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) | – | 75 | 13 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 88 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 88 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 7, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 3234 total reviews in window · weighted 241.2 up / 15.2 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (9)
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.
- 100
“High North Studios offers a window to the past with Skald: Against the Black Priory, an extremely nostalgic and charming retro RPG proposal. Those who can overlook the graphical limitations and adapt to its mechanics will find in the work of High North Studios a wonderful window to the past and an authentic old school proposal.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Yet even these rough edges work in concert toward something singular and idiosyncratic. Indeed, the story becomes hard to pin down in the lead-up to a truly audacious ending, and the occasional abandonment of combat fortifies the horror undertones far more effectively than simply killing everything in your way. Skald may be easy to distill to its overt influences, but its best moments use those touchstones to build something new.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Skald is a propulsive throwback RPG that exudes grisly character, though its commitment to tradition holds it back in a genre rife with competition.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Inspired by great classics of the past, SKALD isn't just fueled by nostalgia but is a proper good CRPG in its own right, one that fans of the genre should probably consider playing.”
read full review ↗ - 89
“Bask in the heady nostalgia of an '80s retro RPG with strong systems and a dark, mature narrative.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“SKALD: Against the Black Priory offers a deep, strategic, and nostalgic RPG experience that’s a lot of fun to play through. Don’t get me wrong, it has got a bit of a learning curve and its old-school stylings won’t be for everyone, but exploring its intriguing world, battling enemies in tactical showdowns, and rolling dice to determine your success never stops being satisfying as you uncover the secrets of the island of Idra. And hey, if you’re not too familiar with the genre, you can play on the easy difficulty setting to settle yourself in, with the game offering plenty of accessibility options to fine-tune the experience to suit you. It does have some flaws, but SKALD: Against the Black Priory delivers an old-school RPG experience that’s simply oozing in quality and charm.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Skald: Against the Black Priory captures the spirit of your favorite old-school RPGs while serving up deep side quests and memorable lore, but its combat and progression systems eventually run into trouble and its overarching narrative never quite takes off.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Anybody who has ever enjoyed a turn-based RPG and fancies a trip down memory lane will find themselves delighted with SKALD: Against the Black Priory.”
read full review ↗ - –
“A few bugs and grumbles are utterly brushed aside by a charming and accessible modernisation of 80s RPG detail.”
read full review ↗
La Orden del Pixel
Slant Magazine
Eurogamer
IGN
RPG Fan
Use a Potion
PCGamesN
God is a Geek
Rock, Paper, ShotgunPatch history
- 1.0.6c Hotfix Patch now availableOct 1, 2024
- Project Update: Full Control!Aug 30, 2024
- Version 1.0.5 is Live - Patch NotesJun 13, 2024
- Week 1 Updates and Patch NotesJun 7, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Project Update: Versions and Pricing OverviewApr 22, 2024
- Project Update: Feature Highlights 1Feb 20, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Project Update: Let There Be Light!Sep 27, 2023
- Project Update: The Calm Before the StormMay 9, 2023
- Info for Community Beta TestersSep 6, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Project Update August 2022Aug 24, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Project Update July 2022Aug 4, 2022
- Project Update June 2022Jun 13, 2022
- Project Update May 2022May 11, 2022