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) | – | 74 | 74 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 258 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 257 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Dec 18, 2025) · 257 reviews sampled · 247 total reviews in window · weighted 184.4 up / 19.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (37)
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.
- 80
“The Knightling is a delightful surprise in 2025’s action-adventure lineup. It’s not perfect, bugs, difficulty spikes, and limited side content keep it from true greatness, but it more than makes up for those flaws with heart, creativity, and sheer charm. Sliding through Clesseia on a shield, uncovering whimsical details, and gradually growing from trainee to hero is an adventure worth taking. For fans of Zelda-inspired worlds, indie action games, or simply anyone craving a fresh spin on the classic knight’s tale, The Knightling delivers a fun, heartfelt, and memorable journey., ColdMoon”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Like its tiny hero lugging a giant shield, The Knightling carries a lot of promise. Its vibrant platforming and playful worldbuilding shine, but slow combat, pacing stumbles and a drab final act weigh it down. It never quite becomes the legend it wants to be, but it’s still an earnest, endearing adventure worth a look if you’re more into hopping and gliding than hammering foes.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“This game, like any other, has its limitations. That is exactly why it thrives: it has a campaign that can be finished in less than 15 hours, for one, with up to 30 doing side content. It does its best with what it has. It has no bloat at all, and every area is used effectively to throw you a curveball with a quirky side quest, puzzle, or fight. Even the combat that doesn’t have a lock-on button feels snappy once you get used to it. As developer Twirlbound’s sophomore entry, it’s clear where their influences lie, but triumphing beyond a homage is what should be recognized here.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“As a whole, The Knightling is an enjoyable romp. The lighthearted storyline and tone complement an adventure that feels open and engaging at almost every opportunity. The use of a shield as your only weapon and pseudo multitool is novel but very enjoyable, and the presentation is good overall. It needs a little more polish and bug fixing for the game to be considered solid. For adventure fans who are looking for something that doesn't follow the Souls-like trend, The Knightling is worth checking out.”
read full review ↗ - 58
“The Knightling is a touching adventure that is built on exploration, movement, and the bond between a hero and his shield. The environment of the story pushes people to explore at every chance, and the tale strikes a good balance between silly adventures and the mystery of Sir Lionstone’s fate. Shield-surfing and nimble mobility mechanics are two of the most fun ways to go about in recent memory.”
read full review ↗ - 53
“The Knightling has its charming moments and gives the impression of a world brimming with potential, but it fails to fully realize it due to clumsy combat, repetitive challenges, and disorganized design.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Knightling is a lovely open world adventure game that stands out from the crowd with its focus on shield-based combat and traversal.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Knightling has some great ideas and its story is certainly the game's best element. But, the unresponsive combat is the game's biggest failing, and makes encounters more about survival than achieving victory. Twirlbound could convert this into a fantastic series with some improved combat and a more unique visual approach to give the game a stronger identity.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The Knightling is a wholesome and beautiful action platformer that hearkens back to the PlayStation 2 era. Great humour, amazing movement controls, and fun combat make this a title you won't want to miss, though there is still room for a few QoL updates and patches.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“The Knightling is an example of how one frustrating issue can drag an entire work down with it. There’s plenty to like here, from its charming world and narrative, to its whimsical music. However all of this and the bulk of its mechanical and game design offerings are dragged down by input delay issues and poor optimization making for a disappointing experience. Despite this, with an apt amount of polish, I believe The Knightling could one day be an easier recommendation.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Knightling is one of the most characterful adventures of the year, with Twirlbound crafting a large, bright, engaging fantasy world, and giving you the tools to truly enjoy it. You won't regret picking this one up.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Knightling has the potential to be a fantastic indie game, but it's like a knight without a helmet: the basics are there, but without the essential elements it's hopeless. Add to that a mediocre combat system that is not at all challenging, framedrops and a lifeless world, and you have a mediocre indie game that is full of potential. This is a real shame, especially since you can tell from the outset that this game just doesn't quite make it. Developer Twirlbound has already fallen short with their first game, Pine, which was far too ambitious. Hopefully they will use the basis of The Knightling to create a world worthy of the name of knight in a future, third game. Third time lucky, Twirlbound!”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
Wolf's Gaming Blog
Pixel Byte
Worth Playing
GamesCreed
HCL.hr
GameLuster
Analog Stick Gaming
GameGrin
Gamer Social Club
TheSixthAxis
Pragalicious…and 25 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Three - Patch NotesDec 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Knightling - Security HotfixOct 15, 2025
- Patch Two - Patch NotesSep 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch One - Patch NotesSep 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- What's next for The Knightling!Sep 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Knightling - Pre-Launch Trailer and Development UpdateAug 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Knightling Demo - Performance PatchFeb 28, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Knightling Demo - February 25, 2025 Patch NotesFeb 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window