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) | – | 59 | 27 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 49% | 51 | 55 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 58% | 59 | 68 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 31, 2024) · 68 reviews sampled · 62 total reviews in window · weighted 23.3 up / 16.7 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
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.
- 30
“With a lack of variety in enemy AI, frustrating exploration, underwhelming sound design, and an abundance of bugs, Pneumata was a game I had a hard time enjoying.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“After an immersive and sustained engagement with Pneumata, it becomes clear that this is far more than a conventional survival horror, it is a compelling invitation to inhabit an intense, meticulously crafted experience. The choice to set aside the traditional action-first approach in favor of a contemplative, deliberately paced gameplay feels not only bold, but essential in shaping the singular atmosphere that saturates every moment of the game. Its fragmented, symbolic narrative demands active participation: this is not a story one can passively absorb, but rather a path that asks the player to piece together fragments of meaning, to interpret elusive signs, and to surrender to an inner journey that can at times disorient, yet ultimately rewards with moments of genuine revelation. We found this especially praiseworthy, as it reflects a clear intent to push boundaries and deliver more mature, intellectually engaging content than what is often found in the genre. From an artistic standpoint, the art direction is both evocative and ambitious, a tapestry of intricate environments and a color palette steeped in alienation and melancholy. Its masterful interplay of light and shadow, together with a meticulously engineered soundscape, conjures a palpable atmosphere that resonates deeply on an emotional level. That said, this is not an experience designed for everyone. The deliberately cryptic narrative risks alienating players in search of a clear, linear storyline, and may frustrate those unwilling to engage with its interpretive demands. For this reason, Pneumata is best suited to players who seek more than entertainment, those drawn to artistic and narrative experiences with thematic depth and broader scope. From a personal perspective, my judgment on Pneumata is unequivocally positive. It enriches the contemporary gaming landscape with an original and daring vision of what an authorial video game can achieve. Its greatest strength lies in its ability to transform the act of traversing physical spaces into a metaphorical descent into the human psyche, delivering an intense, melancholic, and indelible journey, punctuated by bursts of raw survival horror action that harken back to the genre’s most enduring roots. While not without minor technical and audio imperfections, Pneumata stands as a work that dares to challenge convention, invites reflection, and advocates for an aesthetic and narrative vision that feels both distinctive and daring. A title well worthy of a place in any discerning player’s collection.”
read full review ↗ - 69
“It's one of those games that leaves you euphoric and alert at the same time, you start playing knowing that you're going to get scared at any moment.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“Pneumata combines darkness and pussy along with all the ingredients that make up a classic horror. I wonder if it manages to look similar titles in the eye?”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Pneumata is a survival horror game that offers a unique blend of exploration and tension, inspired by classics like Resident Evil and Outlast. It's certainly an impressive feat being created by a single person, but it does result in a lack of polish like we're used to in the AA and AAA space.”
read full review ↗ - 20
“Pneumata takes inspiration from Resident Evil but completely forgets what makes these games entertaining. While it initially showed potential, this bloated survival horror is immensely unfun.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Those who were looking forward to a bloodier and more classic Resident Evil from an independent studio will either be disappointed or not enjoy the game the way the creators of Pneumata intended.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Pneumata is an ambitious first-person horror adventure game, and considering that it was actually made by only one developer, it turned out very well. Too bad it didn't avoid some unnecessary mistake.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Pneumata is an ambitious first-person horror game considering it's made a by a solo developer. But while it looks rather nice and succeeds in creating a tense atmosphere, there are numerous issues that ultimately bring it down considerably.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Pneumata’s gunplay was still solid, and I enjoyed using the guns. You can feel the weight behind each swing of a melee weapon. I still didn’t like the block/dodging from the demo. It was annoying during specific parts of the game where they would throw a hoard of creatures at you. The few reasons I say this was annoying was because of explosive barrels in poor locations. Enemies basically breathing down your neck while running so you can’t detonate said barrels.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Pneumata combines the gameplay of modern Resident Evil and the Outlast saga, and fans of both games will appreciate the good intentions of its author. But a series of shortcomings and design errors make it difficult to recommend it.”
read full review ↗ - 41
“Pneumata had a lot of potential, but was badly exploited by the developers, launching an unoriginal game on the market. It was meant to be a survival horror, but is limited to horror settings, failing to blend everything well. The title has too many flaws to stand alongside Resident Evil, and despite the use of Unreal Engine 5, it fails to convince.”
read full review ↗
Seasoned Gaming
Indie Games Devel
Pizza Fria
Enternity.gr
NextGen Player
GameLuster
SECTOR.sk
SomHráč.sk
GameSpew
Thumb Culture
Hobby Consolas
Uagna…and 5 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Pneumata - update news sep. 19Sep 15, 2025
- Content Update 1 - Maps + Minor General ImprovementsOct 31, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes for October 3, 2024Oct 3, 2024