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) | – | 81 | 33 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 76% | 71 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 89% | 83 | 23 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 65 reviews sampled · 54 total reviews in window · weighted 45.1 up / 5.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (63)
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
“Regardless of your feelings toward Final Fantasy VIII, there’s something timelessly endearing about this often-forgotten title. The plot progresses well, the characters grow into their roles despite a rocky start and the soundtrack is one of the best in the series’ history. The gameplay is largely unchanged and the battle assist options do cut out some of the grind, which will appeal to those looking to experience the story again without the need to grind through levels. It may not be the remake fans have been crying out for, but it is a solid reminder of how charming these early turn-based games were back in the day, and well worth a play all these years later.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The developers have slightly improved the graphics, so unlike the FFVII port, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered can be played without tears. Unfortunately, the animation and backgrounds are the same as in the original and looks very outdated. Anyway it is same great game capable to captivate on tens hours interesting history, classical mechanics and approach to development of skills. Especially if played on the Nintendo Switch's small screen, which smoothes out most of the roughness.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“This is easily the most skippable entry of all the mainline Final Fantasy games on the Switch right now, but if you find yourself to be a fan of either the Final Fantasy series or the JRPG genre, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered proves to be a release that’s certainly worth your time”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The story and characters are still engaging, the score sounds as beautiful as ever, and the art design looks impressive.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“There's no "best Final Fantasy game" because Final Fantasy has become largely indefinable, something most franchises can only dream of. Maybe, no matter the feats this incredible series continues to achieve, Final Fantasy VIII is the lighthouse to which the series should constantly look back to. It'll always be there, waiting, serving as a reminder that Final Fantasy can tread new grounds while maintaining the brilliance that has made it one of the most influential series to exist.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Although it was overlooked by many at the time, and unfortunately looked down on as ‘the game that came after Final Fantasy 7’, Final Fantasy 8 offers a mature and gripping story filled with characters you’ll grow to love. Now that it’s available on all current platforms and looking better than ever, there’s never been a better time to jump in and give it a shot if you’ve ever been interested in playing it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Final Fantasy VIII is the favourite instalment of yours truly. Its story is consistent and powerfully emotional, the characters relate well and the way they meet up makes sense.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It's easy to see why Final Fantasy VIII is considered one of the series' most divisive entries, but its story and gameplay systems remain unique 20 years after its original release. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered has its flaws -- the draw system is still a total pain in the arse -- but there's a magic and atmosphere to Squall's often mental adventure that's incredibly endearing. This is a PlayStation classic given a new lease of life, and it's still way more interesting than the majority of Japanese RPGs hitting our consoles today.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“The return of Final Fantasy VIII is a cause for celebration. The work of DotEmu is worthy of admiration because they have delivered what can easily be the best of the remastering of the Final Fantasy games of that time.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Square Enix has struggled in the past with its previous ports of the Final Fantasy franchise, but may finally be hitting its stride. All of the improvements and enhancements give Final Fantasy VIII a much more modern feel without sacrificing any of its soul. As a lifelong fan of the Final Fantasy franchise and VIII in particular, I couldn't be happier with this remaster and look forward to hours of enjoyment wherever I go.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“All in all, Final Fantasy VIII: Remastered is a solid port. The new character models look nice, and the additional features are all welcome. At its core, it's still Final Fantasy 8, and almost nothing has changed about it. If you were a fan of the original, you'll like the remaster, and if you weren't, then it's unlikely this will change your mind. This is likely the definitive version of the game, blurry backgrounds and all, and it's well worth picking up for anyone who's looking to experience FF8 for the first time.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is the best version of one of the most divisive entries in the series. Though the base game has its flaws, the world of Final Fantasy VIII is as intriguing as ever, and the Junction system is still one of the most unique mechanics in the series’s history. The ability to fast-forward makes slow animations a non-problem, while the other mods make it easier than ever for newcomers to try out the maverick Final Fantasy installment.”
read full review ↗
TheReviewGeek
GameMAG
Nintendo Life
RPGamer
Paste Magazine
ani-game.com
Cubed3
Push Square
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NintendoWorldReport
Worth Playing
MonsterVine…and 51 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch updateNov 15, 2019