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) | – | 71 | 46 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 79% | 74 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 78% | 73 | 1456 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 25, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 1456 total reviews in window · weighted 186.2 up / 63 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (45)
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.
- 85
“Potion Permit is a unique cozy game with adorable pixel graphics that will keep you busy for hours. The difficulty is relatively easy, but the gameplay is still fun and engaging.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“So how should we ultimately rate Potion Permin? It’s better than average, but it falls a bit short of the top games. That doesn’t matter, though, the beautiful atmosphere, the enjoyable medical activities, and hunting in the woods will keep you entertained long enough for you to get your money’s worth. Unfortunately, doing the same thing over and over again and sometimes having to take care of my patients in ways that seemed pointless at times got on my nerves, but I suppose I was expecting too much from such a simple game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Potion Permit makes an effort to implement engaging minigame mechanics through potion brewing and patient diagnosis, but outside of that, a lack of challenge and a feeling of repetition means it struggles to stand out in the vast field of life sims. Still, it presents a fun and enchanting experience which gets a massive shot in the arm from excellent presentation in both the audio and visual departments. Potion Permit fits the bill for something to pick up now and then and pass a few hours, and there are certainly enough quests for you to sink your teeth into and keep you entertained for a while, even if it's not as catching as the best in the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“For those willing to commit the fifteen to twenty hours to enjoy the content despite the mountain of technical issues, or those willing to wait for a few patches to iron out the current issues, there’s a quaint title waiting to be explored.”
read full review ↗ - 71
“Concocting cure-alls and making friends is the name of the game in Moonbury”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Potion Permit certainly has its own unique charm as you continue shaping the fortunes of Moonbury and its citizens. Unfortunately, it can get fairly monotonous later on.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you like Animal Crossing-style games, you'll definitely like Potion Permit. This title has a unique concept and solid foundations to create real addiction. There is always something to do and it's hard to stop playing. Healing residents, renovating the town, building relationships, and gathering resources are just a few possible activities to do. Believe me, Potion Permit is worth a look!”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bugs present in the game. Characters will glitch in and out of existence while you’re talking with them. Sometimes the whole screen will go black and your character will pop up in a different part of the map when fast travelling. It’s things like this that really stop Potion Permit from reaching its potential, and its charming visuals can only do so much to counter this.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The town of Moonbury is charming with a massive cast of varied and fun characters, and the resource gathering gameplay loop has the usual ability to keep you sucked in for hours, but there's just something there that made me feel like it wasn't scratching the itch as well as it could have. Add to that the various technical issues and the inexcusable crime of not allowing me to romance Helene, and it is difficult to imagine recommending this game to someone before pointing them towards many of the other options popping up around it. Despite all it does well, Potion Permit doesn't quite do enough to stand apart from the crowd.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Potion Permit is a game I can sink my teeth in and play for hours, not realising that it's actually 5am. The days are quick, so it's tough to do everything in one go, but the game also doesn't pressure you to complete things in a timeframe very often. There are annoying bugs that can limit access to side-quests and mini-games, which is disappointing to see. Though with loads of things to do, you never feel that dreaded sense of aimlessness. Potion Permit is a cozy game that makes me excited to get back into it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The streamlined mechanics of Potion Permit have simplified some genre staples to the point where they can feel like a grind. However, this game should still be fun for people motivated to learn more about Moonbury’s inhabitants, the town is a lively place where more than 30 individuals pursue daily routines. They interact with each other and the player in ways that suggest an established community, making it more rewarding when you earn that community’s trust.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Potion Permit is a step forward for the life-sim genre, despite some serious bugs holding it back.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Potion Permit - Latest Patch Version 1.5Nov 13, 2024
- ✨NEW UPDATE LIVE: New Romanceable Characters, Opening Animation & More! 🔮Mar 25, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- v1.3.2 Patch NotesSep 29, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.3 New Dateable Characters, Side Quests and More!Sep 29, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Update - Patch 1.12 & 1.13Jan 26, 2023
- Update - Patch 1.11Jan 5, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Update - Patch 1.1Dec 28, 2022
- Thank you 250.000 Chemists!Dec 14, 2022
- Update - Patch 1.09Nov 21, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Update - 1.08aOct 7, 2022
- Update - Patch 1.08Oct 6, 2022
- Update - Patch 1.07Sep 27, 2022
- 0.83d - Emergency Quick UpdateJun 19, 2022
- 0.83c - Emergency Quick UpdateJun 19, 2022
- 0.83b - Quick Mini UpdateJun 18, 2022
- 0.83a - Mini UpdateJun 14, 2022
- Hotfix 0.512Aug 10, 2021
- Hotfix 0.511Aug 7, 2021