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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) | – | 78 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (3 tracked) | – | 82 | 3 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 80 | 426 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 70 | 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 (112)
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.
- 80
“Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is an epic game in some ways. It starts excitingly and rarely lets up. If you stink at dungeons and shrines and won’t miss exploring, you’ll find a world that’s still impressive and characters that have proven to endure in the minds of series fans. In the end, it remains predominantly Koei-Tecomo’s Warrior gameplay with Nintendo’s Zelda dressing, so probably not GOTY material. Still, it’s an entertaining way to tide yourself over until the true sequel arrives.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If the name "The Legend of Zelda" means a lot to you, and you can have fun with musou-style games, then Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will not disappoint. Overall it is of the best games Omega Force has ever done with fast-paced and deep gameplay combined with some really great music.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“At its best, Age of Calamity keeps a weak grip on 30 frames a second, and at its most visually chaotic, the game effectively becomes a slideshow.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Approached with the knowledge that this is a full-featured side-dish, you'll have a very good time hacking and slashing your way through Calamity Ganon's minions in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity; just remember that despite its sparkling presentation, it is still not a Zelda game. What it is is a brilliant Zelda-infused Musou experience filled with varied and satisfying combat and Breath of the Wild additions that work beautifully within the boundaries of the Warriors template. The care and attention given to detail here is hugely impressive. We found performance to be adequate and, crucially, it didn't affect our enjoyment throughout, just be prepared for a slideshow once the pyrotechnics start in two-player co-op. In many ways, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity could be exactly the game you need right now.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Age of Calamity serves as a prequel to Breath of the Wild, which easily justifies dozens of over the top battles against hordes of enemies. It is fun to play and to watch, but as a prequel, it fails to properly deliver. Expectation: a cool and interesting story. Reality: a boring and uncreative one. The game is great fun, but where we all expected it to shine the most - it somehow managed to fail with zero excuses.”
read full review ↗ - 80
- 70
“Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a strong title with plenty of appeal to both Zelda and Musou fans. The enduring gameplay strengths of Omega Force’s titles are present and its interesting approach to being a prequel ensures there is some narrative interest. It doesn’t deviate far enough from the formula to stand out among its siblings, but there’s a good twenty-plus hours of enjoyment to be had from the game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
- 80
“Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is here to indulge fans of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Its frenetic action-packed system is smoothly enjoyed and the narrative helps keep you glued to control. Unfortunately, it is not perfect and suffers from technical problems that, although not serious, affect the experience, especially in cooperative mode. A good option if you like the Musou genre.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Humorously, aside from the technical issues, a lot of my problems with Age of Calamity echo the ones I had with Breath of the Wild. The Divine Beasts are solidly the weakest part of the campaign and the inventory is a little clumsy to manage. That all being said, the totality of this Musou game is soundly enjoyable. The confidence on display in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity echoes the earned success Nintendo has found after Breath of the Wild and the Switch. This is a refined and tight action-packed experience that delivers an excellent mix of Zelda lore and creatively ridiculous brawler gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a fine action game with plenty to do, and a satisfyingly robust combat system. It's denser and more focused than Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, but that focus removes some of the charm. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition was a love letter to the entire Legend of Zelda series, a game filled with familiar characters and places from several of titles. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is very much a Breath of the Wild-specific game, which is certainly fine (Breath of the Wild was excellent), but not nearly as much of a fan-pleasing barrage of elements from the entire series. It’s a game that expects you to specifically love Breath of the Wild, and be invested in what happened before its events. If you dig that idea, you'll dig Age of Calamity.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It is drawing from a beloved series, as the original Hyrule Warriors did. It gives us a new way to play and, in so doing, opens up new options. It isn’t going to be for everyone, but it does a lot that some fans of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will appreciate. It isn’t for everyone, but it is interesting. ”
read full review ↗
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