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) | – | 64 | 49 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 70 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 78% | 73 | 467 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 77 | 4 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 11 reviews sampled · 10 total reviews in window · weighted 4.1 up / 0.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (65)
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.
- 50
“Alex Kidd was more or less usurped by Sonic the Hedgehog as SEGA's golden boy, and it's not hard to see why. This platformer may have rendered some fun in 1986, but considering it's a direct remake, it's still a clunky platformer that has not aged well. If you're an Alex Kidd fan, this is nothing short of a must-have, the QoL improvements make it a little more playable, and it's one of the best-looking remakes on the Switch. If you need a satisfying platforming fix, it's hard to recommend this classic title.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“We can't pretend this isn't a disappointment. After promises of updates and improvements to this classic title, what we've got is something that we'd honestly not recommend to either prospective new fans or enthusiasts of the original Alex Kidd. We're inclined to think this may have been something of a rushed release, but that's pure speculation based on some of the more lax features (there's a lot of new dialogue but almost all of it is awkwardly written, with typos and errors). Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is not horrible by any means, and you might have fun with it until you run up against its irritating issues - unless you use infinite lives, in which case you'll finish the game in two hours, tops. If this was supposed to be Alex Kidd's big comeback, we're sad to say that we don't think we'll be seeing that Alex Kidd: High-Tech World remake any time soon.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is a special release. Although the game's original design may not have aged well in a world where platformers like Celeste and Super Meat Boy have shown how to balance steep difficulty with generally good design, this rare remake of a nearly 40 year old game not only recaptures the feel of the original completely, but also does what it can to modernize it appropriately for new audiences.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is an accomplished remake built around a core that's admittedly creaking with age.”
read full review ↗ - 63
“Oh my do these retro reduxes give me mixed feelings...”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is hamstrung by its past, a Master System cult game that perhaps hasn't aged as well as people would like to think. Merge Games have done a delightful job at putting together brand-new visuals for the title, and have also put together some very appealing physical editions to purchase. Unfortunately, once the story mode has been completed, there is very little replay value, outside of unlocking a boss rush and 'classic mode'. There is definitely a hardcore challenge there for those who play without the helping hand of infinite lives, but those who don't should be able to get through the story mode in under an hour or so. Certainly, a great trip down memory lane for those old enough to remember the original, but newer players may find it somewhat frustratingly difficult and lacking compared to more modern 2D platformers.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Though it has all of the hallmarks of a solid remake, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX likely sticks a bit too close to the subject matter to resonate with a modern audience. Don't let the lush visuals fool you. It's unapologetically brutal design, combined with control issues and unexplained mechanics galore, all make for an uneven and unrecommendable experience.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is a great looking remake of a terrible game. Level design is dated, bosses are completely luck based and all the hitboxes just feel off. There is a reason that Sonic took over as SEGA’s mascot because no remake can change the fact that Alex Kidd’s first adventure is incredibly frustrating and poorly designed.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“If you're a fan of Alex Kidd,the 80s or if you're curious to try an experience like those of 35 years ago, you'll be delighted to know that the game is now available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC and that it recovers all the elements of the original game but now in 16:9. On the other hand, if you don't like to submit to games where trial and error are the norm, you can always pay tribute to the franchise by playing something simpler, a classic stone, paper or scissors.”
read full review ↗ - 68
- 80
“A faithful remake of the original game updated with some new replayability features”
read full review ↗ - 65
“The aesthetic of Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is very eye-catching and can make it fun to watch being played by speedrunners or those familiar with the series. For those looking to have a more classic experience, the swappable color palette available in the main mode and the unlockable port are worth a look. The release is rounded out with a boss rush mode to serve up a challenging 2D platformer that's worth a try before the game shows itself as a product of its time.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
video games are good
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
PC Invasion
Push Square
LevelUp
Capsule Computers
NintendoWorldReport…and 53 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- New Controls & Level Select UpdateSep 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Alex Kidd UpdateSep 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window