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) | – | 83 | 15 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 81% | 75 | 514 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 550 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 6, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 550 total reviews in window · weighted 184.6 up / 32.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (12)
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
“Fading Afternoon, Yeo's new title is a beat 'em up with a unique narrative that conveys a range of emotions through the gameplay itself. While it's not a game for everyone, it's still a gem that's worth giving a chance.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Fading Afternoon is a very ambitious game that improves on Technos' decades-old Kunio-kun formula in almost every way. It's certainly the most accomplished of Yeo's works to date, and impressive in its polish. What really shines, though, is the way it expands on its life-simulator elements and those all-important details. It keeps things fresh, interesting, and compelling. Although regularly punctuated by satisfying gangland violence, it's not a fast game by any means. With its downbeat plotline and melancholic motifs, it's more an experience to become absorbed in, to be explored and tapped for all its little surprises and diverging paths on subsequent playthroughs. For everything it strives to achieve, beyond anything else, Fading Afternoon is incredibly charming.”
read full review ↗ - 66
“An interesting reflection on mortality and your final days, but familiarity holds it back”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The world feels lived-in thanks to a narrowly focused daily life sim that pairs well with combat that is the most robust work they've done to date. Minor user interface issues aside, I find myself thinking about the next time I can boot it up, batter some bad guys (or baseballs), and see whether I can make good enough use of my time to progress the story further. I've appreciated witnessing the growth and refinement of Yeo's development prowess, and this is their best work to date.”
read full review ↗ - 70
- 80
“Fading Afternoon isn’t exactly what I would consider a game with legs, but what it does have to offer is of a level of quality writing-wise that is enough to keep you glued to your PC screen for as long as it lasts. While other elements of the game could have been done better, mainly its controls, its gripping story, characters and setting more than make up for its annoyances.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Fading Afternoon is a sprawling masterpiece that has been meticulously and carefully crafted by some of the greatest artists in the indie space.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“For players who have the patience and curiosity to push through learning the game's idiosyncrasies, Fading Afternoon can offer a profound gameplay experience that makes a given playthrough feel like a life lived.”
read full review ↗ - 73
“Fading Afternoon takes the concept of time and creates a melancholic experience which explores heavy themes surrounding self-reflection and existentialism. However, occasional bugs and repetitive combat hold it back from its true potential.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I appreciate Yeo for being willing to put himself out there, put the art ahead of the commercial best practices, and craft something that is eccentric, nuanced, and even profound. Fading Afternoon isn’t an “entertaining” game in the traditional sense, but it’s a powerful one that will leave you reflective and pensive by the time you put it down. The games industry needs more people like Yeo.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Fading Afternoon, Uncensored stands out by blending side-scrolling action, territory management and life simulation in a yakuza-flavoured Osaka. Its freedom and atmosphere work really well, even if the button layout can cause some frustration early on.”
read full review ↗ - 89
“Fading Afternoon takes us to Japan in the 80s, in what we could define as the mixture of a mafia life simulator with a walking simulator and a beat 'em up, all seasoned with beautiful pixel art and an exceptional soundtrack. . Fading Afternoon is a charming game that radiates melancholy and longing for a time gone by. It is not perfect nor does it pretend to be, nor is it for everyone, because if its narrative does not catch you, you will end up tired of its loop. However, if we let ourselves be carried away by their proposal, with Fading Afternoon authentic caviar awaits us, which although not everyone may like, its quality is beyond any doubt.”
read full review ↗
Patch history
- Rumble mode update is live!Oct 6, 2025
- Future update for Rumble ModeOct 6, 2025
- The final content updateNov 6, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- A new girl for romanceNov 4, 2023
- New girl's quest is addedOct 30, 2023
- Special outfit for girlsOct 14, 2023
- New feature added: Fishermen clubOct 12, 2023
- Kids on the playgroundOct 9, 2023
- New feature added: Searching trash cansOct 5, 2023
- New achievement is added: Drunken MasterOct 5, 2023
- Sitting with your girlfriendOct 4, 2023
- French localization is liveOct 2, 2023
- New feature added: Buying bottles at barsOct 1, 2023
- New feature added: Punching male passerbySep 27, 2023
- New feature added: Skippable dialoguesSep 26, 2023
- Saving at the map area onlySep 26, 2023
- New feature added: Dancing with girlfriendsSep 23, 2023
