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) | – | 66 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 60 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 59 | 540 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 64 | 750 |
| Xbox store ratings | – | 57 | 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 40m ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (70)
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.
- 50
“State of Decay 2 doesn’t flip the script on the themes we’ve come to associate with the zombie apocalypses of our popular entertainments.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“State of Decay 2 feels like a pretty run-of-the-mill sequel. It packs in more while refining less. The addition of co-op is great, I just wish they would have focused more on streamlining and cleaning up some of its technical issues. Still with this game free in Game Pass and only carrying a $30 price tag I feel like it lives up to expectations. For those that enjoyed the original game, this will certainly satisfy. For those that didn’t care for the original’s design, this sequel will not change your mind.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“State of Decay 2 has so much potential that's not fully realized. The simple brutality of combat and the demands of keeping up a base offer noteworthy moments on their own, but that enjoyment is hurt by an array of bugs and a gameplay structure that loses much of its challenge and intrigue far too quickly. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“State of Decay 2 is in essence the same as the first game, with the anecdotic incorporation of the multiplayer. But Undead Labs achieves a brilliant mix combining all those ideas once again. Despite falling short on its technical side, the game has a great artistic design.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“State of Decay 2 is imperfect, but it's still a very good time. The presentation may not be up to snuff and the AI can be a hindrance, but the overall experience is fulfilling enough that you'll overlook those shortcomings. There aren't many games that execute the community aspect so well or are as accessible to those who aren't deeply into survival titles.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“State of Decay 2 is not the most original game. Or the most polished. However, it is the most exciting zombie game since the first game, as well as the best Xbox One-exclusive in a very long time.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“State of Decay 2 settles into a rhythm that might be easy for you to pass some hours with, but it’s never a ride with genuine surprises, excitement or purpose. There’s promise in so many systems that it introduces, but they’re woefully underutilized to make space for repetitive activities that are nowhere near as exciting to engage with. State of Decay 2 feels like the lumbering enemies that populate its country mountains. Aimless, wandering, and just out of place.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you’re looking for a compelling and atmospheric take on the zombie genre that’s more Walking Dead than Left 4 Dead, State of Decay 2 is an imperfect but enjoyable sequel to the superior original. The gameplay loop of scavenging, crafting and killing can begin to wear thin, but the human element is capable of pulling you back in. Tackling the world with others in tow may decimate the game’s carefully constructed atmosphere, but those multiplayer shenanigans will probably be wild enough to distract from the host of technical issues that simply refuse to die.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“The State Of Decay concept still holds plenty of promise but this sequel is so broken that laughing at its bugs and glitches becomes its primary source of entertainment.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Based on a high-advanced concept of survival and management, the game unfortunately suffers from rudimentary mechanisms and many blunders. SoD 2 is clearly preferred in multiplayer for more fun.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Innovations in State of Decay 2 don´t solve any problems, but rather add some more. The game unnecessarily forces on its multiplayer and feels very impersonal. [Issue#287]”
- 70
“There’s something about it that keeps you coming back, whether that’s the fun exploration or simply going on a quest to clear a few houses of infestations and then loot all the cupboards and drawers for goodies. But above all that it does nail the combat side, where headshots feel great as does getting up close with a machete. Gruesome and fun zombie-apocalypse survival, but also bug-ridden and poorly optimised. ”
read full review ↗
Slant Magazine
ZTGD
Easy Allies
SomosXbox
Worth Playing
Power Unlimited
GameSpot
TheSixthAxis
Metro GameCentral
AusGamers…and 58 more tracked reviews.