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) | – | 82 | 49 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 92 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 92 | 75 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 90 | 171 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 90.7, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 19,274 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 489 total reviews in window · weighted 237.4 up / 11.6 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (36)
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.
- 90
“Until Then is still a visual novel, clinging to a large cultural stratum of contemporary culture. However, it is also a very emotional and lampooning story about growing up, friendship, betrayal and love.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Romantic relationships here come with the types of complexities that you’d expect, jealous friends, misunderstandings, and stupid decisions, such that the sincere moments that come afterward feel earned. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Until Then is the second title from these authors, who return with a more varied color palette and a world that appears more vibrant at first glance, but which is, in reality, dying amid the turmoil of traumas fueled by social media. The newly chosen 2.5D perspective has its weaknesses, but when paired with a carefully crafted mystery story complemented by several interesting themes, it paints a compelling picture of today’s young generation, one that will occasionally require you to do more than just click through dialogues.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gameplay is understandably pretty limited, and you’ll spend most of your time simply pressing ‘A’ to advance the dialogue. Occasionally, you’ll be able to move left or right through the environment, and developer Polychroma Games has also seen fit to include a bunch of fun little minigames.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I'm tempted to say your mileage may vary with a game like Until Then. As a Filipino American, its cultural impact certainly made everything hit that much harder for me. As a narrative gamer who's gotten a lot out of visual novels and the like, its dialogue-driven adventure was easy for me to digest. And as a fan of pixel art, I loved the work Polychroma did here to bring its recreation of the Philippines to life. But even if none of those boxes are checked for you, I'm still tempted to recommend Until Then regardless. Its deeply human story, told with emotionally sincere dialogue, its ability to showcase the beauty of Filipino culture, its mind-breaking second half are all worth experiencing for gamers from all walks of life. Go play this game and let's go meet at the Jollibee to decompress after. Salamat, Polychroma.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Kudos to Polychroma Games for making a game that Southeast Asians can be proud of, standing tall amongst the likes of other similarly good games from the region. While there are some issues regarding the minigames & overall pacing, the story in Until Then is worth experiencing, at least for its more exciting second half.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As with many remarkable games, interpreting Until Then‘s ending will lie with every individual player. I sat with it a while, swirling the bitterness and sweetness around in my mouth. Its mystery, finally revealed, is so human I toyed with the idea of feeling unsatisfied with its mundaneness. Ultimately, I landed on admiring how unfortunately relatable life after the end of the world felt.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“While it can still feel limited by its format, and a bug or two was hit, among its peers Until Then manages to stand pretty tall”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In the end, Until Then is a bit like a pixelated Life Is Strange. And like the best Life Is Strange games, it strikes a near-perfect balance between the mundanity of every day life and the joyous and devastating moments that occasionally perforate that normality.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The undercooked mystery backdrop is a small blemish because they nailed the writing and character development. Even an underwhelming soundtrack can't diminish the heart on-display through emotionally raw dialogue and facial expressions. Give yourself the experience of reigniting those moments that were powerful at the time but seem small in retrospect. Allow yourself to feel the volatility of teenage life through the eyes of Mark. Play Until Then.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“In the context of firsthand retellings of personal life stories, Until Then shines as an excellent example of using every clever advantage an interactive storytelling medium can use. Employing a charming art style and witty writing that feels just right, within its 6 to 8-hour playtime let yourself be transported to a bygone era where everything felt more easygoing yet catastrophic at the same time.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Until Then is a must-play for lovers of narrative-focused games everywhere. The game already depicts living the life of a teenager in the Phillippines in the 2010s beautifully with its thoughtful and authentic writing, combined with a picturesque world. That alone would be enough, but it goes above and beyond, adding breathtaking pixel animation, an intriguing mystery and a palpable geopolitical subplot. The cast of characters is incredibly endearing and you’ll grow to love them all, building to the final emotional gut punch of the game that takes the wind out of you. Joining the plethora of quality narratives in 2024, Until Then is a game you won’t soon forget.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- The Language UpdateNov 22, 2024
- Patch Notes 1.3Oct 11, 2024
- Introducing Nicole: The Newcomer!Jul 24, 2024
- Introducing Ryan: The Basketball Star!Jul 9, 2024
- Patch Notes 1.1 & 1.2Jul 8, 2024