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 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| 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 (14)
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
“Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle goes well beyond a standard ROM compilation due to proper curation of the source material, and it successfully shines an overdue spotlight onto a sizeable selection of 8-bit Kunio masterpieces that most Western players never had the chance to experience. Contrary to what the tile may suggest, the NES games included end up being merely filler, while the real thrillers are undoubtedly the Famicom games, accessible to non-Japanese gamers for the first time here. A very large offering of varied single-player content complements nearly infinite multiplayer replayability, provided you keep it local, of course, as finding a game online is borderline impossible.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“For the quality included in Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle, it feels as if Arc System Works isn't onto a winner here. In fact, when giving it a little thought, it's hard to understand why this collection is needed at all. Any Switcher with access to the Nintendo Online service already has access to some of the best titles available here. Double Dragon and Double Dragon II, as well as River City Ransom[/], and [i]Volleyball are available for the small yearly subscription, and are probably the best titles on offer. It's a major barrier to warrant a purchase, and the question will always rear its ugly head: why buy the gaming cow when you are getting the milk for free? One for the fans, and diehard retro collectors only…”
read full review ↗ - 85
“All in all, Double Dragon & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle is a thing I’m glad exists, even if maybe not every game is a winner. It’s a nice way to revisit a beloved and long-running NES series that saw roughly half of its releases even make it to America. The various online and technical flourishes make them all play the best they ever have. It’s awesome playing Super Dodge Ball not as it was, but more like I remember it. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, Double Dragon and Kunio-Kun: Retro Brawler Bundle is a very good compilation. The games are classics, with enough oddball gems to intrigue anyone looking for the oddities in the Famicom lineup. A majority of the games here are translated Japanese titles, so much of this content will be new to most players. The upgrades in quality mean that you're ultimately getting a better version compared to a straight rom dump. These are still difficult games, and the lack of extras feels like a missed opportunity, but this is a great title to add to any retro fan's library.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Double Dragon & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle is a great piece of video game history for beat-em-up enthusiasts the world over. The once niche and Japanese-exclusive library of Kunio-kun games are playable in English for the first time, and while some of them haven't aged well enough to warrant extended play sessions, the in-game achievement system and Online Play add oodles of replayability to otherwise minorly novel Famicom classics. The lack of a gallery mode and alternate console editions of each game keeps the collection from being perfect though. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There is a lot to love about Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun: Retro Brawler Bundle, whether it be the silly expression on a player’s face after getting the wind knocked out of them with a soccer ball or launching a panel from a broken hurdle at a rival during a foot race in Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day! There’s just something special about the oddities of what’s included that can often seem dated, yet somewhat ahead of their time as the barriers of logic get kicked towards an insane level of absurdity.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle does feature games that feel dated by today’s standards, but they hold up well, enjoyment-wise, in spite of their age. It’s a wonderful package for dedicated fans and those who want to discover these fantastic gems.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“It feels like a pointless endeavour to stick a score on something like this, really. Thanks to recent titles such as River City Girls and timeless classics such as Streets of Rage 2, I’ve found playing most of the titles in Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun: Retro Brawler Bundle to be painful, at best. To me, they’re now nothing more than curios; relics of the past that are good to be remembered but not to be played. But you might feel differently. It’s a costly gamble to find out.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“I have been playing Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle non stop and found it hard to put down with so many games to try and master. As I said, this collection has something for everyone. Fighting game Fans, Sports fans and even RPG fans will find something to like here. At $39.99, it is an absolute steal and should be downloaded by everyone who owns a Switch. Retro Brawler Bundle is truly one of the best and really packed retro collections I’ve seen. I really want to see more collections like this so these and many other great games are never forgotten. Super fun and highly recommended!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“You might come to Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle for Double Dragon and River City Ransom, but you’ll likely stay for the sheer variety of mayhem and play experiences that it has to offer.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“By comparison, the presentation of the Nintendo Switch Online games looks like a cheap bootleg, while Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun Retro Brawler Bundle looks like the fitting tribute that some of the best games from the past deserve. Those in charge of Nintendo Switch Online should take note, as this is exactly how older games should be treated.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle demonstrates a level of commitment toward celebrating a franchise's legacy that puts other port-happy publishers to shame. [Issue #46, May/June 2020, p. 24]”
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
Worth Playing
TheSixthAxis
Nintendo Insider
Switch Player
GameSpew
Gaming Age
CGMagazine
TheGamer…and 2 more tracked reviews.