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) | – | 77 | 17 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 81% | 75 | 158 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 69 | 5 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 0% | 15 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0.9 down · computed 17m ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (31)
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
“The Alliance Alive is a slightly above-average game that's dwarfed by the myriad JRPGs already available for and coming to the Switch. It can serve as a decent filler between them, but there's nothing in this HD remaster to make it a better option than its original 3DS release. Save yourself some cash and go that route if you can…just be sure to rotate those save files.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“The Alliance Alive is what I would call your average JRPG. It does some things well, but falters elsewhere, not really shining too much in one given area. The combat, for example, is pretty well-done, but is ultimately brought down by the game’s complete lack of difficulty scaling. The story, while providing a different take on the usual JRPG formula, isn’t anything too special beyond that one change.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Nearly two years on from its initial release, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered proves to be a perfectly competent port of an already fantastic handheld game. A well-written story, a smartly interwoven and complex system of gameplay mechanics, and a distinctive visual style makes this a no-brainer for anybody looking for a consistently high-quality RPG experience on their Switch. It may feel a little simple, given its origins on the 3DS, but don't make the mistake of passing up on The Alliance Alive HD Remastered, it's well worth your time.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Even accounting for the passage of time, and the contempt that familiarity brings, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered is still a class act. This traditional tale offers a unique blend of fun characters and engaging exploration. The battle-system is sufficiently deep, and caters to any style of play. There are times where this journey isn't as good as it could be, but absolutely nothing about it stands out as truly awful. All in all, it's a wonderful RPG that deserves to be checked out.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Ultimately, The Alliance Alive HD Remaster is an interesting call back to the JRPGs of old and the excellent combat system is its saving grace. If you played the original back on the Nintendo 3DS, there’s not enough new features to dive in for a second time however if you missed out on this game the first time around then The Alliance Alive HD Remaster is a competent if somewhat unremarkable game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Alliance Alive HD Remastered may only offer a visual upgrade over its original release but it's great storyline and solid mechanics make it a great RPG for those looking for something a bit more old-school.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Alliance Alive is a decent RPG for in between, but on current systems you have so much better options that there is really no reason to invest time in this remaster. Although it looks much nicer than it did on the 3DS, its origin cannot be denied. The forgotten characters and the character development system, which takes getting used to, will also appeal to few. If you have played through the hits completely, you could have a look, everyone else would rather satisfy their RPG hunger with better alternatives.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“If you picked up Alliance Alive the first time around, whatever that experience was for you will likely be repeated on the Switch. To those whose main interest is the battle system, if grinding for moves and abilities is your thing, this remastered is a much prettier and convenient version to play.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“As someone who has always loved a good RPG, I was not disappointed in The Alliance Alive at all. Yes some parts got a little frustrating at times, but that’s part of what makes the experience something you remember. While maybe not as portable as its 3DS brethren (at least for the PS4), the HD remaster is definitely a crisp and vibrant addition to the JRPG scene that I just couldn’t put down.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you enjoy playing the same kind of JRPG over and over, with tweaks on the battle or level systems, then you’ll be right at home with this one. It may have a generic story, with many elements of similar games already, but it’s not the worst RPG I’ve ever played.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you’re a JPRG fan and missed its original release on the Nintendo 3DS, then you will not be disappointed.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Alliance Alive was a game that I was very surprised by, as it’s of really high quality! Containing some of the best aspects from the SAGA series with some handy quality of life improvements, and you have one of the best pick up and play RPGs that I’ve seen on the Switch in a long while.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.