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 | 26 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 97 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 54 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (35)
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
“In a world of narrowly-focused objectives in games, it’s sometimes nice to simply choose your own path”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Wayward Strand is a heartfelt tale, told in a meticulous way. It features over a dozen characters, each with its own timeline and story. All these stories playout in real-time alongside each other, throughout the ship which greatly bolsters the game’s replayability. It may not stick the landing in the early hours but if you hold on to it for longer, it will not disappoint you.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“With a lovely cast and setting, Wayward Strand is sure to land into your heart even if it does lack gameplay essentials such as more frequent save points or, at the very least, a skip button.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game is fully voice acted, adding quite a bit of personality to the cast. If you enjoy a laid back experience that just has you talking to people, Wayward Strand is worth a look. Old people have some pretty neat stories, and the ones on this airship are no exception.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Once you begin a thread in the Wayward Strand, you may want to follow. The people who you forge connections with will rely on you. And if you’re genuinely looking for a good cry. Or you would like a game that’s got more of a story than “point and shoot”, Wayward Strand is a perfect choice to fill those spots.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Finding the quiet yet poignant moments among the personal human dramas unfolding aboard a flying hospital, Wayward Strand is a chilled out and beautiful game. The world itself progresses unabated even without your involvement which means each player will likely experience something different and unique to them. It has a few visual bugs but they do little to detract from this game’s strong narrative core.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Those looking for epic action, combat, or elaborate gameplay will not find what they are looking for in Wayward Strand. However, I encourage everyone who wants to experience a deep, heartwarming, beautifully written tapestry of stories to take some time, relax, and sit down with Wayward Strand for a few hours. You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll learn this time around. Remember, everyone has a story to tell, and sometimes, all you have to do is listen.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Wayward Strand may not be the kind of adventure its unique location and teen journalist protagonist suggests but it has a humanistic emotional story at its heart that is made more memorable by its beautiful art style.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Wayward Strand is a great narrative adventure game but its experimental nature won’t be for everyone. The gameplay is rather basic, topics may be uncomfortable for some to listen to, and the lack of clear direction won’t gel with everyone. I didn’t mind these things as the characters and stories they had to share were enough to draw me in and keep me interested until the end. Even now, I’m still thinking about certain moments from it and I want to go back to play more to see what information I missed the first time.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“This unique work of interactive fiction is realistic, relevant, and wholesome. Amazing voice actors and great writing have made the characters so real and got me to care about them. Wayward Strand is a game about being there for people. Sometimes that involves being still and doing (seemingly) nothing. These are abilities I feel I’m losing in the age of smartphones. It can be hard to sit with someone in silence, especially when they’re suffering. But this game has given me a little nudge, a little practice, towards being present.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Wayward Strand is a delicate piece of work, as its title might imply. Despite the flight of fancy proposed by the very idea of an airship hospital, it's a remarkably unassuming game–not literally down-to-earth, but certainly grounded in its portrayal of lives nearing their end and one just beginning, and the common hopes, dreams and fears that connect all those lives together.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Wayward Strand is certainly worth a playthrough or two to see the various stories and conversations you missed the first time around, and the heartfelt, caring atmosphere it fosters will help to raise your spirits.”
read full review ↗
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Entertainium…and 23 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Spring Down Under for the Steam Fall FestivalNov 22, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch v1.0.4 live on Steam!Oct 28, 2022
- Patch v1.0.3 now available on SteamSep 21, 2022significant · resets scoring window