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) | – | 80 | 54 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 91% | 85 | 159 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 30 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 26, 2026) · 13 reviews sampled · 30 total reviews in window · weighted 6.4 up / 0.7 down · computed 1h 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
“Kusan: City of Wolves offers a challenging and distinctive combat experience, combining engaging dramatic narrative with a captivating artistic style. Although the narrative suffers from some flaws resulting from the approach taken in presenting the story, the game compensates for it with fun gameplay, epic boss encounters, and a good variety of weapons and enemies, despite a flaw in the distribution of this variety. Additionally, some skills seemed to be of limited usefulness or virtually useless throughout the experience. With a good progression system despite a few notes, while level design stands out as one of the game's strongest elements, delivering, overall, a very excellent experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Perhaps the most successful attempt at a full-fledged Hotline Miami clone. Kusan won't replace the third installment in the series, but it will at least evoke emotions similar to those experienced many years ago while playing the Devolver Digital classic.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Kusan: City of Wolves is a fast-paced neon-noir action game inspired by Hotline Miami, putting players in the role of Jin, a former soldier turned hitman in a city inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, as he delves into a dark story involving gangs, biological weapons, and personal mysteries. Featuring a visual style defined by motion comics and 1990s influences, an art direction crafted by renowned artists, and a vibrant hip-hop and electronic music soundtrack, the game combines an investigative narrative, morally ambiguous characters, and intense gameplay that demands quick reflexes and varied strategies, delivering a brutal, stylish, and immersive experience that celebrates influences from pop culture, comics, and cinema in a high-quality product for hardcore gamers.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“While there have been quite a number of titles looking to repeat on the success of Hotline Miami by copying its style, few have gotten as close as Kusan: City of Wolves”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Kusan City of Wolves finds its balance in a convincing combat system, a distinctive art direction, and a relentless pace that never lets up. An action game capable of making every one of its mechanics shine, turning precision and adaptability into the true tools of enjoyment.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Overall, despite a couple of issues regarding the controls and narrative, Kusan: City of Wolves is a fun top-down action game that likes to challenge you, but rewards you for playing smart by taking advantage of the tools provided.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Kusan: City of Wolves delivers stylish challenge, emotional storytelling, and punishing stages that offer plenty of replayability for those wishing to master their layouts.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“"When Hotline Miami meets John Wick." Few games live up to a developer's pitch this perfectly. If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, Kusan: City of Wolves delivers. It's brutally difficult, but once it gets its hooks into you, it's hard to put down.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Kusan: City of Wolves is a spectacular, brutal and challenging top-down shooter that pleasantly surprises not only with its combat, but also with its dark world and well-crafted story. It’s a very good game for players who enjoy a challenge and beating their own high scores, but its unforgiving nature and limited variety mean it won’t be to everyone’s taste.”
read full review ↗ - 66
“Kusan: City of Wolves is a rewarding experience. It might not topple the classic that inspired it from its perch, but it’s proof that Circle From Dot has the creativity and ambition to build something that’s worth playing on its merits.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Kusan: City of Wolves is a mix of Hotline Miami's one-hit brutality and a neon-soaked, Beastars-flavoured world, bringing a tight but punishing gameplay loop, top-down combat, and beautiful visuals.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Set in an animal-filled cyberpunk world, Hotline Miami delivers a chaotic top-down massacre. However, it may not fully satisfy players and can be frustrating due to permadeath.”
read full review ↗
Eternal Games
3DNews
GameFM
Nindie Spotlight
Gamesource Italia
Push Square
Capsule Computers
INVEN
PPE.pl
GamesCreed
AltChar
SECTOR.sk…and 15 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Kusan: City of Wolves – Hotfix #3 Is Now Live!Aug 27, 2026
- 🛠️ Kusan: City of Wolves – Patch #1 Is Here!Aug 26, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 🛠️ Hotfix 2 Now Live!Aug 12, 2026
- 🛠️ Hotfix 1 Now Live!Aug 5, 2026
- Hotfix coming soon!Aug 3, 2026
- Playtest UpdateApr 14, 2026
- 2024.03 devlogMar 14, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- 2023.12 DevlogDec 26, 2023
- Demo Patch Note!Mar 11, 2022