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) | – | 68 | 83 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 75 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 77% | 72 | 591 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 77 | 3 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 8 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 4 up / 0.8 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (87)
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
“Kao the Kangaroo is a fun reboot that should get your attention. The save-system bug aside, Kao the Kangaroo is a simple and fun 3D platformer that anyone can enjoy. Yes, it doesn't provide much of a challenge and once you've played through you will have seen everything on offer. You're not getting the next Mario Odyssey-like game in terms of quality; it's clearly a developer trying to punch higher than it can really go. That said, the game itself is a lot of fun and a refreshingly easy take on the genre. If you're looking for your next easygoing platformer or just something that anyone in the family can enjoy, you should check out Kao the Kangaroo.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Kao the Kangaroo will appeal to children and efficiently guide them through its diverse world with simple combat and puzzles. For a more mature audience, however, the mechanics will be overly primitive, and a closer look at the graphics won't please them either.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Kao the Kangaroo probably won't be remembered as a classic in a few years, but it was worth the experience and is recommended for anyone looking for a good 3D platform game to pass the time while relieving themselves of the routine stress of everyday life.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Kao the Kangaroo is a fun game that revives an old title about a kangaroo who loves to box and collect gold coins. While the story isn’t anything new, the simple mechanics help keep the game engaging and fun to play. It’s clear that the game has no deeper ambitions; rather, it aims to entertain a wide range of players while evoking a sense of nostalgia for older gamers. It certainly succeeds in doing so, because the gameplay is what really draws you in.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Kao the Kangaroo may have been on hiatus for a while, but we're glad to see that he's back in good form. Well-paced level design, an appealing art style, surprisingly satisfying combat, and lots of collectibles to snag all come together to make for a thrillingly retro 3D platforming experience.That said, elements like an occasionally misbehaving camera and performance issues hold this adventure back from being the really excellent revival it could have been. If you still find a lot to love about games like A Hat in Time, Demon Turf, or Banjo-Kazooie, then we're confident that you'll have a great time with Kao the Kangaroo despite its minor issues. If you're a bit tired of such games, however, this isn't going to do much to change your mind. Overall, we'd recommend investigating Kao the Kangaroo if you're the slightest bit interested; despite some rough edges, this is a charming platforming experience.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“While the presentation has some peaks and valleys, the game’s level design, platforming, and combat should surely grant this Kangaroo a seat at the table right next to the bandicoot and purple dragon that clearly inspired it.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Kao's 2022 venture is serviceable and by-the-numbers at best. Its developers have their hearts in the right place in using this 2000s mascot in their new 3D platformer reboot, but this sure isn't even a bronze medal effort if we're being honest.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“I know I’m not the target audience for Kao the Kangaroo, it is clearly aimed at younger players, but there is a fun time to be had. It is a shame that Kao suffers from all of the technical drawbacks. The save states simply don’t work and the graphical slowdowns make the game unplayable. Putting the bugs aside, Kao is an easy-breezy platformer that is fun to play. It might not be the most inspiring platformer out there but it is fun.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“It lacks the real quality and finesse of the top games in the genre, but it’s a bright and breezy affair that squarely falls under the classification of light entertainment.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“While there's no question that the traditional mascot platformers for the most part went the way of the dinosaur quite some time ago, I'll gladly admit that every once in a while it's great to take one for a spin when well-executed...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A great little 3D platformer that does it's best to give players a solid and exciting experience featuring a much more refined and redesigned Kao core experience and story. Kao the Kangaroo should impress with its solid controls and strong visual design - if players can accept the drops in visual quality on Switch then this is a hearty recommendation to all players of such titles.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Kao The Kangaroo is a hard one to sum up, then, because while it definitely feels low-budget, clunky and frustrating at times, it's also a platformer packed with plenty of fun and memorable moments. It feels like the developer went the extra mile to inject some ambition into this game and craft something that deserves a place alongside the behemoths of the genre, even if it can't meet the lofty heights of a Crash Bandicoot or a Super Lucky's Tale. It's nice to see Kao punching above his weight in 2022, and not just being relegated to an easy cash grab.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Quick-Fix: Bend The Roo'les Save IssueMay 23, 2023
- MEGA PATCH - 1.3 + 1.4 Now LiveAug 8, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- An update on Kao the KangarooMay 31, 2022