Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 300 sampled Steam reviews (279 positive / 21 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing56% mention it
- Music & audio14% mention it
- Visuals & art13% mention it
- Difficulty & balance6% mention it
- Combat6% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing62% mention it
- Visuals & art19% mention it
- Grind & repetition14% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
54%
28 reviews
5-15h
96%
201 reviews
15-40h
100%
67 reviews
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) | – | 80 | 9 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 93 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 87 | 40 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 91 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 91.3, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 45,096 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Sep 8, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 7615 total reviews in window · weighted 256.2 up / 11 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (10)
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.
- 70
“Although SANABI is still in early early access, it already gives reason for cautious optimism. The fluid platforming gameplay encourages you to constantly search for a faster route, and the story and characters will keep you engaged. If the screenshots or videos on the official website catch your eye, don’t hesitate to invest in the game, because with a little polish, it could still pleasantly surprise you in the future. So while the game can’t earn a higher score in its current state, I’m rooting for the developers moving forward.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Mixing together pretty well-implemented traversal, slinging yourself around, a gripping story, and decent but repetitive combat”
read full review ↗ - 89
“A unique title depicting cyberpunk in a Korean style. Utilizing chain arms for wire action, which is not easily found in other 2D platformer games, and featuring a touching story that concludes in a single episode make it stand out. However, it's somewhat disappointing that the combat becomes more monotonous as the game progresses.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Riding that 2D renaissance wave, SANABI is another neon-soaked platformer that deserves a look at. Gorgeous pixel visuals, fast-paced gameplay and a cracking soundtrack, there’s something for old-school fans and newcomers alike.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“SANABI is a decent 2D action platformer, but with an engaging and fun plot that gives the player a perfectly balanced palette of emotions.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Sanabi is heavier-handed than the general’s chain arm, but anyone taking in by its sense of style will find plenty more where that came from, grappling through yet another video game Neo-Tokyo.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sanabi defies the conventions of the 2D-action platformer genre by prioritizing an engrossing narrative alongside its acrobatic gameplay. While the story scenes may slow the pace, they contribute to character development and add depth to the gameplay. Sanabi is a finely-tuned experience that puts an emphasis on speed and offers a unique blend of story-driven content and skill-oriented platforming, making it an excellent addition to the world of indie gaming.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Sanabi is a secret masterpiece. I don't know why it's a secret, but it is. It's a platforming clinic, with extremely tight controls, and the story hit me in the center of my heart. You'll probably play it one more time to speed run it, but I wont. Some games are better left one and done. This is one of those games. Unbelievable. ”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sanabi is a wonderful action platformer with great grappling gameplay, but the pacing struggles thanks to the lengthy story sections.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Sanabi is one of those (very) few action platform games which apply almost all of its focus to the story and characters. As such, its main draw is its plot, which thankfully is quite interesting and well written, holding the whole experience to the end. On the other hand, its gameplay, though well made, is lacking in terms of challenge and in the sense of moveset and abilities progress.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
Nindie Spotlight
INVEN
FingerGuns
CrazyGameCommunity.it
Screen Rant
Noisy Pixel
Gaming Nexus
God is a GeekPatch history
- 📢 [SANABI: A Haunted Day] Patch 1.3.53 NoticeJan 28, 2026
- 📢 [SANABI: A Haunted Day] Hotfix 1.3.52 NoticeDec 17, 2025
- Developer NoteSep 8, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Version 1.3.36 Update NoticeSep 25, 2024
- 1.3.35 HotfixJul 19, 2024
- Version 1.3.34 Update NoticeJul 16, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- 1.3.32 UpdateApr 1, 2024
- 1.3.31 Hot FixMar 8, 2024
- 1.3.0 updateMar 8, 2024
- 1.3.28 UpdateFeb 20, 2024
- 1.3.25 UpdateJan 25, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- 1.3.24 UpdateJan 18, 2024
- 1.3.23 UpdateJan 8, 2024
- 1.3.22 UpdateJan 5, 2024
- 1.3.21 UpdateDec 19, 2023
- 1.3.20 UpdateDec 19, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- 1.3.18 UpdateDec 1, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Speedrun UpdateNov 30, 2023
- 1.3.15 UpdateNov 22, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- 1.3.13 UpdateNov 14, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- 1.3.10 UpdateNov 10, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Release 1.3.9 Patch HotfixNov 9, 2023
- SANABI Official Release AnnouncementNov 9, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Final Beta Version Update NoticeAug 8, 2023
- SANABI 2nd Beta Version Update AnnouncementFeb 22, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.28v bug fixFeb 10, 2023
- Beta Build AnnouncementNov 23, 2022
- SANABI Beta Branch UpdateNov 22, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.24v bug fixAug 30, 2022
- 1.0.23 patch noteAug 12, 2022
- Traditional Chinese language updateJul 15, 2022
- SANABI Update 1.0.18Jul 15, 2022significant · resets scoring window
…and 7 earlier patch announcements.