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) | – | 70 | 24 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 92 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 74% | 70 | 409 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 29% | 37 | 3 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 8 reviews sampled · 6 total reviews in window · weighted 1.6 up / 3.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (22)
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.
- 65
“Elderand offers what you expect from a metroidvania. It is an addition to the genre offering no more or less of a solid experience.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Elderand is another solid entry in the Metroidvania genre, though it doesn't push any new boundaries where gameplay is concerned. It does manage to stand out somewhat thanks to its strong enemy design and worldbuilding, as well as a good soundtrack. For a debut game, it's impressive to see something as well realised as this, but there's precious little here you haven't seen elsewhere in this crowded genre. Perhaps it needs a second entry to fully live up to its potential.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“The luscious pixel art and Metroidvania flow of Elderand give it appeal, just be ready for a pretty brutal challenge”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Elderand is the definition of disappointing. There's no big flaw to point at, apart from the fact that it is extremely afraid to do… well, anything apart from the basics. The result is something that looks good, sounds good, and feels good, but never really manages to be more than 'okay.' It's a well-crafted 'okay,' with nothing to show that could separate it from the rest of its competitors, old or new.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“It lacks ambition and doesn't have much to differentiate it from its peers, but the design is so solid and the world is fun enough to explore that there's certainly a good time to be had in Elderand.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Elderand is a game full of mystery, monsters, exploration, and gore. With so much to see this title is sure to keep you busy for a long time. I just wish you were able to make spots on the map so you knew specific locations to come back to once you get new abilities.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Elderand is a worthy addition to the wider Metroidvania genre and offers plenty of bang for your buck. It takes clear inspiration from the best of Castlevania and marries it to challenging combat. That being said, there isn't anything particularly new here, and there is a lack of consistency across the level design. The result is a solid indie game offering plenty for genre fans.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Elderand is, for better and worse, a fairly by-the-numbers Metroidvania. It does nothing exceptional, but it rarely slips up badly either.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“A focus on simplicity yet satisfying combat and exploration along with a beautiful yet haunting Lovecraftian world pushes Elderand into must play territory, even if it's familiar in the genre. A must have for those of the Castlevania RPG DS/GBA era.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“So treat it as such. I don’t think there’s anything horrifically bad about the game, but there’s nothing here that’ll make me fire it back up in a year or so. If you want an entertaining action metroidvania, and you have already ticked some other boxes, come and pick up this interesting yet forgettable journey. Otherwise, you may need to hire a totally different mercenary to do the job.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“If you’re looking to lose yourself purely in Metroidvania battling, Elderand has got you covered. Absorbing and enjoyable, it will certainly slake your thirst for skill-based, challenging combat and varied foes”
read full review ↗ - 68
“At the end of the day, Elderand feels more like a game you play in between big releases or to scratch a certain itch, more than a title you might get excited to play. The individual flaws of the game might not be absolute dealbreakers, but they undoubtedly muddy the waters and noticeably drag down the experience. A sale is the only time I would recommend people try out Elderand, but with genre giants like Hollow Knight and Ori and The Will of the Wisps all at a similar price point, Elderand remains a hard sell.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Patch 1.3.4 is LIVEApr 28, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- The First Patch is LIVEMar 10, 2023significant · resets scoring window