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) | – | 80 | 8 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 76 | 8 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 77 | 1629 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 4, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 1629 total reviews in window · weighted 194.4 up / 23.8 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (13)
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
“The combination of dark fantasy, RPG, turn-based game, card game, strategy and roguelike is in itself a tempting game to play. Although it's still early access, Tainted Grail is very well developed and we hope to see a release date soon. Once you start the title, time suddenly ceases to exist around you and you just enjoy exploring and battling. Suddenly, you are horrified to discover that several hours have passed since launch. Great music and seriously fun gameplay have already made sure that you are completely immersed in this gloomy world and its mysterious story. Tainted Grail should also get a Czech localisation this year, based on the same themes as the computer game. If you're a fan of board games, you won't go wrong with Tainted Grail.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It is rare to see a game so fully embrace the type of game it wants to be, as the roguelite nature symbolizes the growth of the protagonist to fully understand their surroundings.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“With some major balancing issues that made a majority of its classes unenjoyable, Tainted Grail: Conquest redeems itself by showing that when the game was balanced, it could be a fantastic experience.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Any game so good that you can't resist doing just one more battle in is a game well worth paying attention to, and Tainted Grail definitely manages that.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“To put it simply, I adore everything about the game. It’s variety between classes, the balance of resources, the meaningful meta-progression, and breadth of content. Slay the Spire and Monster Train are some of my favorite games, but they can have a seat at the round table and bow before the throne at which Tainted Grail: Conquest now sits.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“It’s a grueling but exhilarating journey that confronts what we probably know all along: that the pain of living through countless deaths and tragedies is ultimately what binds us together in life.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“All in all, this title is an uneven experience. The story is more substantial than most roguelites but is hampered by the randomly determined pacing. A few classes are a blast to play, while others feel too weak at high difficulties without good luck. For the first 20 hours or so, you are regularly getting new story content and new upgrades, and it’s easy to sink hours into Tainted Grail: Conquest. I just wish it kept up the pace all the way to the end of the story.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Tainted Grail: Conquest is definitely not a title for everyone. Its difficulty and dark atmosphere will undoubtedly be too much for many players out there, even some fans of RPGs, deck-builders, or roguelike. However, for fans that do want those aspects, it’s one of the best in the genre. There are countless hours for players to find in the game, and the deep mechanics and systems are incredibly rewarding across the board.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It feels great to always be working towards several upgrades at once, there's never a playthrough that doesn't reward you with at least a little something.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A fascinating, fresh take on the Arthurian legend. I wish the lore was more elaborate and the interface less minimalistic, but apart from that it’s an addictive, highly replayable dark fantasy rougelike with fast battles, varied character classes, numerous secrets to uncover, and great music. [08/2021, p.52]”
- 80
“Tainted Grail: Conquest is a great game with a gripping setting, enjoyable rogue-lite mechanics, and engaging deckbuilding gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“If you enjoy deckbuilding roguelikes, and the thought of one with a competent and voiced story excites you then this is the game for you. Available on both console and PC with Game Pass there is no excuse to not at least try it. While it may not reach the highs of others in the genre tactically during its combat it makes up for it with its competency in everything else. So, pick up your Wyrdcandle, traverse the mists on the broken Isle, and start cleaning up that kook Merlin’s mess in the Mists of Avalon.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
RPGamer
PC Invasion
TheSixthAxis
GideonsGaming
The Indie Game Website
RPG Fan
But Why Tho?
DarkZero
CD-Action
Game Rant
DayOne…and 1 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon with HUGE patch!Oct 4, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.3b is live!Sep 6, 2022
- v1.3a - Patch NotesApr 29, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.3 – Xbox consoles, Steam Deck, Optimization, and Linux!Mar 22, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.2b is liveOct 29, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.2 — Chinese, Russian, Spanish + New Content + Soundtrack now available!Oct 21, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.1a is live!Sep 7, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.1: Shattered Reality is LIVE!Aug 19, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Beta Access to Patch 1.1 - Introducing Endless Modes & Events!Aug 5, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.01a is live (and it restores the All-mother's Altars!)Jul 2, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- German, Polish, and French - now available! Version 1.01 is live :)Jun 29, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- A New Batch of Fixes [v1.00c] - Crashes & ThingsJun 9, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Second Hotfix [v1.00b] & a short note on future patchesJun 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- First Hotfix! [v1.00a]May 28, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 0.99a — Fixing & BalancingMay 5, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Hot(probably)fix for Patch 0.99!May 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Final MAJOR patch before LAUNCH! Version 0.99 is here!Apr 29, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- March Development Update! [VIDEO]Mar 12, 2021
- And here's a hotfix for some issues!Feb 16, 2021
- A mid-week hotfixFeb 3, 2021
- New patch with ch-ch-ch-ch-changes & fixes!Jan 29, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- First patch of the new year! :)Jan 8, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Necromancer is here! Patch 0.97 is LIVE!Dec 18, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- 0.96 – a HUGE “transition” patch!Dec 4, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- An update for the unluckiest day of the year ;)Nov 13, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- A short update for the weekend!Nov 6, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 0,95c - balancing and bugfixes + Halloween teaser!Oct 23, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Update on the game's Campaign ModeOct 16, 2020
- The Roadmap & FixesOct 9, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Fixing what's broken, part 1 :DOct 6, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 0.95: Seeds of Corruption is HERE!Oct 2, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 0.93b - New event! Near Death RevelationsSep 2, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Reign of the Rat begins! (Patch 0.93a)Aug 19, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Road to the HUGE Patch 0.95!Aug 12, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Changes to Warrior & a lot of fixes and improvements!Aug 5, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- A couple of important hotfixes!Jul 27, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Further work on Druid / new models and tattoos!Jul 17, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Future of Tainted Grail and this week's fixes and additions!Jul 10, 2020significant · resets scoring window
…and 6 earlier patch announcements.