Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 299 sampled Steam reviews (289 positive / 10 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Grind & repetition11% mention it
- Progression & loot8% mention it
- Story & writing8% mention it
- Visuals & art7% mention it
- Difficulty & balance5% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Grind & repetition90% mention it
- Progression & loot60% mention it
- Visuals & art30% mention it
- Bugs & crashes30% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
90%
31 reviews
5-15h
97%
91 reviews
15-40h
98%
124 reviews
40-100h
98%
47 reviews
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) | – | 77 | 9 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 90 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.0, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 44,558 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 26, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 6670 total reviews in window · weighted 247 up / 11.5 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (19)
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
“Well balanced potion with a speck of kind humor, a pinch of captivating mechanics, and a generous fistful of a lovely art style.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator would probably have made do with just its magical environment, but luckily it turned out to be a clever, abstract alchemy simulator that we can probably expect big things from when it reaches the final version. If you like the rough-and-tumble of running a business, its finances and controlling employees, the game probably won't interest you, because it's not really a classic business simulator. I've played similar games, but none have been quite the same and yet completely different from others with a similar idea. Sometimes I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over again, but that was only until I figured out how to do it more efficiently. By being an alpha version, there's not as much actual gameplay, but that will hopefully change soon and I believe the game has a lot of potential. Potion Craft is available on Steam for €12.49. The price is relevant and for how much the game costs, it can bring you a lot of hours of fun.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Potion Craft is bound to be a gem for the right audience and is ideal for dedicated completionist crafters who enjoy sim games with strategic elements and cosy, magical aesthetics. It's a heady concoction, just one that doesn't go down very well on Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Potion Craft is a great little indie title, offering a deep enough system for players to get lost in and play for a long time, but balanced enough for shorter play sessions to satisfy. Its aesthetic and atmosphere increase the enjoyment of its core mechanics. Highly recommended to players of all ilks.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Potion Craft is yet another addition to the simulation genre but manages to set itself out from the crowd by blending relaxing vibes with engaging strategy. It’s visually appealing and has the potential to steal an evening without you noticing, but it can get repetitive and frustrating at times.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Sitting around making weed smoke. Not the fun kind.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Potion Craft lets players put on their chemist hats and strategically brew a plethora of potions. A medieval backdrop provides a casual environment to discover new recipes, earn some coin, and become a master alchemist.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator is a fun, relaxing experience with a great puzzle system but not much story.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Potion Craft is the best alchemy game on the market. If you’re a fan of alchemy in games like Skyrim but wish there was more to it, you might find that there’s no better way to kill an hour or two than by opening up Potion Craft and running your quaint little shop.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you ever looked at a witch in a storybook or film and wondered if you could make spells to help people (or hinder them, depending on your personal vendettas, I guess), then Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator might just be the game for you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator is hands down one of the cleverest games on a mechanics level. Players will truly feel like they are crafting brews while connecting to the magical whimsy of the medieval era. Although I wish I was able to get more involved in the world of Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator, either through story or exploration, the mechanics alone kept me entertained for 40 hours so I can’t complain too much. Even if the rest of the game is a bit shallow, Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator’s gameplay is something to write home about. Here’s to hoping the dev team can concoct more content in future updates!”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator blends puzzle, simulator, and style for an enchanting brew that’s hard to resist.”
read full review ↗
3DNews
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
FingerGuns
MonsterVine
GameGrin
TechRaptor
Try Hard Guides
Rapid Reviews UK
Hey Poor Player
CGMagazine…and 7 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 2.0.2 and Steam Community Items are here!Jun 26, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Enchanted Garden 2.0 Update is Here!Dec 6, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Quality-of-Life & Optimization Update v1.1 is here!Dec 12, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Nominate Potion Craft for the Steam Awards 2023!Nov 22, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Devlog #28. Talents 2.0Aug 18, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Devlog #27. Garden 2.0: New PlantsAug 2, 2023
- Patch 1.0.5Dec 23, 2022
- Patch 1.0.3Dec 22, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.2.1Dec 13, 2022
- Potion Craft 1.0 is HERE!Dec 13, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Potion Craft 1.0 Release Notes Sneak PeekDec 8, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Update 0.5.0 is now availableDec 2, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- The new Potion Craft update is ready for testing!Aug 1, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Potion Craft patch 0.4.7 is liveJan 13, 2022
- Potion Craft Patch 0.4.5 is live: Save issue fixed, Saving in filesOct 6, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Potion Craft Patch 0.4.4 is liveSep 29, 2021
- Potion Craft Patch 0.4.3 is liveSep 24, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Potion Craft Playtest Patch 0.3.8Aug 6, 2021significant · resets scoring window