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) | – | 79 | 17 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 90 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 12 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.5, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 4,422 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 34 reviews sampled · 24 total reviews in window · weighted 8.5 up / 0.9 down · computed 7h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (26)
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
“When the Past was Around is a well-made point-and-click adventure. The music and visuals contribute to the captivating, if abstract, tale. The puzzles are just right in terms of difficulty, although the game could be a little longer overall, making it a very good distraction for an afternoon.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“When the Past was Around is a very atmospheric and warm game about relationships, experiences and the fact that love does not go away after time and years. A very positive experience for those who are depressed after a breakup or are experiencing the melancholy of a cold winter.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“When the Past Was Around is a beautiful, moving, and masterfully crafted emotional journey. It’s a short but incredibly powerful experience that uses a stunning visual style and a captivating soundtrack to tell a deeply human story of love, loss, and the power of memories. Although the simple puzzles won’t be a challenge for veterans of the genre, the real reward here is the story itself and the feelings it leaves you with. I just have to say that, as I’m wrapping up this review, one more important thing occurred to me. Even though the story and everything else are wonderful, you don’t need to experience it a second time. I’m sorry.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Concise, carefully crafted and beautifully malleable in its meaning, When The Past Was Around is a rather gorgeous little art game that remembers it needs to be interesting in its puzzles as well as its narrative. Taking the principles of escape room-style gameplay and fitting them around its theme lends them a gravitas that belies their simplicity and elevates this game into more than just the indie flavour of the month. Sure, you're not likely to play it twice, but you'd be hard-pressed to forget about it. And, honestly, after this year? We needed it.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Whether due to its miserly length or disjointed puzzles, Mojiken's exploration of loss is already distant in my mental rearview mirror.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“With a unique hand-drawn art style and some unusually inventive point-and-click puzzles When the Past was Around definitely stands out from the crowd...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“What start as very simple hidden object brain-teasers eventually progress to multi-scene puzzles, where items you collect serve more than one function. The puzzles never get hard per se, but they are immensely satisfying all the same, especially the more involved ones.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A dream-like point-and-click story of love and grief told through memory vignettes, When The Past Was Around is memorable but when you can finish it in a few hours, it feels oh so fleeting.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“When The Past Was Around is a short and quite cathartic experience about loss and letting go of the past by cherishing every memory we have made with our loved ones. The art style is one of the most beautiful ones in the world of video games and the music helps with the very much needed relaxed atmosphere a subject like grief needs.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you're looking for a great indie title to while away a sombre afternoon, look no further.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“When the Past was Around is a poignant journey, and if point-and-click puzzles are your jam, then I would recommend this one for your Switch library. Cherish the time you have, for it is precious and fleeting.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“When The Past Was Around is a unique point-and-click game that invites players to go on an emotional journey in a dreamlike, almost fragmented state. Mojiken Studio's love letter to simple couplehood takes a minimalist approach to living life to the fullest and learning how to move on”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
GameMAG
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Push Square
FingerGuns
Bazimag
TheSixthAxis
LadiesGamers.com
TechRaptor…and 14 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Minor Update - v1.0.2Sep 24, 2020