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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) | – | 84 | 9 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 95 |
| 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) · 2 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 1.1 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (11)
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.
- 69
“I tend to be up and down on more heavily narratively-focused titles, probably disliking them more often than loving them, but there have been some stand-out exceptions...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A pseudo-sequel that’s worth inserting a coin for, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers takes the premise of the original and builds upon it in some imaginative ways. With a diverse and interesting cast, most of which you can romance should you choose, as well as some astute commentary on the state of modern day gaming culture, it’s a smart and engrossing title.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Overall, though, the good far outweighs the bad. Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers does a great job of living up to its predecessor, offering a story and cast of characters almost as engaging and lovable. Whether or not you’ve played the first game, this is a worthwhile visual novel for anyone who loves the arcade scene and wants to get engrossed in a narrative enriched with gaming culture.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is a solid addition to any visual novel fan's lineup!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is a fantastic visual novel. With interesting characters, a vast amount of choices, and wonderful aesthetics, it's a great read. You'll love how the relationships evolve and the freedom to fall in love. What's more, the arcade setting is geeky, fun, and unusual.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Despite the occasional clashes in tone, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers does a good job of showing how to manage a group of strong personalities. The humour's not my cup of tea with a heavy reliance on references but there's enough minutia from the dating to keep someone interested. The presentation is colourful and, whilst some characters can be somewhat cartoonish, the voice acting gives them plenty of life.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A light-hearted visual novel with a touch of bizarre humor and a cast of dangerously charismatic characters, it carries a message that many people need to hear.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“With its diverse characters, engaging plot and wonderful video game filled world, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is an exceptional visual novel that everyone needs to experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A welcoming visual novel for genre fans and newbies alike. While it retreads a similar path to its predecessor, the heartfelt writing is worth the price of admission. [Issue#16, p.148]”
- –
“The cast all have their unique struggles, and the story is all about building your friendships up, showing them that they are worthy of love and compassion, and providing support. Fans of the first game will find it just as endearing, but even if you haven’t played the first game, The New Challengers stands on its own and is worth your time.”
read full review ↗ - –
“Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is a very good game and an excellent stand-alone sequel to the original. It features a solid cast of characters and plenty of pizza bagel-related facts mixed in, but the thing that I found most exciting was the way the writing had evolved since the first one. This is an ambitious game, with a narrative design that takes risks at almost every corner. Once again, I find myself excited by both the world and the story on offer from the developers at Fiction Factory Games.”
read full review ↗
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- 1.5 Update: In Case You Missed It!Jun 30, 2022
- Important 1.5 Update: Please Read!Jun 28, 2022