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) | – | 77 | 34 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 85 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 11, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 3420 total reviews in window · weighted 128.2 up / 18.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (27)
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
“En Garde! is a highly engaging and fresh action game, defined by its well-executed combat system and its ability to capture the charm of adventurous sword-fighting tales, a genre from which video games have, surprisingly, drawn inspiration all too rarely. It is, however, still a small indie title, which comes with certain limitations, including a very short playtime. But if a game’s biggest weakness is that it ends too soon, that’s actually a great testament to its quality.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“An absolutely fantastic game whose campaign does not overstay its welcome but still makes every encounter feel fresh. “En Garde!” focuses on arena fights and funny characters to build an extremely memorable experience. Along with the endlessly replayable “Arena Mode”, I don’t think I’ll stop playing it anytime soon.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“For a game that was marketed with swordfighting at the forefront, it's a pity that swordfighting doesn't have any serious depth. Keeping things superficial in terms of story made me think that I would see more varied gameplay mechanics that reflected the essence of swordfighting. Here, not much has been put on top of an ordinary action & adventure game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Out of nowhere, En Garde! is a surprise hit and a swashbuckling tale well worth playing. Engaging in fights, whether that's one-on-one or being outnumbered as you navigate an environment, using many obstacles and contraptions is immensely fun. Complimenting all of this is a painterly world, backed with a strong soundtrack, clever dialogue quips and a lot of heart. My biggest gripe with En Garde! is that there isn't more of it, something I so desperately need. As iron and steel collide in tense frantic battles or as you send your hundredth mook careening down a flight of stairs, one thing becomes apparent: Fireplace Games have made a hell of an unbelievably charming and special game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Arkham-esque combat and lovely platforming combine in this joyous and colourful game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Like the savvy swashbuckling outlaws of yesteryear, En Garde is a daring romp that will most assuredly sweep (or kick) you off your feet.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“With a swish of the sword and a bit of improvisation, En Garde! is a fantastically fun action-packed adventure with a distinctive flair. Sure, it's a little bit short, but that doesn't make it any less sweet.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“It was interesting to learn that En Garde! was created as an award-winning student project and then reformed and expanded to remake the game from the ground up. I am a big fan of classic swashbuckling adventures like The Three Musketeers and Zorro. Sadly, it’s not a theme often explored in video games, so I was beyond happy with En Garde! If there is one thing I didn’t like, it was that the story mode was too short for my taste. I can only hope we’ll see more of Adalia in the future”
read full review ↗ - 71
“En Garde! flares brightly with its slick, slapstick combat, for a while at least.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“En Garde! takes familiar and tired mechanics and turns them into something new, creating gameplay that is strategically engaging, supremely satisfying and full of unexpected depth. Alongside this game is a beautiful and unique presentation that seamlessly combines the swashbuckling action of a classic Zorro flick with the vibrance and slapstick humor of the golden age of animated movies, creating a marvelous game with a truly unique personality all of its own.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“En Garde! is a game which invokes the spirit of Zorro in the best way.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Precise combat combined with a good dose of chaos is the main attraction of En Garde!, but not its only bright point.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
Hu3br
Atarita
Checkpoint Gaming
Eurogamer
GameLuster
TheSixthAxis
LadiesGamers.com
PC Gamer
Try Hard Guides
Entertainium
AnaitGames…and 15 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Localization improvement & Credits updateNov 29, 2023
- Patch note 1.0.5: even more cheesy banter + a few surprises!Oct 11, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch note 1.0.3: quality of life improvements, gameplay balancing, and more!Aug 24, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- HotFix #1Aug 18, 2023
- En Garde! - Demo Patch Note #2Jun 21, 2023
- Steam Next Fest demo update!Jun 19, 2023
- En Garde! - Demo Patch Note #1 (Due June 19th)Jun 15, 2023significant · resets scoring window