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) | – | 74 | 16 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 80 | 47 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 6% | 20 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 0.1 up / 1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (21)
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
“Ayo the Clown isn't the most original game, but it's a solid, colorful platformer. An ill-fitting idea here or there and a sluggish pace shouldn't stop kids from enjoying a playthrough, even if they don't go back to 100% the game. Give me a sequel that edits itself a bit, add a two-player mode, and you'll have a real winner.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Despite the lack of any real challenge, Ayo the Clown is nevertheless a nice alternative to the usual go-to platformers on Switch. It’s got a wonderful, uplifting soundtrack, with several tunes you’ll be humming long after completing the game. Granted, if you’re a Coulrophobic and the mere thought of playing a game featuring a clown causes you to break out in a cold sweat, then you might want to steer clear. For everyone else, though, this is well worth picking up if you’re a fan of breezy, easygoing platformers.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Ayo the Clown is definitely going to be one that will split peoples opinions based on personal preference on a couple of different gaming aspects. Do you like challenging (sometimes through bad controls rather than good level design) platforming and exploration for collectables? Do you like cutesy-wootsey characters and visuals? Are you a dog person? If you answered ‘yes’ to all of the above then this is a game for you, and one that you should enjoy. If you answered ‘no’ then avoid at all costs.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“https://www.nindiespotlight.com/game_profile.cfm?game=ayo-the-clown-switch”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Ayo the Clown is visually adorable and full of so much charm that you can't help but love the little guy and the world that Cloud M1 has created. I am looking forward to what else they can create; I wonder if Ayo the Clown 2 could be on the horizon? With a little polishing of controls, character models and the town function, who knows what heights Ayo could float to.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“I would absolutely recommend Ayo the Clown. I went in expecting little more than a functioning platformer, but Cloud M1 has put together a beautiful world, a cute cast of characters and a cracking soundtrack all topped off with some fun gameplay. This is the type of platformer that we don’t see enough of on PlayStation or Xbox and it is certainly a welcome addition!”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Simple and straightforward, as expected from games aimed at young audiences, Ayo features an attractive environment and competent level design. Unfortunately the experience turns out to be far less enjoyable, mostly due to a rather poor execution of the game's controls. It's fundamental for a platformer to have well implemented controls, but Ayo is far from successful at translating the player's inputs into acts and establishing a link between the player and lead character.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Ayo the Clown is a decent budget platformer with cute graphics and too high of a price tag.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ayo the Clown is a great 2.5D platformer that should appeal to players regardless of their age. I loved the visual style of it and the level design offers up a ton of room for exploration that you normally wouldn’t see in this type of game. It doesn’t pull off every idea that it tries but despite those few issues it is a wonderful time.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Ayo the Clown ended up being a wonderful platform surprise for me. The developers put a lot of care and attention into this project and it really paid off in the final product. While I did have a few niggles with the controls, this was a highly entertaining game that I found very hard to put down. On top of that, it carries a beautiful message about acts of kindness to other people. Even if you hate clowns Ayo the Clown might be the game that finally makes you think overwise.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“If you are looking for a clown-inspired RPG you will need to go to a different circus.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ayo the Clown is a proud introduction of the developer, Cloud M1. Even with repetitive play styles, the 8 unique locations provide delicate appeals of each other and the motivation to push forward with upgrades along the progression. The character design may seem like ‘a mistake’ and doesn’t really give that sense of it being a reputable main character, though these guys are definitely fans of platformers and their experiences were translated into a decent work of art. It’s fair to say that their sequels and future works are greatly anticipated.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
VGamingNews
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
Pure Dead Gaming
Starbit
Game Freaks 365
ThisGenGaming
LadiesGamers.com
SwitchRPG
IGN…and 9 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 1st day patch.Jul 28, 2021