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Strangeland

Strangeland

Wormwood Studios · released May 25, 2021

Adventure

You wake in a surreal carnival, where a woman cries out to you before leaping to her death. Can either of you be saved? The denizens and devices of Strangeland answer with riddles, puzzles, and warnings of a Dark Thing lurking at the park’s peak. A new adventure from the creators of Primordia.

85
VGC Score
·No trend datahigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Happy New Year!” (1y ago)

86%
At launch
93%
Steam all-time
72%
Press
91%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)728
All-time Steam reviews93%87488
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)91%85140
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jan 6, 2025) · 140 reviews sampled · 116 total reviews in window · weighted 62.8 up / 6.3 down · computed 7h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (11)

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
    trust 78Jul 12, 2021

    Even with great visuals, interesting characters, and engaging plot, by the end Strangeland sadly loses all of its momentum, presenting itself with a really lackluster final act. But given how rare those types of games are, new project from Wormwood Studios is still worth your attention.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 70Aug 19, 2021

    Moody, thought provoking, and chillingly beautiful at times, Strangeland, is a bizarre take on the point-and-click genre that will stick with players long after the credits roll. The story itself is dense with a script layered in symbolism, but never so obtuse where the uninformed can't get by. Thematically, much of the plot centres around the self - self-acceptance, self-doubt, self-destruction, and self-actualization - along with the pursuit of identity. Puzzles lean into the hostile aesthetic to provide a fair degree of challenge, while hints are always available. It all makes for a well-paced, well realized journey that doesn't outstay its welcome. Strangeland is a short adventure, but one of the finest entries in the genre.

    read full review ↗
  • 65
    trust 66Jun 22, 2021

    Amusing visual style and characters, but story is too short.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 64May 26, 2021

    Strangeland is a successful spiritual successor to Primordia, but not even the strong art style or the impressive surreal atmosphere were enough for the game to rank among AGS's best.

    read full review ↗
  • 69
    trust 64May 28, 2021

    The narrative is strong and dark, but the game beneath it struggles to keep up.

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    trust 63May 25, 2021

    Strangeland is an interesting foray by Wormwood Studios into the more artistic side of gaming, but will leave many feeling unfulfilled.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 61Jun 3, 2021

    Despite its shortcomings or 'could be better' parts, Strangeland is definitely an adventure game that should be played. Strangeland is the right choice if you're looking for a dark and grim adventure game full of disturbing content. However, it must be said that it's one step behind Primordia in general.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 61May 25, 2021

    Whether or not you find the destination satisfactory, Strangeland’s journey is a joy. It dips into the grotesque without getting too in-your-face, and despite some downbeat and occasionally distressing themes, it’s uplifting in all the right places.

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  • 83
    trust 57Mar 27, 2020

    I really enjoyed playing through Strangeland, and having left a few puzzles unturned and wanting to hear the rest of the commentary, I might circle back one more time. And while I can’t put this game in the upper echelon of adventure games I have had the pleasure to play through over the years, it nevertheless is great, and I’m happy to recommend it.

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  • 60
    trust 56Jun 2, 2021

    Strangeland’s cosmic horror take on grief and mental illness creates a compelling story world, despite its flaws.

    read full review ↗
  • 88
    trust 53May 25, 2021

    Pulsating horrors and puzzling wordplay abound in the place you know as Strangeland. Explore a decaying world filled with bizarre residents and solve supernatural puzzles in this point-and-click adventure. Will you find your way out of this otherworldly prison - or will you fall to the call of the void?

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Patch history