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Severed Steel

Severed Steel

Greylock Studio · released Sep 16, 2021

ActionIndiePCPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5Xbox One, Xbox Series XNintendo Switch

An intense single-player FPS featuring a stylish movement system, completely destructible levels, and an acclaimed OST.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗Metacritic 73 · users 7.3 ↗
89
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “The 4 year anniversary update!” (11mo ago)

87%
At launch
95%
Steam all-time
79%
Press
78%
Player sentiment
95%
Recent sentiment

PC 89 · PlayStation 78 · Xbox 78

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–7922
All-time Steam reviews95%901000
Metacritic user ratings–7626
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)95%892788
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.9, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 10,340 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 (Sep 12, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 2788 total reviews in window · weighted 136.8 up / 7.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (31)

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
    Pure NintendoPure Nintendo
    trust 80Sep 28, 2022

    “Severed Steel is a rapid-pace first-person shooter that demands quick reflexes and creative thinking to blast your way through the minions of a nefarious mega-corporation wreaking havoc in a dark future.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Nintendo LifeNintendo Life
    trust 76Jul 27, 2022

    “The game runs near-flawlessly on Switch aside from a few levels near the end (that being said, you’ll be in slo-mo for the majority of the game anyway). However, the two biggest issues with the game rear their heads here. Games like this typically have near instantaneous restarts to ensure the action is always moving. Severed Steel’s load times aren't obnoxiously long by any means, but just long enough to add to the frustration of losses. The other (and biggest) issue is the complete lack of gyro-aiming, which, especially for a game this fast-paced, feels like a large oversight. But still, we’re talking about a game where you can throw your gun at someone, slo-mo, dive over their head, steal another from their back pocket, then blast them with it. Which is pretty rad.”

    read full review ↗
  • 66
    Nindie SpotlightNindie Spotlight
    trust 70Jul 21, 2022

    “Sometimes you run into games where you cant help but feel they're a bit of a victim of the timing...”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    Cubed3Cubed3
    trust 70Aug 22, 2022

    “The acrobatic shoot-fest known as Severed Steel is, without any exaggeration, tons of fun. Sadly, while it could be one of the genre's classics, it is barebones in terms of content. There simply aren't many things to do here, and there's almost no incentive to go back to it. It needs a better campaign, more varied weaponry, enemies, as well as some extra stuff, be it power-ups, or alternative game modes. Or at least a better price-tag…”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    ZTGDZTGD
    trust 68Oct 1, 2021

    “Severed Steel is a fantastic ride while it last, there is a map editor for the brave but replay value is only going to be found for those that have the need to top a leaderboard or want to record some dope slo-mo montages. Anyone looking for a supremely easy to get into action game that blends the bullet-time from Max Payne with a bombastic soundtrack pumping techno music and all the slides and dives from 80-90’s action movies…look absolutely no further than Severed Steel. For a first game Greylock has nailed it and I can’t wait to see this gem on consoles.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    Enternity.grEnternity.gr
    trust 68Jan 19, 2023

    “Severed Steel aims straight for the 'head' for non-stop fun and action.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    FingerGunsFingerGuns
    trust 66Oct 3, 2021

    “What it lacks in narrative, Severed Steel makes up for it in the gameplay department. It’s fast, it’s frenetic, it’s vibrant and by golly, is it fun. There’s no greater pleasure in somersaulting over goons to air out their brain cases in glorious voxel violence. Switch off the lateral thinking and engage those cat-like reflexes. ”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    SECTOR.skSECTOR.sk
    trust 66Oct 14, 2021

    “It is total destruction and non- stop action. We wish we had been able to enjoy it much longer.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    GameGrinGameGrin
    trust 65Oct 8, 2021

    “Severed Steel assaults many of your senses and rewards your bullet dodging, slow motion ballet dancing with satisfying kills while caressing your eyes and ears with the striking visuals and soundtrack it presents to you.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    TechRaptorTechRaptor
    trust 63Sep 27, 2021

