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) | – | 79 | 41 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 81% | 75 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 73 | 15 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 78 | 9 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 27 reviews sampled · 20 total reviews in window · weighted 16.6 up / 3 down · computed 5h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (40)
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
“Blacktail is a rich and atmospheric piece that can be very enjoyable to any who can enjoy slavic folklore.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Blacktail consists of well-known ingredients. But this brew has its own taste, and it is pretty good.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The game is in pre-alpha, but even so, it offers an intriguing experience in a fresh, unexplored, dark open world. A major draw of this game is the character of the young Jaga, her abilities, and the moral system. Although the game has main quests, it happily lets you roam around and explore the surroundings. The game definitely has great potential, and I hope it maintains its quality until the official release.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Blacktail isn't going for revolutionary status, and most of the things it does do are slight by comparison to the hitmakers of the genres it inhabits, but as a package, it's a delightfully dark fairy tale-infused adventure that keeps you invested throughout.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Blacktail is a welcome surprise for the end of the year. Combat can come off as cruel due to the limited number of arrows and the limited dodge mechanic, but the actual firing of arrows is excellent. Boss fights feel very satisfying once you finally get a read on what they're doing, but the variable difficulty that can be utilized during boss battles can provide some relief if players are more interested in the story than gameplay. The world is the real star thanks to the grimy yet alluring presentation and the cast of characters. The side-scrolling sections after every boss fight act as neat breathers before you return to your adventure. Blacktail is intriguing overall and well worth seeking out if you love adventure games.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“BLACKTAIL is an RPG full of exploration, crafting, and magic. Based on Slavic Folklore, this isn't your typical happy story; this is a dark tale full of difficult choices. It may take some time to learn how to use your bow well, but once you figure out the proper timing and technique, you will be more successful in battle.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There’s really nothing like Blacktail as long as you don’t mind the video game stuff stumbling over the weird story stuff. Or play in story mode, I suppose.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Blacktail has a solid foundation, and incredible open world, but lack of weapons, spells, and enemies. Therefore, it will soon become stereotyped and less attractive”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Blacktail lets you inhabit a beautifully realized fairy tale world, and while the gameplay can sometimes fall into the mediocre rather than the great, it still works as a whole package due to how the whole thing comes together, and an amount of charm that cannot be understated.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Blacktail is a beautiful adventure steeped in Slavic dark fantasy, though this setting sometimes sits at odds with its pan-Atlantic voice acting and script.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Blacktail tells a wonderful fairytale in a storybook world, but not all of its breadcrumbs lead home.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“There is almost everything to love in Blacktail with a unique premise and beautiful world. Despite some flaws in performance and gameplay, I would very much recommend giving this game a try even for those that are just slightly interested.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
3DNews
Gaming Professors
GameWatcher
Worth Playing
GameGrin
MonsterVine
SECTOR.sk
GameLuster
TheSixthAxis
GameSkinny
GBAtemp…and 28 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Discover our Accolades Trailer!Mar 7, 2023
- The Patch 1.5 is now available!Feb 14, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix + FAQDec 21, 2022