Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
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 (OpenCritic) | – | 73 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 92 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 88% | 82 | 5 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 90.5, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 2,993 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 14 reviews sampled · 9 total reviews in window · weighted 5.6 up / 0.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (10)
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.
- 70
“If you’re looking for something that’s creepy without being violent are gory, the puzzle game Smile for Me is for you. It effectively uses its low-fi graphics and video to create a point-and-click adventure that unnerves you without resorting to jump scares and violence.”
read full review ↗ - 74
“Starting with what I’d consider a bit of a creepy title, this adventure is certainly different, though probably an acquired taste”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Smile For Me is an amusing but very short adventure game with some clever puzzles. The art style helps it stand out and the out-of-nowhere horror elements are a welcome twist. The queer stuff is out of place and makes the game seem like it’s more aimed at socially conscious manchildren instead of actual children.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Smile For Me is a truly unique experience of a game. It presents players with a dark story hidden behind a surrealist world and absurdist humor. With character met and puzzle completed, you’ll find yourself a little deeper down the rabbit hole in this one-of-a-kind game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Smile For Me is a unique experience, and one that adventure game fans looking for something a little different should really enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“While Smile For Me had me grinning for its off-beat visuals and world, ultimately I could only offer a half-quirked smile by the end.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Smile for Me from developer LimboLane is an unsettling adventure that puts you to the test with its puzzles. The point-and-click backbone will keep the difficulty coming, but the reward for your patience and perseverance will be worth the cognitive trouble you endure.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Smile For Me is not going to be for everyone. It’s a little disturbing and nauseating, and occasionally its puzzles are just too complicated for their own good. It feels almost like an experimental title, though that ends up giving it a lot of its charm and heart. This game may have a very particular vibe, but I was fully caught up in it from the jump, and it left me grinning ear-to-ear.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I’m not sure if I’ve ever played a game like Smile for Me before; I’m equally certain I don’t want to play another one like it ever again. My skin has not stopped crawling since putting down the controller, and I know there are some key moments from Smile for Me that will randomly haunt me for years to come. For a game that isn’t scary, Smile for Me is incredibly creepy in all the right ways; with that being said, it’s somehow still alluring, even welcoming. If you’ve chanced upon a frowny face in the mirror recently and believe a smile will cure what ails you, consider checking into the Habitat, Smile for Me might do the trick (for better or worse)!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Silly, surreal, unsettling, and quietly effective at delivering its message. Smile For Me's abstract nature can be a barrier, but breaking through it will allow you to experience a very distinct adventure.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nindie Spotlight
Niche Gamer
Try Hard Guides
But Why Tho?
Digital Chumps
Noisy Pixel
Hey Poor Player
PlayStation UniversePatch history
- Smile For Me Definitive Steam Update!Dec 22, 2022
- New Patch - 2020.10.20Oct 20, 2020
- New Patch - 2019.06.27Jun 27, 2019
- New Patch - 2019.06.14Jun 14, 2019
- New Patch - 2019.06.05Jun 7, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix releasedJun 5, 2019
- New Patch - 2019.06.03Jun 4, 2019