    “Although it's a very brief experience, every single level sent adrenaline into my veins. If you can find a game that makes me feel as jazzed as Severed Steel, savor every moment.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    DarkZeroDarkZero
    trust 63Oct 6, 2021

    “Severed Steel was fun to play, but I couldn’t recommend it at its current price in its present state. Greylock Studio needs to throw some intense boss battles in there, a few tough enemies, and, in my opinion, rework the bullet time metre. I really hope the developers don’t move onto their next project straight away, and instead turn this game into a series that will make people look forward to the sequel. If you love these types of games, then there is no doubt in my mind that you will also enjoy Severed Steel.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    GameSpewGameSpew
    trust 61Aug 1, 2022

    “Severed Steel‘s campaign may be short, but it’s very sweet. And the high-octane nature of its action is intoxicating, meaning you’re likely to engage with firefight mode and perhaps even play through the campaign again with Mutators active. A single-player only experience, those who like waging war while feeling like a badass will be in their element here. It’s an absolute blast from beginning to end.”

    read full review ↗

…and 19 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. The 4 year anniversary update!
    Sep 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  2. Bug fix
    Nov 27, 2024
  3. Hotfix
    Sep 17, 2024
  4. Localization update + Echo Point Nova launch date announcement!
    Sep 17, 2024
  5. Bug fix + new game setting
    Feb 15, 2024
  6. Custom Music hotfix
    Feb 9, 2024
  7. New Severed Steel update: Custom soundtrack!
    Feb 8, 2024
  8. Huge demo update to Echo Point Nova, a new game by the Severed Steel team
    Feb 4, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  9. XMas Update now live!
    Dec 21, 2023
  10. Akimbo Hotfix 2
    Dec 12, 2023
  11. Akimbo Hotfix 1
    Dec 11, 2023
  12. Severed Steel now has DUAL WIELDING (Merry Xmas!)
    Dec 10, 2023
  13. Style Hotfix 2
    Nov 6, 2023
  14. Style Update Hotfix
    Nov 3, 2023
  15. THE STYLE UPDATE IS NOW LIVE
    Oct 27, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  16. Daily Challenge hotfix
    Sep 18, 2023
  17. TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY UPDATE
    Sep 17, 2023
  18. Localization Update
    Nov 28, 2022
  19. Rogue Steel bugfixes
    Oct 10, 2022
  20. Rogue Steel - Small balance and bug fixes
    Oct 5, 2022
  21. NEW GAME MODE LIVE - ROGUE STEEL
    Oct 1, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  22. Summer Localization + Hotfix 2
    Sep 6, 2022
  23. Summer 2022 hotfix 1
    Aug 22, 2022
  24. NEW BONUS CAMPAIGNS ARE LIVE!
    Aug 19, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  25. Bonus Campaigns and Quality of Life update
    Aug 19, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  26. Bugfixes
    Apr 19, 2022
  27. editor features pt 2
    Apr 18, 2022
  28. Rollback
    Apr 18, 2022
  29. -small editor feature update
    Apr 18, 2022
  30. -Small patch
    Apr 13, 2022
  31. LEVEL EDITOR UPDATE!
    Apr 5, 2022
  32. hotfixes
    Apr 5, 2022
  33. MARCH CONTENT UPDATE
    Apr 1, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  34. January bug fixes + experimental graphics settings
    Jan 28, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  35. jan hotfix 2
    Jan 21, 2022
  36. Campaign Update 3.0
    Jan 20, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  37. Campaign Update 3.0, now available!
    Jan 20, 2022
  38. SNEAK PEEK AT NEW LEVELS COMING IN NEXT WEEK'S UPDATE
    Jan 12, 2022
  39. Bug fixes and editor features
    Dec 7, 2021
  40. November Patch 2
    Nov 24, 2021

…and 7 earlier patch announcements.