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) | – | 68 | 63 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 79% | 73 | 104 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 72% | 69 | 23 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 3, 2026) · 23 reviews sampled · 22 total reviews in window · weighted 8.5 up / 3.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (45)
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.
- 50
“Kiln is a concept of a decent game that was, for some reason, released in a raw state, sent to its certain death. Despite its interesting aesthetics, the gameplay core needs extensive polishing, but Double Fine simply doesn't have the time for that.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Kiln brilliantly combines cozy games with something a bit more competitive, which once again proves Double Fine has no end to their bold imagination.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Double Fine has given us another charming Xbox first-party title in the form of Kiln, which might be light on content, but nevertheless is a fun time both on and off the battlefield. The pot-creation system is a genius take on a character creation suite, matches are frantic but offer plenty of room for strategy, and the overall presentation is really high quality. Moving forward though, it's going to need regular new content to remain fresh and give players a reason to keeping coming back, otherwise I fear this online-only game might get doused a little too prematurely.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Kiln is a frustrating game to review, because it’s impossible not to see the full potential of its concept. Its premise is brilliant, its pottery-making mechanics are ingenious, and its art direction is flawless. The foundations of an excellent multiplayer game are clearly there, and when everything works as intended, the experience can be genuinely fun. However, in its current state, the game mostly feels like it was released far too early. Its glaring lack of content, rapid repetitiveness, uninspiring progression, balancing issues, and, above all, an already concerning player base significantly limit the enjoyment it can offer. Despite its more-than-attractive price, Kiln remains, above all, an excellent idea that still needs a lot more work.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Kiln offers a highly entertaining experience that blends creativity and art with gameplay mechanics. The fast-paced, short matches played with friends make you lose track of time. The variety of pottery and different maps add depth to the game; however, having only a single game mode can quickly create a sense of repetition, especially for solo players. More variety is essential.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“It wasn’t all a flowery trip to Pottery Barn though; at launch there was some issues with matchmaking, but it was corrected pretty quick. Kiln actually performs quite well, aside from some longer loading times; I had really no issues with the gameplay or anything. In fact, my only real gripe is the lone game mode that is currently available. Not that there is anything wrong with quench because it is a lot of fun, but there is no variety outside of it and we all know that gamers get bored of things quicker than a babysitter’s boyfriend when a car pulls up. And even though the Kiln is on Game Pass I worry about the longevity of the game, especially since it’s multiplayer only. But I guess that’s tomorrow’s problem, for today we smash pots.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Kiln delivers an innovative and entertaining multiplayer experience that blends the chaos of competitive gameplay with the creativity of pottery crafting. Its diverse gameplay offers players the freedom to customize their characters, while its distinctive cartoon-inspired art style gives the game a unique visual and audio identity. Although the game currently suffers from limited content, some repetitive elements, and a heavy reliance on an active player community, its strong foundation makes it a standout experience and an easy recommendation for fans of competitive multiplayer games.”
read full review ↗ - 69
“Kiln is a creative title with unique foundations, but in its current form it still lacks the content and depth needed to keep a larger player base engaged in the long run.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Kiln is a fun and welcoming online game to keep coming back to. The pottery wheel is one of the most creative systems I've ever seen in a multiplayer game, and the charming presentation is exactly what you expect from Double Fine. There is only one mode at launch and the content is lean, but the post-launch roadmap includes free new maps, new Decoration and Sticker packs, the Mission Criti-Bowl feature update in summer adding Missions and a Pot Journal, and Photo Mode arriving in fall.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“You can't help but get the feeling that the game's multiplayer-only focus, combined with its limited launch content, unpolished gameplay, and weak marketing, will bury it before it ever gets a chance to flourish.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Double Fine has made a lot of money out of the absurd concept, and the pot fights can be more fun than you might think. The question remains, however, whether a small multiplayer game can keep enough players. It's a shame the game doesn't include a singleplayer.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Kiln looks great and has a creative idea at its base, but it gets old fairly quickly and doesn’t seem, like it’ll have the longest shelf life. Making pottery is incredibly well-realized and satisfying, and the team-based matches have their moments, but the main gameplay loop gets tiresome, and the lack of stages and content beyond Quench mode makes the game feel more empty than you’d expect.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
The Nerd Stash
Pure Xbox
Geeks & Com
Atarita
ZTGD
Just Play it
HCL.hr
NextGen Player
SomGeek
SECTOR.sk
MonsterVine…and 33 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Kiln 1.6.0 Update - July 30, 2026Jul 30, 2026
- Kiln 1.5.0 Update - July 2, 2026Jul 2, 2026
- Kiln 1.4.0 Update - June 16, 2026Jun 16, 2026
- Kiln 1.3.0 Update - June 03, 2026Jun 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Kiln 1.2.0 Update - May 20, 2026May 20, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Kiln 1.1.0 Update - May 06, 2026May 6, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Kiln 1.0.1 Hotfix - Apr 26, 2026Apr 26, 2026