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) | – | 63 | 30 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 84% | 78 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 65 | 8 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 33 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 93 reviews sampled · 95 total reviews in window · weighted 47.4 up / 5.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (52)
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.
- 75
“Spirit of the North will not revolutionize the industry, it will not change your view of games or the world, but it manages to provide an enjoyable evening. Even if it will be accompanied by some inconveniences in places. You'll play it, you'll have quite a bit of fun, and then you'll probably quickly forget about this game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Spirit of the North is an atmospheric, evocative adventure game with puzzle/platforming elements that, despite being clumsily implemented in parts, are ultimately rewarding if you stick with it.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is a game trying so hard to replicate and better its peers that it loses its way. From the story and lore of the world, to the puzzle solving and even the visuals, everything about it feels held back and the little it does well isn't enough to justify its lengthy playtime.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Games like this can work very well if they’re backed up by visually stunning graphics and clever gameplay, but unfortunately, Spirit of the North has neither.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Spirit of the North is an experience that places great emphasis on the emotional aspect of the adventure, offering an evocative journey through enchanting Nordic landscapes accompanied by a symbolic and quiet narrative. However, some technical and gameplay limitations can greatly affect the overall experience of the title. We still recommend giving it a chance, however, for those looking for a relaxing and exciting adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“An oftentimes-gorgeous game whose shifts in gameplay focus make way for a dispiriting experience as time goes on.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“When I go to PAX I tend to book my days to the brim with appointments but that doesn't mean I lose the opportunity to uncover some additional gems along the way...”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Spirit of the North's enchanting journey is magnificent on the Nintendo Switch Lite's screen, as played on for this review, and is even better on a large TV screen. The, at times, challenging game, has collectibles that add to the replay value, and playing as an unlocked snow fox in the snow magnifies the immersion of the game, with levels that beg to be experienced again simply for the fun of enjoying their beauty.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Spirit of the North is a decent game let down some by subpar controls and underuse of the player character's abilities. It still manages to be somewhat entertaining but is far from a must-play.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Infuse Studio has done a fantastic job in remastering Spirit of the North's visuals for PS5, but while it looks gorgeous, this edition neglects the elements that needed an update most. Though the controls remain stiff and your objectives aren't always clear, anyone willing to look past this will find a wonderful experience at the core. If you've been searching for a new adventure game, Spirit of the North is short but sweet and despite these flaws, comes recommended.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Spirit of the North positions itself as a title similar to Journey, Abzu, or Rime, but it stumbles at the most basic levels of its gameplay. This is a genre known for minimal gameplay, and maximum experience. Spirit of the North’s inability to nail down even its extremely limited gameplay means that it's a pretty constant frustration. Now and then something will hit just right and you’ll see the potential that's there. It's visually quite stunning and features a solid but overplayed soundtrack. There are moments of brilliance sprinkled in with an otherwise thoroughly mediocre experience. I wouldn’t say I hated my time with Spirit of the North, but I’d certainly have rather spent it elsewhere.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is a relaxing, atmospheric adventure title that benefits from a gorgeous visual style and musical score. In terms of content and gameplay, it doesn’t offer up a lot of depth, but what is here provides a worthwhile distraction for those looking for a slightly slower paced adventure game.”
read full review ↗
ZdobywcyGier.eu
Pure Nintendo
Jump Dash Roll
Nintendo Life
STWGames Italia
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
PC Invasion
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
Chalgyr's Game Room…and 40 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition UpdateFeb 4, 2021
- Korean language update - 언어 업데이트Oct 28, 2020
- Update 1.05Sep 10, 2020
- Update 1.04 Out Now!Aug 19, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.04 Beta Test Event!Jul 10, 2020
- Some Fox Fixes Before the Weekend!May 15, 2020