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 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 98 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 92 | 88 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
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
“Minor narrative gripes aside, NeverAwake is a surprisingly great twin shooter. It's a fun, chaotic and beautifully designed game that's well worth your time. This Indie gem is easy to pick up and difficult to put down; once you start though you'll be glad you did as this could prove to be one of 2023's best console games.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“NeverAwake is a truly polished gem, an absolute pleasure from start to finish. The short levels, simple controls, and satisfying challenge all combine to make it oh so tempting to play “just one more level” until you’ve binged the whole game. While there are certainly a few areas here and there that feel less polished, they really focused on the core that makes for a great shooter.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“An unusual mix of classic side-scrolling shooter mechanics and twin-stick aiming makes for a thoroughly different experience”
read full review ↗ - 85
“NeverAwake doesn't just have stellar graphics, it offers up some really special shmup gameplay with a surprising amount of content.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Overall, I feel like NeverAwake did a really great job of encapsulating some of the best aspects of twin-stick shooters and bullet hell genres, all while wrapping it up in a nice package that tells a surprisingly meaningful yet dark story about a young girl and her troubles. The looping mechanic in the non-boss stages and the sheer amount of customization in the form of accessories is a great way to keep the game fresh all the way through. While the game may get tough at some points, there wasn’t a time where I thought the stages were particularly cheap. Even when frustration began to set in, clearing the stage made it all the more worth it in the end. Fans of twin-stick shooters and bullet hells alike are sure to get a blast out of NeverAwake.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Twin-stick shooter fans will certainly have some fun with NeverAwake. The short levels make it perfect for quick, on-the-go bursts of shooting, while the actual shooting and power-ups make for a fun and challenging experience. It looks and sounds great, while the presence of two different endings gives the game some replayability. That said, the story isn't all that compelling considering that we've seen it used before, and the game can start to feel like it's running on for too long due to the sameness in some levels.”
read full review ↗ - 9
“NeverAwake kept me awake long hours as I felt compelled to binge-play the more than 80 levels in the game. The luscious graphics and innovative level-looping gameplay instantly hooked me and separates it from the crowed shoot 'em up genre. The best surprise, though, was the thoughtful story that tackles tough topics with sensitivity and elegance.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“NeverAwake is a true shump to its core. Despite some repetition in enemy design, this twin-stick shooter takes on the concept of nightmares and blends it into its visual style and gameplay in a way that rewards players who come back for more.”
read full review ↗ - 98
“In all areas, NeverAwake pushes the boundary of fantastic experiences, and is a must have in the library.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Everything adds up to make NeverAwake one of the most inventive and interesting twin-stick shooters we’ve played in some time. From its meticulously-created enemies to its responsive controls, everything here has been tuned for your enjoyment. And so once you’ve started playing, chances are you’ll have a hard time pulling yourself away from it. If you’re a fan of twin-stick shooters, make sure you check this out.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“These issues were minute, however. I still wholeheartedly recommend picking NeverAwake up, even if you’re just moderately acquainted to bullet hell shooters. Its gameplay is actually innovative, in a genre known for rarely experimenting with new control schemes or gameplay loops, and its visuals are just amazing, being the perfect blend of something from Tim Burton and old-school Sega. Even if its story was forgettable and its duration wasn’t that impressive, its core mechanics more than made up for any setbacks found along the way.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A psychedelic and mysterious soundtrack, combined with a bizarre and mysterious visual direction, even when dealing with mundane facts, such as dogs, vegetables and dentists, prove to be the perfect combination for a gameplay that aims to be agile and fluid, always valuing the player's experience.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- NeverAwake Ver 1.2.3Dec 10, 2025
- Major Update 1.2.2 is now available!Jun 28, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- 【News!】NeverAwake for Xbox ＆ Update ScheduleMar 30, 2023
- NeverAwake Ver 1.1.1Feb 10, 2023
- Major Update 1.1.0 is now available!Jan 18, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- NeverAwake Ver 1.0.1Oct 5, 2022significant · resets scoring window