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) | – | 78 | 68 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 80 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 81 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 23 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 81% | 75 | 22 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 64 reviews sampled · 45 total reviews in window · weighted 37.3 up / 8.5 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (103)
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.
- 75
“SMT3 Nocturne HD is a solid game but a poor remaster. Worth a look if you’re a fan of classic JRPGs or haven’t played it before, but don’t go in expecting all the usual bells and whistles.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shin Megami Tensei III is the best game in the series, but it deserves more than what this remastered version offers in technical department.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Shin Megami Tensei III is still one of the best games from Atlus, and one of the greatest jRPGs. Dark, unforgiving, but unbelievably hard to turn off. And this great journey now available on new platforms thanks to the remastered version.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shin Megami Tensei III HD Remaster is indisputably the best way to play this RPG classic, but it's also rather clear that this nearly two-decade-old game is showing its age. An interesting story, enjoyable combat system, and engaging demon recruitment and fusion mechanics make Shin Megami Tensei III well worth your time, but the dated visuals, poor quality music, and occasionally unforgiving mechanics are hold it back from being excellent. We'd give this a recommendation to both longtime fans and newcomers, but with the caveat that you might want to wait for a sale before snapping this up.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is the return of a top-class game for new generations and old-timers who want to reawaken their inner demons on newer platforms with some quality-of-life enhancements. It’s a revitalized masterwork full of decision-making in which the only right choice is giving it a chance. In addition, it’s a great starting point for those who want to dive into the Megami Tensei series, which will have new entries soon.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Nocturne is a timeless classic that retains undeniable value to this day: narratively and tactically deep, challenging, long-lived and immortal, but this remaster limits itself to the bare minimum without adding anything noteworthy.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“I came away from Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster with mostly positive feelings. There’s a great game here filled with exciting battles, head pumping music, and interesting themes. However, I really wish that there were simply just even more quality of life changes and modern conveniences implemented in the game. It’s fantastic that a new generation of players has better access to this title now. But in many ways, it still feels like it’s stuck in the past.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Between the steep difficulty curve and unconventional story, Shin Megami Tensei III won't appeal to everyone - but those who can stomach strategizing through even random battles while reading between the script's lines will be rewarded with an outstanding RPG. Tokyo's warped state post-Conception leads to a hostile atmosphere that's carried all the way to the credits, and dungeons are elaborately designed and make use of consistently fresh gimmicks. Multiple endings keep the story replayable, with Hard Mode offering series veterans even more challenge. There's nuance to every aspect of gameplay, from the Press Turn battle system to Demon fusion and recruitment. As true in 2021 as it was in 2003, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is nothing short of a must-play RPG.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“This game has been on my “GOAT” list for almost two decades, and revisiting it in 2021 hasn’t changed a thing.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“SMT III remains a great game, but an inflated price tag combined with some dated mechanics might make it a harder sell for some.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Altough this remastered version of Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne is a bit weak in terms of new additions, it's still one of the best in the genre. In my opinion, SMT3 is one of the most well balanced JRPGs in terms of mix of gameplay and story elements. It also offers a great challenge which makes it a bit tough for newcomers, but purists will simply love it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster offers something a bit different here in 2021. By today's standards it's a very hardcore, old school RPG; an adventure that's both unwelcoming and uniquely intriguing, even engrossing once you're invested. But it's also a cult classic that deserves more than this barebones remaster, which does very little to enhance the overall experience, especially for its price tag at release.”
read full review ↗
cublikefoot
GameMAG
3DNews
Nintendo Life
RPGamer
SpaceNerd.it
Gfinity
Cubed3
Prima Games
PC Invasion
Geeks & Com
Push Square…and 91 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Update 11/3/2025 - Security UpdateNov 4, 2025
- Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Version 1.0.1Jul 12, 2021significant · resets scoring window