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Nuclear Dawn

Nuclear Dawn

GameConnect, InterWave Studios · released Sep 26, 2011

ActionStrategyPC

Explore war-torn post-apocalyptic landscapes and take fight against enemies using various weapons in this FPS/RTS hybrid.

Steam page ↗Metacritic 71 · users 7.5 ↗
73
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence▼ −11 since launch

scored 84 at launch, has slipped to 73

84%
At launch
79%
Steam all-time
71%
Press
78%
Player sentiment
100%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)–716
All-time Steam reviews79%731000
Metacritic user ratings–783
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)100%971
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 1.1 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (25)

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.

  • 60
    GameWatcherGameWatcher
    trust 69Oct 3, 2011

    “While it won't be able to compete with its big budget peers in pretty much any aspect, at least it's a fraction of the price of the likes of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    ZTGDZTGD
    trust 68Oct 7, 2011

    “Interwave needs to deliver the promised modes, improved tutorials and an offline option quickly if it hopes to survive beyond the release of this fall's marquee titles like Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3. There's a lot to like in the concept, but I don't think Interwave has earned your money yet.”

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    GameShark
    trust 67Nov 4, 2011

    “It's far from the best-looking game on the market, but it's also far from the worst, and the gameplay makes up for it anyway.”

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    GameSpotGameSpot
    trust 66Oct 13, 2011

    “Nuclear Dawn is an intense first-person shooter/real-time strategy hybrid that has a lot to offer when it comes to teamwork.”

    read full review ↗
  • 62
    MEGamers
    trust 65Sep 20, 2011

    “I applaud the developers for trying to make this work, but I honestly don't see many players spending too much of their time trying it out.”

    read full review ↗
  • 73
    Computer Games Online RO
    trust 64Mar 8, 2012

    “So in the post-Call of Duty/Battlefield/Team Fortress 2 world of today, Nuclear Dawn will not have an easy time finding a safe place, not only because of the risk it has taken as a genre combination, but mainly because of the work that the FPS side still needs.”

    read full review ↗
  • 83
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 64Nov 27, 2011

    “A surprisingly deep and well-designed FPS/RTS hybrid. A Team Fortress 2 alternative that needs a community to thrive.”

    read full review ↗
  • 40
    GamerNode
    trust 63Oct 19, 2011

    “Nuclear Dawn is a game that can reach great things if it was put together more coherently. Bugs, balance issues, and an uninspired use of the apocalyptic settings make for a game that feels competent at best and incomplete at its worst.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    AusGamersAusGamers
    trust 63Sep 29, 2011

    “Despite some art direction issues and the lack of a tutorial system, dedicated players will have some fun here.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    trust 62Jan 20, 2012

    “Attractive combination of first person shooter with real time strategy delivers balanced action and tactical parts and offers a good alternative to other shooters. [Dec 2011]”

  • 71
    Absolute Games
    trust 62Nov 7, 2011

    “Even with all its flaws, Nuclear Dawn is a treat for those who wanted a decent FPS/RTS hybrid.”

    read full review ↗
  • 72
    Game ChroniclesGame Chronicles
    trust 60Oct 2, 2011

    “As I said before, it may not be perfect, but it's a step in the right direction for the genre. It'll be interesting to see what improvements come to the game as the minor bugs are ironed out. And even more interesting will be where we go next, now that Nuclear Dawn has shown us what a game is capable of doing.”

    read full review ↗

…and 13 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Oct 7, 2018
  2. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Aug 29, 2018
  3. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Aug 20, 2018
  4. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Jul 31, 2018
  5. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Apr 14, 2018
  6. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Aug 27, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  7. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Aug 27, 2017
  8. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Aug 1, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  9. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Aug 1, 2017
  10. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Jul 30, 2017
  11. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Jul 30, 2017
  12. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Jul 10, 2016
  13. Nuclear Dawn Update Released
    Jul 10, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  14. Nuclear Dawn v7.2 Update Released
    Jun 15, 2016
  15. Nuclear Dawn v7.2 Update Released
    Jun 15, 2016
  16. Nuclear Dawn Dedicated Server update released
    May 2, 2015
  17. Nuclear Dawn Dedicated Server update released
    May 2, 2015
  18. Hotfix update released
    Apr 21, 2014
  19. Hotfix update released
    Apr 21, 2014
  20. Nuclear Dawn major update released v7.1. + On Sale this week at 75% off!
    Apr 20, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  21. Nuclear Dawn major update released v7.1. + On Sale this week at 75% off!
    Apr 20, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  22. Nuclear Dawn goes Linux
    Oct 9, 2013
  23. Nuclear Dawn goes Linux
    Oct 9, 2013
  24. Nuclear Dawn Update 6.9.1 released
    Jan 8, 2013
  25. Nuclear Dawn Update 6.9.1 released
    Jan 8, 2013
  26. Nuclear Dawn Update 6.9 released
    Dec 20, 2012
  27. Nuclear Dawn Update 6.9 released
    Dec 20, 2012
  28. Nuclear Dawn patch 6.8: Skirmish time
    Nov 9, 2012
  29. Nuclear Dawn patch 6.8: Skirmish time
    Nov 9, 2012
  30. Nuclear Dawn update 6.8 released
    Nov 8, 2012
  31. Nuclear Dawn update 6.8 released
    Nov 8, 2012
  32. Update incoming...
    Nov 8, 2012
  33. Update incoming...
    Nov 8, 2012
  34. Steam Workshop support is coming....
    Oct 24, 2012
  35. Steam Workshop support is coming....
    Oct 24, 2012
  36. Nuclear Dawn update 6.6 released
    Sep 27, 2012significant · resets scoring window
  37. Nuclear Dawn update 6.6 released
    Sep 27, 2012significant · resets scoring window
  38. Nuclear Dawn update released
    Aug 2, 2012
  39. Nuclear Dawn update released
    Aug 2, 2012
  40. Nuclear Dawn update
    Jul 20, 2012

…and 23 earlier patch announcements.