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) | – | 73 | 46 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 77 | 755 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 74 | 23 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 93% | 87 | 3 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 7 reviews sampled · 8 total reviews in window · weighted 5.9 up / 0.5 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (52)
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
“Moonscars is a dark and punchy 2D action adventure that tweaks the Soulslike formula just enough to make it worth jumping into yet another entry in this most overstuffed of genres. The combat here is super slick stuff that's meticulously animated through the game's exquisite pixel art style, there are a ton of cool skills and weapons to get your hands on, and the world and its enemies are thoroughly well-designed. It's a shame, then, that this Switch port currently suffers from fairly consistent frame rate issues, because beyond a few difficulty issues here and there, it's pretty hard to find fault with what Black Mermaid has served up. Let's hope this one gets a performance patch for those stutters.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Despite how pretty it animates and how unique it looks, [Moonscars] punishing gameplay isn't for everyone.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ultimately a failure to stick in the imagination is my main criticism of Moonscars. Had this game come out a few years earlier I would almost certainly be more favourable to it, but as it stands it feels a little too familiar to other games I’ve played extensively, and with not quite enough going for it to make it shine. It’s a blast to play, and the combat feels great, but when there are so many other games with that and great character, and great story, and great world-building, so there’s just not quite enough to drag me back in.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“While it has visual flair, challenging combat mixed with not-so-great mechanics make it “Souls-like” in more ways than one”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Moonscars falls just short of greatness the same way Grey Irma occasionally falls just short of platforms she can definitely reach, but where it shines, it shines like a full moon. A rich, original story accompanies solid platforming and technical combat like that of the Souls games, all of it placed within a huge, sprawling map packed with traps, secrets, and goodies to find. Seemingly complex systems like customisable special attacks, blood moons that make enemies stronger, and having to trek back to a place Grey Irma fell to get precious bone dust back all work together smoothly, and while it can be unclear what the player is supposed to do or where they’re supposed to go, the developers have made sure they’re going to have fun figuring it out.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Tough as nails and unforgiving, but with an incredibly fun & engaging gameplay loop that always dares you to try "just one more time".”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Moonscars has a lot of promising ideas. Unfortunately, the threadbare plot, questionable level design, and odd execution of mechanics hold it back.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“With better game design choices and no hard crashes, Moonscars would be a great addition to the 2D Soulstroidvania genre. It’s hard to enjoy the bleak aesthetics and the rich lore of the world when the game doesn’t let you finish it however. The combat is fresh yet familiar but every mechanic outside of that isn’t really needed. But this may be one to perserve with, if you need that Souls itch scratched.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“If the difficulty didn't go up every time I died or I could activate checkpoints without having to fight a clone afterwards, it might be a different story, but I don't appreciate being punished for doing inevitable things (dying, saving). Did you find Hollow Knight and Blasphemous too easy? If so, Moonscars may give you the challenge you crave. For the rest of us? It has limited utility.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Moonscars is a great soulslike for those willing to deal with the steep difficulty spike of the last two levels, but it will undoubtedly fall very short for those that don't already like the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Despite taking clear inspiration from other prominent Soulslike and Metroidvania titles, Moonscars does enough with its unique art direction and gameplay features to stand out from an increasingly populated crowd. Although its lore and plot could have stood to be more clearly communicated, and not all of its additional mechanics feel as enjoyable as the core combat and exploration, Moonscars' visceral gameplay and gorgeous visuals make it worthwhile to check out for Soulslike fans seeking a new challenge.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Moonscars offers an engaging level of challenge, however it suffers from a few unfortunate bugs and questionable design decisions.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Moonscars - v1.6 Update AnnouncementJun 20, 2023
- Moonscars - v1.5.004 Update AnnouncementApr 3, 2023
- Moonscars - v1.4.007 Update AnnouncementNov 11, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Moonscars - v1.3.002 Update AnnouncementOct 4, 2022significant · resets scoring window