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) | – | 74 | 27 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 80% | 74 | 323 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 77% | 72 | 330 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jan 16, 2025) · 299 reviews sampled · 330 total reviews in window · weighted 160.3 up / 46.8 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (20)
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
“There’s a lot I like about Sovereign Syndicate. I like how it steers away from combat in favour of dialogue and decisions. I like its characters and its world. But there are chunks of the game that don’t quite work for me, from the levelling and skill checks which feel disconnected from everything else, to the final chapters of the story that struggle to bring our heroes together in a satisfying way. When it’s all working right, the story is absorbing and the world is fascinating. When it isn’t working right, the text becomes hard to parse and the sensation that Sovereign Syndicate is more like a book with mild interaction floats back to the surface.”
read full review ↗ - 67
“Sovereign Syndicate is a decent first attempt from Crimson Herring Studios. The setting and characters alone make it worth playing, especially considering the price. The game would have benefited from a tighter narrative and a more fleshed-out Tarot card system. Here’s hoping that the game does well enough so that the devs can implement partial voice acting (at least) and learn from its shortcomings to make an improved sequel.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“While Sovereign Syndicate offered a rich world with colorful characters and an enticing story, I left it feeling like there was more to see. Luckily, its unique Tarot system and detailed dialogue kept me intrigued.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Successful application of the Disco Elysium recipe in an atmospheric setting. The story's conclusion should have been less rushed and more cohesive to provide a more complete experience.”
read full review ↗ - 74
“Sovereign Syndicate highly focuses on the narrative and story aspects. Getting into a skill check and using many different Tarot options can be great. However, it is up to you to show restraint and simply not reload after a back card draw. Additionally, many exploration mechanics, like quality of life or customization. You may consider the game if story choice far outweighs good movement controls.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A witty, vicious, and charming-as-heck romp through a Victorian steampunk city, Sovereign Syndicate wraps its tight, character-driven story in layers of deliciously decadent prose. Delving through the seedy underbelly of this alternate-universe East London is compelling on its own, made all the more intriguing by the different perspectives of its trio of protagonists. Despite a few glitches at launch and some slightly rushed final moments, Sovereign Syndicate is a deeply satisfying narrative RPG and an absolute pleasure to play through.”
read full review ↗ - 30
“Sovereign Syndicate does something impossible: it makes the notion of an urban fantasy Victorian England with Jack The Ripper boring and tedious. Visually impressive, narratively godawful, this is one tour through Whitechapel you can safely skip.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“I think ultimately that Sovereign Syndicate should have focused on one character, or allowed me to choose one and have the others become part of their storyline. Then you could re-experience the game from the other characters' perspectives. As it is, the pacing just doesn't do the game any justice. There is stuff to like here, the world is deep, the story is interesting, and it's releasing at a budget-friendly price, but I have to say that a game set in a steampunk London with minotaurs, centaurs, and dwarves roaming around really seems like it could have been much more than this.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“With its emphasis on roleplay rather than combat and borrowings from Disco Elysium, Sovereign Syndicate feels like another step forward for the CRPG.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sovereign Syndicate uses a super unique setting and phenomenal writing to tell a multi-faceted story with dark themes and deep introspection on human nature, despite two of the protagonists being a Minotaur and a Dwarf.”
read full review ↗ - 58
“While it packs an original setting and gameplay twist, Sovereign Syndicate would have benefitted from a narrower scope and improved execution.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sovereign Syndicate is one of those games that you need to experience for its incredible charm, ambiance, and, most importantly, its amazing story. While three different stories might be a bit confusing, they all come together indirectly and build on each other to bring you a unique experience that just keeps giving. This might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it’s well worth a go if you’re a fan of anything RPG-related, even more so if you’re always on the hunt for a good story.”
read full review ↗
Wolf's Gaming Blog
Gameffine
PC Invasion
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Checkpoint Gaming
GameLuster
TheSixthAxis
PC Gamer
Try Hard Guides
GBAtemp
NoobFeed…and 8 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update - March 24, 2026Mar 24, 2026
- French Update - Mar 18, 2026Mar 18, 2026
- German Update - Dec 16, 2025Dec 16, 2025
- Update - Sept 8, 2025Sep 8, 2025
- Update - July 28, 2025Jul 28, 2025
- Update - Feb 3, 2025Feb 3, 2025
- Update - Jan 17, 2025Jan 17, 2025
- Celebrating One-Year of Sovereign Syndicate!Jan 16, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update - Dec 19, 2024Dec 19, 2024
- Update - Nov 27, 2024Nov 27, 2024
- Patch 5 - Mar 22, 2024Mar 22, 2024
- Patch 4 - Feb 2, 2024Feb 2, 2024
- Patch 3 - Jan 26, 2024Jan 26, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 2 - Jan 23, 2024Jan 23, 2024
- Patch 1 - Jan 19, 2024Jan 19, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Post Next Fest Update!Nov 7, 2023
- Development UpdateMay 30, 2022
- Development and Funding UpdateJan 30, 2022
- Development UpdateOct 24, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Monthly Development UpdateAug 14, 2021significant · resets scoring window