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) | – | 72 | 27 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 60 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 76% | 71 | 6 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 16 reviews sampled · 15 total reviews in window · weighted 4.8 up / 1.5 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (33)
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
“Hoa is a spirited adventure with a relaxing atmosphere. While I wish it were longer for its launch price (with optional challenges), I'm confident I'll replay it. The desirable aesthetics combined with goal-driven gameplay are too enjoyable a combination. Did this puzzle platformer go unnoticed by you this summer? It's never too late to give it the attention it deserves.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Young players still green to the simple story ideas and to platforming fundamentals will find absolute magic in Hoa. The orchestral score and hand-painted backdrops have the power to whisk imaginations away like nothing else. The tried-and-true design of a modern platform game, while unsurprising to seasoned players, will delight budding gamers getting to know the genre. Apart from its closing stage, Hoa is a paint-by-numbers platformer, and the painting is exceptional, even if everything stays carefully inside the lines.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“Ah, the struggle to properly evaluate games that aren't really made for you personally as the target audience...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Hoa is a lovely little game that pretty much anyone of any age can enjoy. It's not trying to do something new, but rather whisk you off on a short, beautiful adventure full of positivity.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Hoa could be the perfect fit, not to mention an excellent way of building admiration for the dying world around us.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Did I enjoy the game? I did. Do I want to play it again? Maybe; only for the settings and the soundtrack. And the question that leaves me reticent is this: Hoa would offer pretty much the same as a movie as it does as a game. The puzzles are minimal, the paths are linear, and the "game" component surrounding the narrative is basic. In practice, it is the art that saves Hoa. Still, for the beautiful journey it has to offer, I can't say I wouldn't recommend it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Hoa is one of the only games I’ve recently played where my 70-year-old, non-gamer dad felt comfortable enough to play. It’s because of its simplicity and how approachable it is that makes Hoa the kind of game that anyone can enjoy and feel the calmness wash over them. The platforming can be a little clunky and the game may not challenge seasoned gamers. Although Hoa definitely brings the wholesome content we need right now, a simple story about a little fairy that just wants peace in this crazy world we live in.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“Hoa is a lovely little game which is not trying to do something new or even slightly challenging but actually is very delightful for a nice evening on your couch that can whisk you off on a beautiful adventure full of relaxing vibes.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Despite a non-existent and samey plot, Hoa offers a great, beautiful experience with tiny details that engulfed me into its world.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Hoa is beautiful, but too serene for its own good.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“I love this game. I love it so much that I just finished it and I can’t wait to play it again. There is nothing about this game that I would change, and I am honoured to have been able to not only play this amazing story but also to have reviewed it. This title absolutely earned its two thumbs up.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“If the last levels are more daring in terms of mechanisms and staging, even if it means going beyond the framework (theoretically dedicated to youth), they still arouse a feeling of déjà vu. In just two hours, this form of playful video anime therefore gives the impression of simply reciting its score, yet passionate, for lack of carrying a truly original idea. Hoa, which means flower in Vietnamese, fades quickly, but is still a beautiful tribute to his inspirations.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
Squared Potato
Checkpoint Gaming
Bazimag
GameGrin
Easy Allies
LadiesGamers.com
Gameblog…and 21 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Level Select, Window Mode & Bug Fixes!Oct 12, 2021
- 10 New Languages Set for Launch!Jun 18, 2021