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) | – | 75 | 8 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 197 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 1 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (12)
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
“Fans of Celeste will love the fast-paced platforming and clever level design in Garlic, as long as they can get past its weird sense of humor.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Garlic is difficult retro platformer that manages to be accessible to those normally put off by "difficult," "retro," and "platformer." Copious checkpoints and a fun mix of styles, visuals, and mini-games should push even the more casual gamers through. Give Garlic a try; the taste may surprise you.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“Don’t let its pretty simple and somewhat silly looks fool you, this is a consistently challenging platformer that works pretty well”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Hey. Yeah! Hey You! There’s this massive tower you should go to. I hear, if you get to the top, this “Cyber Goddess” can grant you any wish you want. She’s really a hottie too, you should totally go. Quick warning though, its a real tough one and they really want you dead.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Garlic is a retro-inspired 2D platformer that is full of crazy humour and personality. It is challenging but incredibly rewarding when you make progress; Garlic definitely makes your palms sweat!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you’re looking for another precision platformer with strong gameplay mechanics and sharp level design, Garlic is your guy. But it isn’t the only game to do those things by any stretch of the imagination, is it? The thing is, I can’t say I’ve ever played a game of this sort that had Garlic‘s ridiculous energy to it. There’s a Wario-ish bent to it, but it’s even stranger than that series tends to be. I think that kind of thing is subjective and as a result you’re either going to love it or hate it, but it really worked for me.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A fun precision platformer with some bonus mini-games to break the action”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you’re a fan of fast-paced platforming and like a challenge, consider Garlic a must-have. Add to that its budget price and its excellent sense of humour, and you have an indie gem that really does deserves more attention than it’s had so far.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Garlic is a highly stylized action-platformer featuring a humanoid garlic character attempting to ascend a tower and woo a goddess at the top. The concept is silly, for sure, but having watched some trailers, I had high hopes that I would enjoy the gameplay. Did it meet my standards? Find out in this Rapid Review.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I honestly found Garlic a joy to play, steep challenge and all. While the game may be a little intimidating to some, I found it quite engaging. It features a diversity of content, crazy challenges, great visuals, and a style that was quite unlike anything in recent years. If you’re not worried about dying a few dozen times, I’d say any fan of platformers or old-school games should give this a try.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Sylph team has been able to chart its own path in the face of all its platforming influences, which are not few. They have passed the test through frankness and a peculiar sense of humor.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Don't let the curious name and unexpected concept frighten you: Garlic is an excellent platformer that uses a simple gameplay to offer fun and addicting challenges. Beyond that, its diverse minigames complement the game about the garlic man that needs to climb a tower to meet his dream cyborg.[...] It still is a little below what would make it a real must-play but it's no doubt a great recommendation for your library.”
read full review ↗
Geek to Geek Media
Pure Nintendo
Nindie Spotlight
The Switch Effect
GameGrin
PS3Blog.net
GameSpew
Rapid Reviews UK
Hey Poor Player
NaviGames
GameBlastPatch history
- BUGS FIXINGJul 19, 2021
- TRAPS SYNCHRONIZATION TO HEROJun 23, 2021
- boss 2 and some levels easierJun 16, 2021