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) | – | 77 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (4 tracked) | – | 71 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 74 | 456 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 54 | 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 (97)
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
“Arms is a really weird game. At its core it’s a simple, accessible fighting game with a really strong gameplay loop and room for player growth competitively, but a pair of fundamentally flawed control schemes, a lack of decent modes and a glacially slow random unlock system for items that fundamentally change how characters can function make it a really tough package to recommend. Which is a shame, because there’s such a good game in there”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's hard not to admire the daringness with which Nintendo shakes up a conservative genre with the creation of this entertaining new sport.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“ARMS is polished, addictive, immensely rewarding and - perhaps most important of all - establishes a solid platform to create a popular and long-running series. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Overall, ARMS is delightfully quirky, surprisingly deep and, most importantly, strikingly self-confident. Whilst its vibrant and over-the-top aesthetic might have some expecting a shallow and simplistic experience, persevering with and embracing the game's sharp initial learning curve reveals a strong-willed and very detailed gameplay core. Nintendo made the right choice in highlighting the motion controls, which is by far the best way to play. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Comparing Arms to Mario Kart 8 with regards to the online experience comes out favorably, though, as Arms’ fresher gameplay style and highly polished online lobbies and infrastructure makes it a more active and engaging online affair. Even with the Grand Prix drawbacks, Arms is a fantastic start to a new franchise. Time will tell if Arms truly has legs, but it’s definitely firmly planted at launch.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“ARMS is a truly unique experience that digs into my nostalgia with games like Punch Out! I just hope the free DLC will make it feel more fleshed out. Quality cannot be argued here, but content definitely feels far too light at launch.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“ARMS succeeds both as a surprisingly complex and detailed fighting game, and one of the best examples of motion controlled gaming we've seen. Another unexpected hit for the Nintendo Switch's burgeoning library of must-have games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Arms is an excellent spin on the fighting genre by Nintendo that suffers from control issues and a lack of single player.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“ARMS is the first big Nintendo exclusive for Switch and perfectly showcases the so called 'Nintendo difference'. It’s a fighting game with a twist, with punches that twist and curly characters (who, also, twist): it’s a fun, layered experience which will appeal to core gamers out there, but give it a try even if you’re usually not into the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Arms is a strong, substantial fighting game that takes a while to really hit its stride. Its barrier to entry is unlike anything else in the genre, but it's one worth tackling in order to get at the game's fascinating take on fighting. It may not have the same skill requirement as other fighting games, but the flexibility and fast thinking it requires secures it as one that works on its own terms and opens the genre up to a wider audience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Nintendo aims to expand the game with free updates after release, but for now Arms lays a solid foundation for the future. The vibrant cast of characters, accessible mechanics and couch friendly co-op offer a distinctive fighting game that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch. The battles eventually become routine but offer an alternative to other complex and competitive fighting games. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Bringing motion controls back with a bang, ARMS can feel surprisingly retro, yet it also fits in perfectly with Nintendo’s modern twist on gaming and the Switch. ARMS exhibits Nintendo’s flair for game design to its fullest, confidently taking a well-known genre and injecting it with colour and character to craft something that’s inimitably their own.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
Slant Magazine
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
Eurogamer
GameSpot
Easy Allies
TheSixthAxis…and 85 more tracked reviews.