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Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

Silver Lining Studio · released Aug 25, 2021

AdventureCasualIndie

Guide brush strokes and solve a variety of puzzles to help an aspiring artist complete her masterpiece amid her brusque neighbor’s gaze and his pesky cat. As her painting starts to take shape, uncover an emotional tale of chance and artistry revealed behind unrelated yet familiar moments.

88
VGC Score
Stablehigh confidence
92%
At launch
94%
Steam all-time
78%
Press
74%
Player sentiment
94%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)7812
All-time Steam reviews94%881000
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)94%8815
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 44 reviews sampled · 15 total reviews in window · weighted 8.8 up / 0.6 down · computed 6h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (15)

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.

  • 100
    trust 82Aug 23, 2023

    Behind the Frame presents itself as comfort food. For some, that's sorely needed right now. And for me, it's a welcome treat at any time.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 76Sep 1, 2021

    Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is a masterpiece that will make you take a break from the chaos of everyday life. Here, you get the chance to immerse yourself in a bittersweet story of art, love, understanding and one big coincidence. You'll also enjoy some nice relaxing music and wake up the little artist in you for a while.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 76Jun 6, 2022

    Behind the Frame’s mobile roots show, and the Switch’s touchscreen comes into its own. The story didn’t exactly keep us guessing, but went to an interesting place. The graphical art and music are the stars, and the sub-2-hour playtime means they stay fresh to the last. Putting the length and price on one side so you can factor them in for yourself, we really rate the experience here as a piece of art worth getting into.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 70Jun 2, 2022

    While I love blasting off faces and racing to the finish line, there’s absolutely something to be said for slowing down and taking in the beauty of the world...

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 69Jun 9, 2022

    If you're a fan of Studio Ghibli, like these developers clearly are, or even just have an hour to kill and a love for art, Behind the Frame is absolutely a game you should give your time. It may be clunky if played on a gamepad, but playing with touch just feels natural and works with minimal issue. If this sounds up your alley, I'd say it's time to grab your paints and get to work.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 66Sep 14, 2023

    Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery VR is a genuinely pleasant experience that does not need to be played in a rush. I did miss the lack of voices during the 2D sequences. But that’s likely only because I’m so used to hearing something during the cinematic points in the game.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 65Aug 23, 2021

    Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery can be a breath of fresh air not only in your usual video game diet but also in your own personal life. This is a short and enjoyable experience with nice Studio Ghibli inspired visuals and relaxing music and atmosphere that tells a very heartfelt story.

    read full review ↗
  • 100
    trust 64May 31, 2022

    I have pondered the rating I was going to give Behind the Frame. I enjoyed playing it immensely, I love the whimsical atmosphere and the intriguing storyline. The puzzles aren’t overly difficult but I don’t mind, it made it feel wholesome to me. The game is short, but when it ends I really wanted more because of the story behind the painter and the old man. It certainly challenged my creative mind, as I keep thinking about what exactly I had been witnessing. The price tag on Switch for Behind the Frame is along the lines of the Steam price, but you should know that the mobile version is about half the price. Due to the fact that it’s a touchscreen game, I do wonder if that wouldn’t be the best version to go with. This is a game for fans of wholesome games with a whimsical and nostalgic feeling.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 58Aug 25, 2021

    A wonderfully laid back tale that side steps the traditional point and click spam in favour of some gorgeous Miyazaki inspired artwork. Get this if you have a lazy evening to use and you'll come out smiling.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 57Aug 26, 2021

    Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is certainly a beautiful game. From its vibrant and chill atmosphere to the gameplay, I enjoyed every moment of it, which left me surprised by its short runtime. The music across all six chapters and the engaging story that sits behind every puzzle flow naturally together providing a seamless experience. For a laidback and whimsical game, Behind the Frame can bring out the artist in all of us.

    read full review ↗
  • 100
    trust 56Jun 21, 2022

    Words fail me when it comes to Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery. A stunning tribute to a love borne of all the things that should have been said but were kept within, Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery made me full on sob after witnessing its incredible beauty. Fans of Miyazaki films will come for the art style but stay for the tear-jerking story that will paint their hearts with the colors of every raw and real emotion portrayed. If you’re ready to cry, and then, after that, cry some more, Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery awaits your brush.

    read full review ↗
  • 87
    trust 55Aug 31, 2021

    Behind the Frame is like a beautiful portrait. There are some rough edges but it won't ever be forgotten.

    read full review ↗

…and 3 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Behind the Frame Post-Launch Update
    Jul 8, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  2. April 25th Development Update
    Apr 25, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  3. 1.4.2 update
    Nov 10, 2021
  4. Behind the Frame Version 1.4.0 Patch Notes
    Oct 19, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  5. 1.2.0 update
    Aug 31, 2021