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) | – | 73 | 38 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 826 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 91% | 85 | 4 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 12 reviews sampled · 7 total reviews in window · weighted 7.4 up / 0.7 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (58)
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.
- 60
“Despite its reasonably bright personality, an unpolished world and mediocre story makes this point-and-click feel more Beneath than Beyond.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Nonetheless, Beyond a Steel Sky magically brings its 1994 ancestor back to life. The style, the humour, the chirpy dystopia are all revived. However, a lot has happened since that first golden age of adventures, and if you want a creative addition to the indie-fuelled inventiveness of the modern genre then you should look elsewhere. This is a game that remembers exactly how great things were in 1994, but isn’t much interested in how great they were last week.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“From start to end, Beyond A Steel Sky has this charismatic charm to it that kept me drawn in the entire time. Filled with memorable characters (both old and new), as well as an excellent story filled with conspiracy and humor, I can say that my expectations were surpassed in most aspects upon returning to Union City.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Having never played the original, but certainly having played my fair share of old-school adventure titles, Beyond a Steel Sky definitely has an authentic feel consistent with the classic era but with some more modern trappings...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It is probably more often than not that long-time coming revivals don't stick the landing. Rather, they often feel cynical, desperate or misguided. Take Steps, for example. This absolutely is not the case with Beyond a Steel Sky. The writing and the way it weaves everything together honestly puts some of the biggest budget AAA movie titles to shame. Yes, there are some rough edges afforded by modern ascribe and default, but the fundamentals of a good story and adventure game are all present. More important is that it has a personality unique unto itself. It's clear why Revolution Software has such a loyal fanbase after all of these years.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Whilst there are some annoying quirks in the game, they are mostly able to be overlooked and could easily be rectified in a post-release patch although I passionately believe that post-release patches shouldn’t be needed but I digress. For adventure fans and fans of graphic novels, there is plenty of content in Beyond a Steel Sky with great character portrayal and music that really evocates the world you must survive in and overall it is a great game worth serious consideration.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Beyond a Steel Sky has some technical issues but it's excellent writing and interesting storytelling make it well worth experiencing.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The 3D environments just don't have the same magic, either. Beyond a Steel Sky's visuals are basic, and its locations are all a bit sterile. And that's a shame, because at its core, this is a heartfelt and often charming video game. If you're an adventure fan, Foster's second foray into Union City is fun enough while it lasts, but it struggles to be anywhere near as memorable as the classic titles that it draws from.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A worthy 3D follow-up of one of the best 2D adventure games around.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“To have fun in Beyond a Steel Sky you do not need to know the first installment - just like this type of production. However, it is worth remembering that this is not a production without errors and on the occasion of the debut on new consoles, they are still not avoided.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There's a solid adventure game in Beyond A Steel Sky. The puzzles make sense and ease newcomers to the genre, the story is mostly on point, and the writing is robust. Whether you're a longtime fan of the original or just coming to its world now, there's plenty to enjoy in Beyond. The multitude of technical gameplay and presentation issues make it difficult to eke out all of the joy you can from the title. If you can deal with all of that, then you'll find a fine adventure game to sink your teeth into. Otherwise, you might want to wait for a few patches to see if the issues get ironed out.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Beyond A Steel Sky is easy to recommend to anyone who would like a low stress mystery puzzle narrative adventure game. Although a sequel, the game does an excellent job of catching you up on previous events and you won’t feel out of the loop of the storylines. I hope this is a series that continues on. Although sometimes a bit slow in places with minor bugs, it’s an engaging world and story to be a part of, with creative puzzles and fun throughout.”
read full review ↗
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Worth Playing
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Patch history
- Update #7: New Features: Holo-Brooches, Steam Deck, and PolishFeb 21, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- PATCH #6: Moving to the latest Unreal Engine - 40% OFF for the next 24 hours!Apr 30, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- PATCH #4: Trading Cards, Emoticons, and 25% OFFOct 29, 2020
- PATCH #3: Our biggest content update yet!Sep 24, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- PATCH #2Aug 7, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- PATCH #1Jul 22, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Beyond a Steel Sky - Release Date updateDec 5, 2019