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) | – | 76 | 22 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 63% | 62 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 67% | 65 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 2 up / 1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (33)
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.
- 70
“Xuan-Yuan Sword VII offers a dramatic story based on chinese mythology. Of course, the drabness of battles and long roads to some places can be tiring in the final part of the game, but in general, Xuan-Yuan Sword VII deserves an attention.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Although there’s a lot to like about this latest release, some key issues still keep it from truly excelling and gaining as strong of a foothold in the west as it would otherwise be capable of.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Xuan-Yuan Sword VII has promise, but it fails in delivering a consistent and manageable experience. In meshing hack and slash games like Dark Souls, Bayonetta, and any mid-2000 mid-card action game out there, this action RPG feels like a hybrid that doesn’t know what to excel & focus on.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“It’s a shame that this game locks what good content it has behind a boredom-wall of turgid cutscenes and pointless, button mashing combat. It isn’t a long game, with around 20 hours of content, but it feels like it could have been a stronger contender if a lot had been cut and a more interesting, better paced story had been presented as the hook. Everything it does well can be found better elsewhere, and, while I haven’t played it myself, the reception to the series’ own first translated title The Gate of the Firmament is far, far more positive”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Despite these missteps, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 surprised us with just how fun it was. It harkens back to classic adventure games from the early '00s, filled with all the charm of that era. Sometimes it's refreshing to play a game that knows exactly what it wants to be and accomplishes it with very little getting in the way. While there are some localisation issues, some presentation problems and a lack of challenge in its combat, we do hope Xuan Yuan Sword 7 finds an audience in the west, as it would be a shame not to see how the next entry can build upon these solid foundations.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a lot of fun and it ended up being exactly what I was hoping for.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Xuan Yuan Sword 7 was a wonderful surprise, unassuming, story- focused, and set in a genuinely fresh Chinese historical setting. It doesn't chase being the RPG of the year, but it delivers everything you'd want from a classic action RPG with love and care.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“While never having played a Xuan Yuan in the past, I can confidently say they have a new fan. As I stated above all of the talking, and explaining can turn off some folks, those that stay will be in for quite a thrill ride of a story full of Chinese mythology, politics and epic fights. While some of the translation is off during the script and on some combat abilities it was never enough to break immersion. The words that popped up were always close enough, that I was able to understand what was going on in the scene.”
read full review ↗ - 73
“So overall while Xuan Yuan Sword 7 doesn’t really do anything new mechanically, it’s still enough of a solidly built title especially if you’ve been needing a break from the open worlds that have been all the rage of late. With a duration of a dozen plus hours, the world looked great on the Series X and there’s enough bad dad jokes from Zixu to his sister to make you either laugh or groan while they explore the lands to get her real body back.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Overall, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a completely mediocre game. That isn't to say it can't be fun or doesn't have strong moments, but somehow, none of what it does really stands out. It's interesting to see a long-running franchise finally get its chance to shine outside of its home country, but Xuan Yuan Sword 7 doesn't do enough to set it apart from the crowd. There are a lot of interesting ideas here, and I look forward to seeing what the next entry shows off.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“An ancient Chinese character tale rather than an epic, Xuan Yuan 7 is a linear RPG that takes inspiration liberally from the best games around, but has no idea how to implement anything it’s stolen. Combat is farcically easy, systems are barely explained, puzzles feel decades out of date and there’s that stamina bar that does nothing. Sometimes there’s a reason you haven’t heard of a series.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“An Enjoyable Experience, Let Down by Some Inconsistencies”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
RPGamer
Kakuchopurei
VGamingNews
Pure Xbox
The Switch Effect
gamefinity
ZTGD
Chalgyr's Game Room
Worth Playing
FingerGuns
Games Freezer…and 21 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 1.26 NoteSep 30, 2021
- Patch 1.25 NoteSep 16, 2021
- Patch 1.22 NoteApr 9, 2021
- Patch 1.21 NoteMar 30, 2021
- Patch 1.20.1 NoteFeb 9, 2021
- A Major Patch is Available Now, Added Five New Language OptionsFeb 8, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.13 NoteJan 13, 2021
- Patch 1.12 NoteDec 30, 2020
- Patch 1.11 NoteDec 25, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- A Significant Patch Including New Boss and New Difficulty iDec 18, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.04 NoteNov 19, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.03.1Nov 10, 2020
- V1.03 Patch And Outfit DLC– Afterglow of Mohists are ReleasedNov 5, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- V1.02.1 Patch NotesOct 29, 2020