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 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 88 | 790 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 87% | 81 | 7 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 20 reviews sampled · 19 total reviews in window · weighted 11.9 up / 1.7 down · computed 6h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (27)
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
“If you've played it before, you will already know if you want to play it again or not. But if you're new to Shadow Man, give it a go, as a visit to Deadside is one worth taking.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Nightdive has released a good remaster far from being a perfect game. However, despite some shortcomings, it is still worth trying both those who missed projects like Soul Reaver, and those who have not even heard of them. If it catches on, it won't fall behind.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shadow Man has never been a masterpiece, but it is a clear labour of love with plenty to offer those willing to endure its more aged mechanics and structural curiosities. We can only hope that plenty will have the patience to do so.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Bringing back games for another run on modern consoles has always tended to be a mixed bag...”
read full review ↗ - 50
“What is Shadow Man Remastered? It's a great remaster, of a not so great game. A tedious collect-a-thon wrapped in fancy horror-themed paper. It isn't really that fun, and not just because of its age, as, in all honesty, it wasn't that enjoyable to begin with. Despite being quite the sleeper hit of its era, it's an action-adventure whose overstretched length, and aggravatingly labyrinthine structure won't be appreciated by everyone, especially modern gamers. If still curious to try Shadow Man out, do purchase Nightdive's version, though, as it is undoubtedly the definite one.”
read full review ↗ - 86
“I loved nearly every second of Shadow Man; its levels were fun to explore and the visuals looked quite stunning for a remaster! Despite the easy combat, backtracking and acceptable voice acting, Shadow Man was still a blast to go through! If you like old-school games that make you explore levels and find collectibles, this’ll for sure be something you’d really like!”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Still, I'm happy that Night Dive didn't try to fix the game for a modern audience. This is game preservation as it should be-keep the wrinkles, warts, and missteps; add cut content wherever possible (as it informs the game's original intent); let strengths of the original games speak for themselves. Shadow Man is not a great game in 2021, but in 1999, it was ambitious and inventive, and being able to experience this game as it was meant to be released and played is valuable and enjoyable.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“And while the story wasn’t the best, it was entertaining and that’s all I require from my media. Also, it should be noted that the controls have been updated from their old school versions which is a plus, all and all if you are looking for a creepy action adventure game with a cool main character (who is a brotha!!) and some interesting otherworldly mechanics then you should give Shadow Man Remastered a whirl.. or do it so we get a proper current gen sequel.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“He is back trailing evil from Liveside to Deadside. To stop an apocalypse. With new improvements and 3 new levels he is still efficient.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Shadow Man Remastered is another great port from the fine folks over at Nightdive Studios. Visual improvements have made the game more atmospheric while a plethora of gameplay improvements and content additions have made for a more enjoyable time. Its 1999 roots still show but old-school fans of the game and newcomers should find enjoyment in this.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shadow Man Remastered today is a bit of an acquired taste. Some may not be able to make their way through such an intensely convoluted world with terrible threats. Others may relish this cryptic descent into the underworld. Regardless, Shadow Man Remastered is undeniably a very impressive remastering, no matter how one feels about the game.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Shadow Man Remastered infuriates as often as it delights, but it's a solid experience, and Nightdive has done an excellent job preserving it.”
read full review ↗
TheReviewGeek
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NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
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ThisGenGaming
Niche Gamer
TechRaptor…and 15 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch V1.5 is available now!Nov 30, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- V1.5 BETA is now available to downloadJun 22, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch V1.4 is available now!Jan 13, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch V1.31 is available now!Jun 19, 2021
- Patch V1.3 is available now!Jun 16, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch V1.2 is available now!Jun 1, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch V1.11 is available now!May 7, 2021significant · resets scoring window