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) | – | 72 | 19 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 864 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 71 | 7 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 86 | 680 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 3, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 680 total reviews in window · weighted 220.7 up / 19.8 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (24)
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
“As one of the surprise drops of the Nintendo Indie World showcase, we couldn't wait to get our hands on Garden Story, one of the most hyped "wholesome" games of the past few months. What we were expecting was perhaps not what we received - and it certainly has its flaws - but nevertheless, we couldn't help being won over by Garden Story's charm as well as its systems.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“When it comes to relatively chill adventures in more of a classic style the Switch has pretty great representation already and can now add Garden Story to the list...”
read full review ↗ - 60
“It's a title that would have been better had its length been pruned back to 8-10 hours. Anyone looking for a particularly chill experience that isn't very demanding may derive more pleasure out of Concord's adventure than I did, but it's hard to overlook how so much of your in-game work just doesn't really matter. The downward sloping difficulty curve, boring daily tasks, and lackluster enemies make Garden Story a crop that's not worth rushing to harvest.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There are so many chosen ones in the world. People, animals, and now in Garden Story there’s even a grape. Each one involves doing your best to make your world a better place. And here, things feel a little more local and humble. You’re doing what you can for a community, even if that means running the same sorts of errands repeatedly.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“At times frustrating, Garden Story is a fantastic example of how charm can help push a game to the next level, despite some frustrating design choices.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Garden Story reaches for the sun with its bold stalks, but a shallow root system robs it of the stamina needed to fulfill its lofty dreams.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Garden Story is a charming game. While it doesn’t do any one thing perfectly, it does all of it well enough to allow you to enjoy the chilled setting and charming character interactions. It is a delightful RPG, simulation full of fruity goodness, and a very sweet grape named Concord to spend a few cosy hours with!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Garden Story is a ripe take on Zelda-like ARPGs, but falls short in a couple of aspects.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Garden Story offers an enjoyable, light and relaxing experience, although not perfect, between action adventure and life simulator.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“With elements and features that allow players to truly take their time playing, Garden Story is an excellent choice for those looking for an easygoing game. Although some core activities can get tedious due to the system design, and gardening and building could have been more fun or at least more purposeful, it has been a wonderfully pleasant journey on the whole. From the melodious music to the pleasing pixel art and cute characters, there is plenty to savor in this game.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“If you are looking for a stopgap substitute for a 2D Zelda game, but with a bit more to offer in terms of depth and playability, Garden Story is the way to go.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“I have enjoyed my 25+ hours with Garden Story for Switch so far. While I have cleared the story, there are still a few upgrades I don’t have, and more cosmetic unlockables to get for Concord to wear. The game is a very chill, relaxing adventure, aside from the bosses which are more hardcore for some reason. However, casual players can still enjoy it using the option to disable death if they so choose. I prefer not to use such an option unless necessary, but it’s a nice inclusion if you want it. The game is marred by a few relatively minor flaws, like the previously mentioned inventory issues. However, it’s a rather unique and enjoyable little journey overall. You can nab Garden Story on the Nintendo Switch eShop for $19.99, and it is also on Steam. Can you help Concord, the unlikely grape hero, restore peace to an ailing grove?”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
Siliconera
GameGrin
GameSkinny
LadiesGamers.com
TechRaptor
IGN
NookGaming
WayTooManyGames
oprainfall…and 12 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch notes for v1.4.19a3Nov 3, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes for v1.4.19a2Oct 25, 2023
- Language Update Arrives Oct. 19!Oct 12, 2023
- Language Update coming soon!Aug 18, 2023
- Free Autumn Update available now!Oct 28, 2021
- Free Autumn Update Coming Oct. 28!Oct 18, 2021
- v1.0.8 Patch - Data Loss IssueSep 29, 2021
- v1.0.7 Patch - QOL UpdateSep 23, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- v1.0.6 Patch + Trading Cards!Aug 24, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- v1.0.5 Patch - End Game Trigger IssueAug 19, 2021
- v1.0.4 Patch - Critical FixesAug 18, 2021
- v1.0.3 Quick PatchAug 14, 2021
- Garden Story Release Update + June RefreshJun 25, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Keybinding Options Now Available!Nov 20, 2019