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 | 13 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 80% | 74 | 614 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 1.7 up / 0 down · computed 4h 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.
- 100
“It has some good puzzle design going for it, an interesting story to match, and an aesthetic that I can definitely get behind. However, the game does suffer from its reliance on pixel hunting and its lackluster UI, which do bring down the experience a bit. It’s still a decent enough game, but it might be worth waiting for a sale first.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Almost Gone offers you a complex family plot, which unfortunately you cannot explore in more depth. However, the miniature dioramas are very appealing and the whole aesthetic will make the gameplay experience more enjoyable. The puzzles are short, simple and definitely won't make you sweat. I would recommend the title to beginners who are just about to enter the world of puzzle games, given its low difficulty. For less than three hours of fun, the price of this one-shot is €9.99.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you’re looking for a puzzle game with a carefully considered supporting narrative, you need look no further. The Almost Gone is a game that demands your attention but never feels overly difficult or complex. Our only major issue is that once you’re done and dusted, there’s very little incentive to go back and start again.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Sometimes games can be an interesting means of helping to convey powerful messages in a different way...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Almost Gone is like a fleeting memory; it's the tragic tale of abuse and loss, captured in a series of blurry vignettes. Its puzzle mechanics, although fairly simple, are refined, even if they aren't explored to their fullest. The two-hour story sits at the forefront of the experience and never overstays its welcome. In fact, The Almost Gone would likely benefit from an extra hour, but what we got is plenty good on its own.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Your enjoyment of The Almost Gone is going to depend on what you're focusing on the most. If it's the story, you'll come away slightly disappointed. The game may not be afraid to tackle some subjects that some would consider to be sensitive, but the general ambiguity of plot elements doesn't create much empathy for the protagonist. If you're in for the gameplay, you'll be rewarded with some clever puzzles that lean toward being easy at times but never contain obtuse solutions. Its short playtime ensures that this is a game worth checking out when it is all said and done, but don't expect it to be the next profound indie experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“My recommendation is for the mobile versions, as the graphics and the tap-and-swipe controls are clearly optimised for it. It’s a reasonable price on both mobile and PC though, so take your pick of platform.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I thoroughly enjoyed The Almost Gone's sombre, minimalist story. The puzzles you encounter are hard enough to create a sense achievement but still felt manageable, and referenced the story beautifully, though some elements could have been improved. Due to the often dark subject matter, this game may not be for everybody, however I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone that thinks they can handle it.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“I can’t call The Almost Gone difficult, exactly, as the puzzles were generally easy to figure out, but it wasn’t an easy game either. There’s a lot of sequential puzzling, where the outcome from one is required to solve another, and a fair amount of non-linear thinking required, one puzzle required me to obtain numbers for a key-code lock, that were scattered not only across rooms but also across perspectives. The only time I really had difficulty was my own fault; I turned off on my Lite partway through the game saving, so once I loaded on my other Switch the core piece I’d just earned was no longer collected even though I thought it was, so I spent an extra hour looking for what I’d missed! While there are a couple of minor flaws, The Almost Gone was a beautiful and enrapturing point-and-click mystery exploration adventure that I can’t recommend highly enough. Be warned that there are a number of sensitive topics covered, so it may not be one for the easily upset, but otherwise it’s a truly enjoyable yet saddening tale that deserves a spot on anyone’s download list (and shelf if a physical is released, I’m praying!)”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Almost Gone is a wonderful point-and-click adventure with a charming style yet it has a dark, mature story to tell. The puzzles are clever and satisfying but you could find yourself frustrated if you get lost or if you missed an obvious item to interact with. Definitely worth a single playthrough!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Almost Gone is a game that is worth experiencing. It has a fast pace and is a perfect choice for those who seek to relax and take a break from heavier titles”
read full review ↗ - 85
“With clean and moderated visuals, The Almost Gone uplifts the players’ imaginations with minimal dialogue and explanation. At first it feels like the game deals with supernatural paranormal horror, but as you progress you’ll realise the story is somewhat realistic with experiences of psychological disturbances that occur in negative family relationships. You are warned if you have any past traumatic experiences as the game’s plot reflects upon our society’s family violence matters.”
read full review ↗
cublikefoot
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
PC Invasion
Worth Playing
Checkpoint Gaming
TheSixthAxis
LadiesGamers.com
ThisGenGaming
Pardis Game
IGN…and 9 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Map Update now available!Sep 1, 2020