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 (Metacritic) | – | – | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 90 | 330 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 0.3 up / 0 down · computed 7h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (8)
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
“There’s something weirdly wonderful about Pulling No Punches, though. Its four chapters comprise just over an hour end-to-end, but there’s so much to see that one can’t help but be absorbed by it. Whether the awesome character designs, the blazing f-bombs, the untranslated onomatopoeia of its fisticuffs, or the divisive theme itself, Pulling No Punches is not only a competent scrolling beat 'em up, but has a power of intrigue like few others. Frankly, we’re not sure Nintendo’s board of approval paid much attention to it, and in a world littered with a host of sanitised indie retro-themed games, its daring, politicised demeanour is a breath of fresh air.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“While it absolutely punches a bit beyond its budget-priced class, and has a fresh feel, the very political leaning it has could be troublesome”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Pulling no Punches is a simple and affordable 2D fighting game, well made and cheap.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Pulling No Punches is certainly a parody, but it’s a raw, furious parody that does exactly what the title says. Scratching past that, there’s a competent four-stage beat-em-up here that will give you a couple of hours of fun, even if it starts to wear one down before it ends. The art style and premise are going to repel as many as they attract, but if nothing else I appreciate that the developers made the game they wanted to make without compromising.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Pulling No Punches is a very hard sell unless you fall into its specific target audience: fed-up Brazilians who had to deal with a stupidly stressful couple of years during the pandemic. If you fall into this niche demographic, this is the catharsis you’ve been waiting for. If not, you can still have fun with its good controls and decent art style, but the in-game jokes and overall premise will mean nothing to you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Honestly, I had no idea what to expect from Pulling No Punches. I’ve played a lot of beat ’em ups, and in recent years very few have made an impression. But this one absolutely did. While the game’s themes and the narrative’s brash nature may offend some, I find the game a breath of fresh air. It combines a unique visual style with dynamic combat, amazing bosses, and plenty of reasons to keep playing, especially with a group of friends. If this is the first project from BrainDead Broccoli, I’m eager to see what their encore presentation might be.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Pulling no Punches may not be an outstanding title in its genre, and it may not be releasing on Switch at the most relevant moment for the message it wants to share, but that doesn't make it less important to share it. After all, we're a little over a month from the announcement of the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; that is, we aren't even close to be rid of the consequences of that nightmare, especially those in the long term.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Punhos de Repúdio is a simple beat 'em up and has a short campaign, offering beautiful hand-drawn arts and fluid animations. The game mechanics, while simple, are really fun, highlighted by the importance of using defense at the right timing, unlike most games in the genre, which focus entirely on offense. The Brazilian game is a satire that doesn't mince its efforts with gore content and improper language but, if that doesn't bother you, and you don't feel offended by it, it will give you a mechanically fun brawler game and a funny portrait of a fictional but familiar environment like the current Brazilian society.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
CrazyGameCommunity.it
WayTooManyGames
Hey Poor Player
Nintendo Blast
GameBlastPatch history
- Patch 1.07 - General FixesApr 5, 2023
- Patch 1.06 - General FixesOct 10, 2022
- Patch 1.05 - General FixesSep 5, 2022
- Patch 1.03 - Achievements FixAug 13, 2022significant · resets scoring window