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) | – | 71 | 69 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 81 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 80 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 83% | 76 | 26 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 75 reviews sampled · 60 total reviews in window · weighted 35.7 up / 7.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (74)
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
“The Gunk is an excellent relaxing game without any innovations, but it has a charming, comfortable pace and offers a satisfying cleaning feeling.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Meditative gameplay and some fine visuals are not enough to bring some significance to The Gunk.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The Gunk is an enjoyable adventure game that draws players in with its strong emphasis on exploration and its beautiful setting. The story of the two main characters on the brink of bankruptcy builds gradually; while it has a few lackluster moments, it ultimately focuses on moral values. For an indie title, it’s a very well-made game, though it isn’t without its flaws. However, these aren’t so significant that they would outright spoil the entire experience for you.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Higher profile, bigger budget indies games are here to stay. This is a perfect example of what the format could offer and a showcase of how a short game with a moderate budget can outdo its far larger contemporaries. If you've been playing Halo or Call of Duty and feel burnt out on what games are now, The Gunk is a perfect palette cleanser and an effective gateway to even better games.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“After diving deep into The Gunk, examining its narrative, world-building, art design, and gameplay, it’s clear that the game delivers a surprisingly rich and rewarding experience. What might seem like a simple mechanic proves to be far more than a gameplay loop. It becomes a narrative device and an emotional bridge to the alien world, giving every cleared area a real sense of progress and impact. Exploration is consistently engaging. The planet is meticulously crafted, with diverse flora and fauna, abandoned technological structures, and Gunk-corrupted zones that tell their story without a single line of dialogue. This environmental storytelling allows for seamless immersion, turning every new discovery into a moment of genuine wonder. Equally impressive is the synergy between gameplay and world-building. Unlike many games where mechanics and setting feel disconnected, in The Gunk every action has tangible consequences, on the environment, the creatures, and even the planet’s visual identity. This cohesion makes the experience more satisfying, giving players a tangible sense of agency and responsibility. Combat, while not overly complex or punishing, adds variety without ever breaking immersion, striking a well-balanced rhythm between exploration, action, and puzzle-solving. On a human level, the story of protagonists Rani and Becks, though simple, adds emotional weight. Their interactions and responses to the challenges of a contaminated planet create a relatable, human connection within an alien world, making the narrative feel grounded and engaging. Despite its relatively short length and straightforward mechanics, The Gunk delivers a complete, gratifying experience. Its visual fidelity, sound design, and environmental detail more than make up for any limitations in duration or difficulty. Most notably, the game excels at making players feel like active, responsible participants in the world, leaving a lasting, positive impression.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Gunk is a step in the right direction for developer Image & Form. Barring a few bugs, its length, and mostly easy difficulty that's intentional, you'll have a blast with Image & Form's new universe that isn't called SteamWorld.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Enjoyable, but rather slight, The Gunk is an intriguing journey through an alien planet while vacuuming up goop. There isn't much to it, though, which I found a bit disheartening.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Image studio and Form have implemented an interesting and new idea by creating the game The Gunk, but the idea has not been able to show itself in the best possible.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“If someone asks me the question, what is your game of the year for 2021? My answer would be The Gunk.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“The Gunk invites us to a world of science fiction, surrounded by adventure, exploration and platforming. It is a sincere game, without great pretensions, which only wants to show its art, world and sensations when playing it.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The remaining feeling is that it offers a beautiful story, which keen you for an afternoon or (even better) in smaller doses. Nothing more, nothing less.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“The Gunk is one of the games that offers visual prowess with little fun in playing it, it failed to employ gameplay elements that serves the properly built world, leaving a huge gap between the level of the graphic and the level of everything else. This game is one of those games that you can play for sure and you will also get excited and enjoy it some time, but it certainly is not the game that was marketed and we were waiting for at least.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- The Gunk - Fixes and Improvements Patch (Patch Notes)May 25, 2022significant · resets scoring window