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) | – | 81 | 17 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 471 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 97% | 92 | 4 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 12 reviews sampled · 9 total reviews in window · weighted 6.1 up / 0.2 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (19)
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
“Honestly, it's tempting to give Powerslave a 10 just for being available again, but no. That would, of course, be naughty. Here it is, though, in even more than all its glory - a brilliant, beautiful reworking that captures the very essence of what made it so awesome back in the day while giving the best of both the Saturn and PlayStation's distinct versions. For such a prototypical take on Metroid Prime, it's alarming and impressive just how much confidence Powerslave Exhumed shows in its design, making it the best kind of retro game - one that's even better today with full knowledge of how ahead of its time it really was. An easy recommendation to FPS fans of any vintage, Powerslave Exhumed will keep you playing and playing, searching for those last niggling secrets.”
read full review ↗ - 62
“Retro shooters are always a bit of a challenge to evaluate through modern eyes, especially when they're ones you didn't happen to check out back when they were in their heyday...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Will you like PowerSlave Exhumed? Well, if you have played the genre's greats, or even its cult classics, you won't find it to be something special. It's a good shooter, no doubt about it, and the fact that it sort of plays like Metroid Prime many years before the latter saw the light of day is quite the feat, but at the end of the day it's just a decent-to-good FPS. If you view it strictly as a remaster, though, it's something more. It combines the best elements from all its versions, beautifies it a bit for the modern era, and adds all the typical buttons and levers that Nightdive tends to include in its fantastic repackagings. More like a collector's item than a great blast from the past, but boy, what a collector's item!”
read full review ↗ - 90
“PowerSlave Exhumed is yet another outstanding port from a team with a genuine love of games from that era. I cannot wait to see what they deliver next and if you have not checked out their previous work, Turok 1 and 2, ShadowMan, Blood (please put out a console port!), and so many more are just begging to be revisited. This team continues to deliver with every game they put out and I am ecstatic for what they decide to bring next.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Powerslave Exhumed is another solid conversion by Nightdive Studios that's improved by some smart changes. The merging of elements from all three versions of the game creates an experience that feels both familiar yet new, while focusing on the console version's exploration aspects makes for a more interesting game. The shooting remains solid despite the slow rollout of different enemy types, and the platforming is also good for a first-person shooter, despite your swift movement speed. Fans of the original will be thrilled to go through this version, but newcomers who love retro games will enjoy this more since they get to experience an early exploration-based, first-person shooter.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“PowerSlave Exhumed is a return to an early time in the evolution of First Person Shooters, with this 1996 classic that was ahead of its time at the moment of release showing that it can still stand the test of time. Thanks to an excellent work of adaptation to the Nintendo Switch, this version fits perfectly with today thanks to its technical and control updates, and its mix of action and exploration works perfect to bring back an FPS classic, one that's recommended to every fan of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Once in a while, each of us just needs to take a flamethrower and destroy a horde of mummies. And this is something that PowerSlave Exhumed still does almost as good as it did 26 years ago.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“PowerSlave: Exhumed is a well preserved classic boomer shooter that still is a joy to play after all these years. Thanks to Nightdive Studios’ panache, it is easier to enjoy more than ever due to their careful QOL additions and improved stability and polish. It may not be as fondly remembered as other shooters, but it is absolutely worth a look for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“While the game itself hasn’t aged particularly well in every sense, the work done by Nightdive to modernize it respectfully is commendable. Visually it’s been cleaned up and had a few rough edges smoothed out without polluting the original design, and there’s no denying that every effort has been made to tighten the controls in much the same way it did with last year’s Quake remaster. Short of messing with the core of what made PowerSlave Exhumed the game it is, there’s probably little else that could make it more appealing.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Powerslave Exhumed's gameplay is a prime example of 90s shooter excellence, but the lack of modern convivence takes away from the fun.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The original game had a ton of potential, but it was quickly forgotten by players due to its original hardware limitations, unfortunate launch dates and poor sales. Nightdive revived a forgotten (and flawed) game, proving that there has always been potential in it. It was ahead of its time. I loved playing PowerSlave Exhumed, not only because of its fun combat and setting, but mostly due to its proto-metroidvania format and progression system, and can’t wait to see what Nightdive will unearth next.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Powerslave Exhumed is the best way to tackle a cult classic game without changing anything in an egregious way. I can’t imagine anyone complaining about the fusion of both console versions or the fact it’s much easier to get running now than the downgraded PC port. The campaign is around 6 to 8 hours long depending on if you go secret hunting and the game has 2 endings to tackle. Beyond that, there are multiple difficulties for those who want a challenge; This means you’ll easily get the best bang for your buck with this one. Giving this title a second lease on life is a masterstroke. What may have released to average reception and eventual cult appreciation later on is now one of the most fun and unique experiences from the 90s, cleaned up and put on display in a public museum for the masses to enjoy and take in.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
ZTGD
Worth Playing
Starbit
SECTOR.sk
Niche Gamer
Bloody Disgusting
TechRaptor
WayTooManyGames
NookGaming…and 7 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update #3 is available nowAug 13, 2025
- Update #2 is available nowJul 13, 2022
- Update #1 is available now!Mar 12, 2022significant · resets scoring window