or if it's been a while since you and Susumu went excavating together--Mr. Driller Drill Land is one relic that deserves a spot in your gaming museum.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“This remastered version of Mr. Driller DrillLand is just a fresh coat of paint, but frankly, that’s all it needed.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Mr. DRILLER DrillLand is a brilliantly fun puzzler that takes its core mechanic and twists it in some really interesting, and more importantly fun, ways. I’ve played a lot of puzzle games on Nintendo Switch and while Mr. DRILLER DrillLand plays very different from any of them, it still has that same compelling force that brings me back for one or two more runs.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Mr. Driller Drillland is an entertaining puzzle for both casual and expert. The only bad thing is that it's a really short game. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It’s bright, bold and colourful, and most importantly, a lot of fun to play. It’s simple to get the hang of, but each separate game mode requires serious practice to truly master. If you enjoy the simple pleasures of a classic arcade-style game, you can’t go far wrong here.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Celebrating 20 years of Mr. Driller with the remaster of its best chapter yet. Too bad there is not much new content, yet the game is very enjoyable both in single player and multiplayer.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Mr DRILLER: DrillLand is a cute, deceptively difficult puzzler for those looking for a quick challenge on their Switch, or fans of the series nostalgic for the unheralded GameCube classic. Just wait for a sale.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Despite being a port of a 2002 GameCube game, Mr. Driller DrillLand feels, looks, and hangs with games as they are today. There are tons of depth to the core game, but add a ton of built-in variants that really change your approach and you've got an exemplary entry. The new difficulty setting is a great touch, too.”
read full review ↗
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Nintendo Enthusiast…and 11 more tracked reviews.