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) | – | 77 | 19 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 79% | 74 | 37 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 89% | 83 | 7 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 9, 2026) · 7 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 2.3 up / 0.3 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (13)
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
“Elsie has few original ideas to call its own, instead relying on tried-and-tested roguelike mechanics as a foundation for its excellent Mega Man X-inspired gameplay. This is a fast and fluid experience bolstered by wonderful visuals and a killer soundtrack. A few minor performance issues do dampen the experience slightly, while we found the parry mechanic to be a bit, well, off, but these issues aside, Elsie is a remarkable achievement that will get its claws into you quickly and won't let go.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“You can see the effort to make this mix of side-scrolling action and roguelike elements work, but it struggles in spots”
read full review ↗ - 78
“I believe Elsie is a good choice, especially if you're someone who's curious to see how the genre works or, perhaps, what a Mega Man take would be like within that format.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“While a few aspects of Elsie don’t quite succeed, the Mega Man X influenced gameplay certainly does. The combat loop of improving your stats and swapping out abilities in a run does a lot to shake up one run from the next. However, the limited scope of its environmental layouts needs work. The biomes are colorful and vibrant, and all look incredible, but the repeated tilesets and transition zones appear far too frequent causing extreme repetition to play out, especially as it can take a while to start to unlock more of the story and see more of what the game is capable of. Elsie has an interesting hook, taking the pixel platformer down the roguelite road; however, with few stops on the way that makes it memorable, or even original, it’s one journey that can unfortunately run out of gas far too soon.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Roguelike diehards will feel right at home in the cyberpunk world of Elsie. Gamers seeking a straightforward platforming experience might find the roguelike mechanics convoluted and confusing with its messy UI. When you have the right upgrades at your disposal and the action is firing on all cylinders, Elsie is hard to put down. However, it feels like a chore to reach that point within every new run.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Elsie is an excellent action roguelike that deserves the attention of any fan of the genre. Its tight controls, flexible gameplay mechanics, and addictive progression system make for a highly enjoyable experience. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it executes its familiar formula with enough polish and flair to keep players engaged. The game’s only real drawback is its adherence to the well-trodden path of the action roguelike genre. If you’ve already played your fair share of these games, Elsie might not offer anything new enough to rekindle your enthusiasm. However, if you’re still hungry for more roguelike action, or if this is your first time exploring the genre, Elsie is well worth your time.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Despite its steep learning curve and occasional forced endings, Elsie is a fast, frenetic and fun roguelike with plenty of ways to change up your runs. It'll have you running and gunning for hours on end, leaving you eager to jump in for yet another run. If roguelikes are your thing, Elsie is well worth its bargain price.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Elsie is by far the best rougelite I’ve played this year and a great way to kill time until the next Hades II major update. Being Hispanic and seeing the small nods of representation was comforting to me. Honestly this game shows even small things can make all the difference with inclusivity and representation. Such as the Forge being called the Candero (which means candlestick in Spanish), this had me laughing because of the difference in fire power between the two. I really hope Knight Shift Games creates a sequel or bring their experience from Elsie into their next title.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Elsie is an interesting homage to the classic action and platform games of the 90s. However, the lack of balance in some of its mechanics and challenges to keep the player motivated after the conclusion of the campaign make it just another roguelite in a market already full of options.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“A well-crafted roguelike, packed with upgrade options that keep the pace from ever slowing down. Players can expect moments where their reflexes and the lessons learned throughout the journey will be thoroughly tested, along with a satisfying progression that keeps us invested in both the story and Elsie's evolution. ”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Nothing in Elsie makes it seem very original. It’s borrowing heavily from games that are decades-old without putting any real spin on any of it. If you just miss Mega Man and want a slightly more modern take on that game, you’ll get that here, but you won’t see anything new.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Elsie doesn't do a great deal new, but it is a great way to blast away a few hours in a world that looks and sounds beautiful.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Pizza Fria
Analog Stick Gaming
Retrolike.net
LadiesGamers.com
GameSpew
Thumb Culture
PSX Brasil
MeuPlayStation
Gaming Age
God is a Geek…and 1 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Elsie Patch Updates - July '26Jul 1, 2026
- Elsie Patch UpdateMay 15, 2026
- Our Biggest Update Yet!Mar 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Elsie v1.1.2! Patch rolling out now!Nov 22, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Elsie | Dev Team UpdateOct 9, 2024
- Elsie - Small patch rolling out now!Sep 20, 2024significant · resets scoring window