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) | – | 68 | 12 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 131 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 5h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
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.
- 20
“Boring unimaginative gameplay, dumb cliché plot and about the worst visual style ever, makes B.I.O.T.A. something to avoid like the plague.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Games which work to revive the glory days of ‘80s platformers are a fairly common sight these days, and are a logical choice of project for developers like Small Bros. B.I.O.T.A. has the special qualities that are needed to stand out from the crowd. It summons up the memory of the run-and-gun games of yesteryear, but never becomes repetitive or frustrating as they did. Its modern conveniences, like save-anywhere and a flexible character system, turn the game into something more than just a retro revival. Games with a philosophy this obviously nostalgic aren’t for everyone, but anyone who digs this retro look is sure to enjoy a trip to Frontier Horizon.”
read full review ↗ - 52
“B.I.O.T.A. it's a title with many unfulfilled promises that tries to revive the 90s style of Metroidvania, but all it manages to offer is confusion.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Those who remember only the beautiful sides of the platform games of old and do not want to face the harsh realities should not miss it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Metroid-Vania-style games are two-a-penny these days, so does B.I.O.T.A stand-out amongst the pack? B.I.O.T.A is a faithful, action-packed blast through a series of satisfying levels and cool bosses, and really, that’s all you need from these sorts of games.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“B.I.O.T.A. is a short, enjoyable title. It doesn't quite match the retro chops of something like Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, and it doesn't have a massive twisting map of something like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but it's great for someone looking for a fast-paced action platformer with a retro-style, has stages that are easy to explore (and get a 100% completion at the end), and a story that has the depth of an 80's action movie.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“In the end, I just had a bad time playing B.I.O.T.A. I should have been thrilled to be fighting my way through aliens and mutants and blowing things up, like when I was a child. Instead, I was watching the clock and figuring out if I’d put in enough work to stop, like when I’m an adult. A game should never feel like a chore, and there was just too much being asked by B.I.O.T.A. for me to have a good time.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“B.I.O.T.A is one that every retro gamer absolutely needs to play. Even if you are not a retro gamer this game will tick many boxes for you. Its wonderful pixels, the gameplay and the controls!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Those who remember only the good parts of the old platform games and don't want to face the harsh realities should not miss it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from B.I.O.T.A. Though it diverged from the Metroidvania genre in some significant ways, I really enjoyed this challenging throwback to games of the past. It marries a compelling and dark sci-fi plot with challenging platforming, fun boss fights, and a vast colony to explore. It’s not a perfect game, and I was definitely frustrated by the many instant death traps, but it’s still a game that retro fans should check out. And that goes double if the game ever makes its way to game consoles.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“At the end of the day, despite all of its flaws, B.I.O.T.A. is a game about vibes. It's about that feeling of playing games as a kid, those cozy times when everything was so simple. Sure, it's not the most complicated game ever, but I don't think it's trying to be. Above all, this game has heart. It's far from perfect, but what game is? In spite of a multitude of issues, there's a certain charm to the whole project that I can't help but feel enamored by. I look forward to seeing what Small Bros works on in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“B.I.O.T.A. is an old school metroidvania heavily inspired by James Cameron’s “Aliens”. It is not groundbreaking, but the gameplay is really varied and the art style will surely appeal to retro games maniacs. However, despite its retro look B.I.O.T.A. is very forgiving, which might not be an advantage to everyone, personally, I wish it was more challenging.”
read full review ↗
Bazimag
Entertainium
CrazyGameCommunity.it
Oyungezer Online
NoobFeed
Screen Rant
WayTooManyGames
Thumb Culture
Hey Poor Player
KeenGamer
CD-Action…and 5 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Optimal optimizationJan 13, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- 2 in 1 update with something cool for everyoneJun 23, 2022
- B.I.O.T.A. post-launch highlights and plansApr 27, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- B.I.O.T.A. patch 1.015 is now availableApr 22, 2022
- Game saving patchApr 15, 2022
- B.I.O.T.A. Dev Update #4: The last stretch...Feb 25, 2022