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) | – | 70 | 38 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 67% | 65 | 232 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 72% | 68 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 5 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 2.8 up / 1.1 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (39)
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.
- 60
“Perhaps the game should have stayed in the early access format as long as possible, rather than rushing to release in the Xbox Game Pass collection. Probably, after a year of patches it will be a completely different game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Loot River started as a ruthless game that almost begs you not to play it, but in a few days, most of the problems have been fixed, and more patches are on their way. Now the game is in a state where we would not hesitate to recommend it. Now shifting the blocks and combat offer a challenge for everyone willing to accept it, and we believe that most players who enjoy the rogue-lite genre will enjoy this game.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Moving blocks and traversing pixelated waters of Loot River is fun, and I hope the developers will show the game’s full potential in the future. But right now, they need to fix it and make the gameplay more diverse.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Loot River‘s mileage will vary, with refreshing timing-based combat it can feel like a fun distraction or a listless drift down the river.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Loot River is a heckuva fun time if you don’t mind squinting your eyes every once in a while to see your player character doing his action RPG thing. The concept of moving platforms you’re on with the right analog stick while simultaneously attacking enemies on-screen, adjusting your positioning or even hightailing it when the action gets too hot, is overall exhilarating.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Loot River is not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination; it, like many new IP’s just needs some tweaking to iron out some of its technical issues and I have no doubt that with its truly unique blend of traditional roguelikes with a dash of a block puzzler, that Loot River will quickly carve out a place for it on the ever-growing roguelike mountain.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Puzzle element infused in action rogue-like genre stimulates the interest in many ways. The level design built on the core system such as manipulating Tetris-like scaffolds was also okay. However, the game gets dull pretty quick except for the puzzles because the only differentiator is just stepping stones.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Loot River is certainly a roguelike unafraid to explore new waters, but what it lacks is a refined loop. Constantly repeating the run, even in different dungeons, isn’t an easy concept to float. However, the game’s unique movement mechanics and visuals do a lot of work to sell the experience. If you’re looking for a roguelike that’s going to punish you, then check this one out, but try not to be too shocked when you realise there are no life jackets provided.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“You know that moment in a good roguelite where you've overextended yourself, but you've also won riches that you don't want to lose before you can bank them? This is what Loot River is built for, ultimately: I race around the world, dashing from one tile to another, breaking off from a little continent, an archipelago of burning wood and then searching, searching for the level's exit as I eye my tiny health gauge with fear. A procedural dungeon-crawler where you can rescramble the once-scrambled levels? Gary Chang would be proud.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Loot River from Slovakia is proof that the souls genre can still be refreshed with something new and unconventional. This time in combination with Tetris and rougelite elements.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Loot River has addictive gameplay and you'll want to play it again. However, there isn't much story, which is a shame for the interesting world I found myself in.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Unless you’re someone who really enjoys roguelikes as a genre. Then this would be something you could spend a weekend on. Otherwise if you’re only a more casual fan of the style of game, then look at the one that reach a higher standard.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
INDIANTVCZ
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer
Kakuchopurei
ZTGD
INVEN
Checkpoint Gaming
Eurogamer
SECTOR.sk
GameGrin
Niche Gamer…and 27 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Loot River Level EditorDec 19, 2023
- Loot River Development Update!Dec 14, 2022
- 1.1.01Oct 12, 2022
- 1.0.998Oct 10, 2022
- Daily Runs Update!Aug 29, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.94 - New Stuff!Jul 29, 2022
- We added leaderboards!Jun 23, 2022
- 1.0.8 - Leaderboards!Jun 19, 2022
- New Features, Corpse Runs & Very Positive!Jun 10, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.75 - Corpse Runs!Jun 10, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- We fixed some things and we’re not stopping!May 20, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.67May 17, 2022
- 1.0.66May 16, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.65May 13, 2022
- 1.0.64May 12, 2022
- 1.0.63May 11, 2022
- We messed up - but we’re fixing thingsMay 10, 2022
- 1.0.62May 10, 2022
- 1.0.6May 6, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.54May 4, 2022
- Occasional enemy immortalityMay 4, 2022
- 1.0.53May 4, 2022