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) | – | 81 | 24 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 245 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 89 | 247 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.2, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 489 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 27, 2025) · 247 reviews sampled · 195 total reviews in window · weighted 155.4 up / 9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (12)
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
“Spindle is a satisfactory Zelda-like, in the final analysis. It tackles difficult topics with grace and empathy, features multiple engaging boss battles, introduces several atypical tools to solve puzzles and outmaneuver enemies, and provides rewarding content even after the credits have rolled.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“Undeniably pleasant, silly, attractive, and approachable”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Spindle is a delightful little action‑adventure that wears its retro influences proudly while layering in thoughtful narrative, expressive characters, and a surprisingly weighty theme about death and what comes after. The controls are responsive, and the visuals are quite nice to behold. If you’re a fan of top‑down 2D adventures, keen on something both light and meaningful, this is a worthwhile play. If you crave groundbreaking mechanics or very long playtimes, you may find it a bit short and familiar, but there are hidden trinkets to find and side quests to help pad your play time if you want to go for the completionist route.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Spindle surprised me in the best way. It’s a love letter to the golden era of top-down adventures, but adds enough personality and heart to stand out on its own. The gameplay feels tight and satisfying, the story balances emotion with wit, and the art direction is full of small but memorable flourishes. If I had to nitpick, some of the puzzles can occasionally feel a bit too simple, and the structure may feel familiar to veterans of the genre. But those are minor points in an otherwise excellent adventure. Whether you’re a fan of Zelda-like games or just want something that makes you smile while tugging gently on your heartstrings, Spindle is a trip worth taking, scythe, pig, and all.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Spindle is not only a great indie game, but also a successful example of careful and intelligent design in the Zelda-like style. If you're looking for an experience that's fun, challenging, beautiful, and cohesive, Spindle is a must-have. The game's various components, from combat and puzzles to exploration and narrative, combine to create a satisfying experience. It's the kind of experience that will leave you not only feeling accomplished after finishing the game, but eager to return to the world of Spindle again and again.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Spindle has heart in a bare ribcage, and it beats for the player as well as the NPCs. Take a chance, breath deeply, and remember: you’re already dead. You’ve got all the time in the world.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Spindle is a fun action RPG, which will keep you entertained for a weekend or a few days. The story is refreshing and meaningful, which ultimately elevates it above being labelled as ‘just another Zelda-like’.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Spindle surprised me. Beneath its gloomy opening and talk of lost souls lies a story about connection, empathy, and the strange comfort of knowing your place in the world. It’s a little clunky in places, the controls are weird, and the combat could use a touch more energy, but none of that overshadows what it gets right.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Spindle from developer Let’s GameDev and publisher Deck 13 is a marvelous action-RPG adventure that hits all the right notes when it comes to action, puzzles, and payoff. It’s incredibly balanced with all three, which makes it feel like you don’t waste a minute playing it.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Fun action adventure in which you'll work on guiding the souls of those trying to cross over”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Spindle delivers a poetic pixel-art journey where Death and a loyal pig face a world that refuses to die. Its melancholic beauty, heartfelt storytelling, and charming design make it an indie gem.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Old-school Zelda fans will find a lot to love about Spindle so if those kinds of games appeal to you then definitely play it, chum. 💀”
read full review ↗
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
LadiesGamers.com
Gamefa
WayTooManyGames
Switchaboo
Screen Hype
Digital Chumps
PS4Blog.net
Console-Tribe
Video ChumsPatch history
- Update 1.1.1 (January 5)Jan 5, 2026
- Patch 1.0.5 is now available!Oct 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.4 is available now!Oct 17, 2025
- Another Gamescom, another demo update 🐷💀🖤Aug 19, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Spindle @ Gamescom 2023 & Demo UpdateAug 23, 2023
- Spindle Developer Stream & Demo Update #2Aug 26, 2021