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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) | – | 87 | 40 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 513 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 87 | 750 |
| PlayStation store ratings | – | 79 | 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 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (128)
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
- 70
“It wasn't at the time, but now it's abundantly clear that Arcades are, in fact, not dead at all. And yet Saros makes another case for it - showing how contemporary "blockbuster" AAA-design is often at odds with classic arcade philosophies. It would be a shame to see Housemarque stuck in this mold, potentially losing their unique and very important voice for the whole genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Saros is a perfectly tuned bullet hell of astonishing kineticism.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Saros is an evolution of the basis that Housemarque built with Returnal, positioning itself as one of the best, if not the best bullet-hell shooters of all time. Despite some story pacing issues and a bit loosened, “easier” roguelite systems, It is a remarkable game - its gameplay, level design and overall feel are one of the best and it is sure to provide many fun hours of sci-fi chaos and horror.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Speaking as a fan of Returnal, Saros brought me hours and hours of fantastic fun; I couldn’t get enough of the beauty of this dark world. The game’s biggest problem is its simplified and safe approach; there isn’t enough originality or confidence in its own design vision. If you’ve played the previous game, you’ll get more of the same.”
read full review ↗ - 94
“Housemarque pulls it off again. Saros is a remarkably gripping roguelite that preserves the best elements of Returnal while improving on its weaker points. The combat is chaotic, but you never lose control and are less at the mercy of luck. A compelling mystery also unfolds along the way. Only the characters… well, who were they again?”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Overall, Saros feels like a natural evolution of what Housemarque achieved with Returnal, but with enough ambition to try to surpass it. The game refines the genre and takes it to interesting and exciting new places through smart design choices that aim to balance challenge and accessibility without compromising its core essence.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Saros is not a brave sequel. (And it is a sequel, by any reasonable definition of the word.) It’s a safe one: An attempt to improve on a stable core structure, shave off its more alienating edges, and make something more palatable for the masses. The result, then, is competent, successful, and disappointing in equal measure. Arriving at a time when the PS5 was desperately in need of a killer app, Returnal was a much-desired dose of shock and awe, a staggering blend of narrative bleakness and gameplay exhilaration. But now the shock has dissipated, and the awe has been spent. Saros is a more accessible game, in terms of both its play and its story, and there are merits to that approach. It’s a good game, genuinely. But it’s not a great one, and, worse, at no point while playing it do you get the sense that it wanted to be one; that great and terrible and beautiful hunger to be more that eats at, damns, and exults its characters never seems to touch its own heart. Which might be for the best! But it leaves the game stripped of anything you haven’t likely seen before, and as a follow-up to a game that frequently made the jaw drop, that’s its own little kind of hell.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Saros is a brilliant third-person shooter that takes what worked in Returnal and streamlines it for an even smoother game without diluting the fun. The core gameplay is the star attraction; complex yet intuitive, and a perfectly judged challenge that's so satisfying to overcome. With compelling permanent progression, flexible ways to modify your experience, and an intriguing story to follow, this is another step towards Housemarque's planetary takeover.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Saros is Housemarque at its best, refining everything that made Returnal special into a more polished, flexible, and addictive roguelkte experience. Its visceral, fast-paced combat and haunting cosmic horror atmosphere stand out, elevated by ambitious storytelling and striking visuals. Although the permanent progression system and limited enemy and weapon variety can reduce the challenge and sense of discovery over time, Saros remains an intense and visually impressive experience that smartly balances accessibility with rewarding gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Some minor story quibbles aside, Saros is a fine follow-up to Returnal and in many ways a better game that more players should be able to enjoy. If you’re after a thrilling, often beautiful action game that will push you to hone your skills, Saros will deliver. I’m going to have a little afternoon nap and hope I wake up with my skills sharpened enough to go for that Platinum trophy.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Overall, Saros is a fantastic experience that should not be missed. Housemarque has taken what worked for them previously and made it better. More importantly, they’ve taken the negatives from previous releases and assessed them honestly, allowing them to turn said negatives into positives. ”
read full review ↗
Stryftek
GameMAG
Slant Magazine
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
The A.V. Club
Push Square
LevelUp
ZTGD…and 116 more tracked reviews.