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) | – | 73 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 68 | 319 |
| 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 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (48)
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
“As much as Killer Instinct is a sound and inviting fighter mid-battle, it's an experience that ultimately feels hollow everywhere else. Online play, as spare as it is, may present a limitless well of competition to draw from, but with only six fighters to master and very few modes of play, Killer Instinct lacks the value and staying power offered by most other modern fighting games.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“Maybe Double Helix didn't choose the best model to bring back this beloved Franchise to life, but they certainly did a great job maintaining everything that fans loved from the original game. Killer Instinct fans shouldn't let this game pass without, at least, trying it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“By no means is it going to topple some of the more prominent fighting titles, but it is definitely an interesting and pretty game that can be enjoyed by casual and hardcore players alike.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The new Killer Instinct succeeds at stoking nostalgic fires while updating the action. However, a piecemeal season-based approach means that the initial incarnation is extremely light on content, revealing a fighter that’s as packed with vibrant combos as it is unfulfilled promise.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Killer Instinct is definitely fun, if a bit lacking in depth. The lack of campaign mode and limited character options mean it won't take long for you to breeze through the entirety of the content offering, but the online versus should ensure that you get plenty of enjoyment for your investment.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The dojo is amazing. All fighting games from now on need to step up.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“An excellent reboot of an unfairly forgotten fighter, but the way it’s being sold does it no favours and severally restricts the fun to be had online.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“While I’m still not a fan of Killer Instinct’s dial-a-combo mentality nor its eclectic cast of characters, Double Helix’s efforts to bring the series back from the dead are commendable, and while some mistakes were made along the way, this is probably the most interesting and enjoyable the franchise has ever been.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Not only is its combat system flashy and well thought out, it's well explained too, thanks to its powerful training tools, and what is easily the most complete guide to terminology and tactics ever assembled in a fighting game.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“A fairly barebones fighter, but an entertaining one all the same. In time, it could be an excellent Xbox One exclusive.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Double Helix Games had to do something big for this brand new Killer Instinct, something that sticks with the codes of today's fighting games. They took a lot to Street Fighter, it's not genius, but you can feel the balance between old stuffs and new ones. It's fast and explosive but Killer Instinct hits far too hard in the wallet.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“An excellent tutorial partially makes up for the tiny roster. [Feb 2014, p.68]”
LevelUp
Worth Playing
The Escapist
Eurogamer
Metro GameCentral
EGM
IGN…and 36 more tracked reviews.