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) | – | 89 | 67 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 82 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 80% | 74 | 1187 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 10, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 1187 total reviews in window · weighted 221.6 up / 45.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (63)
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.
- 95
“Don't look at Chained Echoes as a throwback to the 16-bit JRPGs of yesteryear, just look at it as an amazing game with an engaging battle system and wonderfully paced story. You can also look at it as one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2022.”
read full review ↗ - 90
- 90
“Chained Echoes is a wonderful mash-up of '90s JRPG tropes, masterfully woven together to produce an experience that feels simultaneously nostalgic and fresh. A well-paced story, unconventional progression system, tactical combat system, and expansive world all come together to make for a game that is shockingly one of the very best RPGs that we've played this year. Really, there's no place where it feels like Chained Echoes drops the ball, which is all the more impressive when you consider that the vast majority of it was put together by one person. If you consider yourself a fan of JRPGs, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up as soon as possible. Even if you aren't a fan of the genre, we'd still encourage you to snap this one up; it stands as a shining example of everything that makes RPGs great.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It successfully sets out to reinvigorate the well-worn turn-based combat formula found in many games of that era while adding many smart and well-considered elements to the mix, ultimately creating a bold and involving combat experience that feels classic and fresh at the same time.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Chained Echoes is not just a tribute to JRPGs, but a true evolution that looks to the past. From the strategic complexity driven by the Overdrive system to the visual appeal of pixel art with meticulous attention to detail, every aspect of the game contributes to creating an epic adventure. If you are looking for a JRPG that is modern and suitable for new players, Chained Echoes is a train you don't want to miss.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Putting aside the distaste from some character depictions and general moments of cringe in the storyline, I enjoyed the majority of Chained Echoes. There's enough mechanical creativity and visual splendour to keep you entertained for the duration, and if you have a hankering for the good old JRPGS of the SNES and PS1 era, this title will be a welcome addition to your collection. Though the game has a very familiar voice, it manages to be much more than just an echo of its inspirations.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A modern RPG classic; a game that would have made a splash on SNES, even surrounded by all-time greats like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger.”
read full review ↗ - 91
“This single-developer passion project sets a standard for how the classic 16-bit JRPG can still be improved upon”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Whether a longtime fan of games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Chrono Trigger, or Golden Sun, or just looking for a rich RPG with great combat and memorable characters, you owe it to yourself to give Chained Echoes a shot. It’s the kind of game that potentially reminds players why they fell in love with the genre in the first place.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“On the surface, Chained Echoes is an amazing game, but one that offers you an even better experience overall the more you play.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Chained Echoes is fantastic. Not only does it capture what made 90s JRPGs special, but it elevates and modernizes it to deliver an unforgettable experience. With an engaging narrative, attractive characters, a well-built world, and a combat system full of good ideas, it has become one of the best JRPGs I've played in over a decade. Chained Echoes didn't copy old JRPGs, it understood them to create something that lives up to their legacy.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I enjoyed my time in Valandis so much that I experienced as much of the side content as I could. This full length RPG stands as a love letter to the games I grew up with. The inspirations are clear, and yet this is a wholly unique RPG experience that anyone who has an affinity for the style–and 90s' RPGs in particular–owes it to themselves to enjoy.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Fintendo
Nintendo Life
RPGamer
STWGames Italia
VGamingNews
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
The Switch Effect
LevelUp
NintendoWorldReport…and 51 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes v. 1.4Oct 4, 2025
- Patch Notes v. 1.345Aug 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes v. 1.32Sep 21, 2023
- Patch Notes v. 1.2May 28, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes v. 1.1Feb 7, 2023
- Patch Notes v. 1.06Jan 25, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes v. 1.05Jan 2, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes v. 1.04Dec 20, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes v. 1.03Dec 14, 2022significant · resets scoring window