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) | – | 67 | 11 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 273 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 98% | 94 | 144 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.3, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 545 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 1, 2024) · 144 reviews sampled · 115 total reviews in window · weighted 50.2 up / 1 down · computed 5h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (11)
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.
- 40
“Paradise Marsh seems less concerned about being an "adventure" and more about delivering feelings. Some will no doubt appreciate its efforts. Others, like me, might feel it needs to work harder at providing what's advertised. I feel bad knocking a solo dev's first release, but I sincerely enjoyed little of my short time with this game, same as our contributor with whom I sought a second opinion. The visual and gameplay repetition combine with other shortcomings to make a forgettable title. Next time.”
read full review ↗ - 62
“While it’s the right time of year for some creepiness and scares, quality still needs to count for something”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, though this 2 to 3-hour-long journey is a tribute to uniqueness, it might not be for everyone due to falling short of making the player feel evenly rewarded for their efforts. Paradise Marsh is certainly not a game that should be rushed. It is something that players should allow to immerse them emotionally by indulging in the stories and secrets of the stars more than the quest to quickly catch them all. This game, as its theme suggested, is more about the journey than the destination.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The tone-setting music from Disasterpeace (Fez, Hyper Light Drifter) is tremendous, and the chunky 3D world is stylish and wondrous. A handful of mysterious in-game achievements encourage further exploration of the world beyond catching the bugs. Your time in this paradise might be short, but it's memorable and enjoyable.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Explore an endless wetlands in this glorious study in nature and solitude”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Paradise Marsh was a great game to chill out with; I finished in just under two hours, but I could see spending more time exploring the world to discover all it has to give.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“To see the game’s ending, you must catch enough bugs to complete all constellations. I haven’t gotten there yet, despite the fact that Paradise Marsh can be finished in about 2 to 4 hours. But this is a game about exploration, where the journey matters more than the destination. If players enjoy an hour or three of wandering this marshy heaven, I think the game has done its job well enough. Though I should mention that the novelty of exploration wore off after about 2 hours, and I didn’t feel like hunting down every last bug. Others may enjoy the game longer than I did. As I said, it’s a matter of taste and mood. And this, too, is quite subjective but I would rate the game higher if I had less of a problem with motion sickness and found gameplay rewarding enough to see Paradise Marsh to its end. Overall, it’s a lovely game and worth trying. Check it out if you’re looking for a game about exploring the outdoors or catching critters.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Whether it's the game's assistance features like the journal or the chirping, the game's small, slow, and yet quick-to-completion nature, or the poetic and uplifting vibe the game presents, Paradise Marsh feels made deliberately and with care. LazyEti delivers an experience that knows its identity, doesn't ask too much of you, is a delight to control, and can be completed in under four hours with a killer finale. In conclusion, I don't know what I took away from my time with the game, but I took something pleasant and overly optimistic.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Paradise Marsh clearly communicates what it wants to say and the questions it wants the players to consider. Much like life, will players take their time and explore or rush through to see the ending? Will they swing their net methodically or wildly in hopes of catching something? With beautiful art, subtle sound design and music by Disasterpiece, and well-written poetry that shows a deep understanding of philosophy, Paradise Marsh leaves players reflecting on what they've experienced long after it ends and that is more than enough reason to recommend this game.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“Paradise Marsh is a game I didn't know I needed. It's one of my surprise hits 2022. It's a super relaxing adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“An interesting adventure in verse and in first person with an infinite map visually beautiful but slightly complicated to understand in terms of its mechanics. A short, fun and relaxing experience.”
read full review ↗
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NaviGamesPatch history
- Hotfix - Steam Deck AchievementsJan 5, 2025
- Patch 1.2.1 HotfixsOct 1, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix - Soft-lock issueMar 26, 2024
- Patch 1.1.8 - small fixesMar 22, 2024
- Patch 1.1.7Mar 13, 2024
- Paradise Marsh - Christmas Mini Update!Dec 22, 2023
- Patch 1.1.5 - TyposOct 24, 2023
- Patch 1.1.4 - Minor FixesOct 23, 2023
- Patch 1.1.3 - Major Bug fixesOct 23, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.1.2 - Bug fixesOct 22, 2023
- Paradise Marsh - Lost Souls Update !Oct 19, 2023
- Paradise Marsh - Upcoming UpdateMar 15, 2023
- Invisible Tadpole fixJan 25, 2023
- Mac Steam achievement FixJan 24, 2023
- Quick bug fixesNov 10, 2022
- Last Bug fixes?Oct 26, 2022
- More bug fixesOct 21, 2022
- Hot Fix -Dialogs Stars / drawing not workingOct 20, 2022
- Small fixes + Endless modeOct 18, 2022
- Couple of bug fixesOct 15, 2022
- Fixed achievements progressOct 13, 2022
- Achievements FixOct 13, 2022