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Rusted Moss

Rusted Moss

Emlise, happysquared, sunnydaze · released Apr 11, 2023

ActionIndiePCPlayStation 5Xbox Series XNintendo Switch

Rusted Moss is a twin-stick shooter metroidvania where you sling around the map with your grapple, blasting your way through witches and rusted machine monstrosities alike. This wasteland once harboring mankind has since fallen, and Fae long forgotten now knock on humanity's door...

Steam page ↗Metacritic 78 · users 7.6 ↗
83
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Get your Rusted Moss merch! and...new major console update!” (11mo ago)

79%
At launch
89%
Steam all-time
78%
Press
92%
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)–7823
All-time Steam reviews89%83850
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)92%86305
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 3, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 305 total reviews in window · weighted 239 up / 21.4 down · computed 18m ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (9)

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.

  • 70
    KakuchopureiKakuchopurei
    trust 71May 12, 2023

    “Rusted Moss is a decent and fun Metrodvania with a unique swinging mechanic. If you're looking for a game to sink a few hours into and don't mind hard platforming challenges, Rusted Moss should be a great game for you.”

    read full review ↗
  • 79
    Nindie SpotlightNindie Spotlight
    trust 70Jun 28, 2024

    “Simply a different twin-stick take on Metroidvanias, sporting a challenging grapple mechanic”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    SVGSVG
    trust 66Apr 15, 2023

    “"Rusted Moss" has the best elements of the Metroidvania genre and will delight anyone looking to explore a world filled with challenges and hails of gunfire.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    WayTooManyGamesWayTooManyGames
    trust 60Jul 2, 2024

    “Rusted Moss is an enthralling title with indulgent lore, wonderful map layout and diabolical approaches to traversal. It’s so rough in terms of what it expects and what you can do, but it’s rewarding and satisfying to accomplish the tasks.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    NintendoBoyNintendoBoy
    trust 60Jul 25, 2024

    “Rusted Moss is an extremely competent metroidvania, with a gameplay hook that sets it apart from similar games on the market and that certainly leaves an impact on players. There is very little to criticize here: I didn't find any bugs, not everything is perfect, the aiming system could be a little more intuitive and the button mapping could be a little better implemented, but it is an easy recommendation for those looking for a metroidvania to play for a few days.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Hardcore GamerHardcore Gamer
    trust 53Apr 17, 2023

    “Anyone seeking a new spin on a Metroidvania should give Rusted Moss a shot. The title itself is odd, but like ARES over a decade ago, it blends twin-stick shooting with the sub-genre well. The addition of a swing mechanic is something that adds a new wrinkle to the challenge when compared to most other games on the market, and if that part doesn’t work for you, it’s easy to just switch it off and soar all over the stages.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Video ChumsVideo Chums
    trust 45Jun 30, 2024

    “I didn't quite know what to expect with Rusted Moss but it completely blew me away and it's now one of my favourite Metroidvanias.”

    read full review ↗
  • –
    The EscapistThe Escapist
    trust 66Apr 11, 2023
    read full review ↗
  • –
    PolygonPolygon
    trust 57Apr 27, 2023

    “Rusted Moss’s unique mobility options may be overwhelming at first, but for those looking for a unique and challenging spin on the Metroidvania 2D platforming genre, this game might get its hook into you faster than you’d expect.”

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. Get your Rusted Moss merch! and...new major console update!
    Oct 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  2. 3.94 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Jul 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  3. Rusted Moss Winter Update is out!!
    Feb 28, 2025
  4. Winter Update Delay - End of Feb
    Jan 28, 2025
  5. Rusted Moss - Winter Update Announcement!
    Jan 8, 2025
  6. Halloween Update - Ameli is here!
    Nov 1, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  7. New Update: Redesigned boss fight (SPOILERS!!)
    Sep 10, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  8. 1.61 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Aug 22, 2024
  9. 1.60 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Aug 19, 2024
  10. 1.37 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Jul 29, 2024
  11. 1.36 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Jul 24, 2024
  12. Mod support added + 1.35 Hotfix
    Jul 16, 2024
  13. Main + DLC 1.34 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Jun 28, 2024
  14. Main + DLC 1.32 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Jun 26, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  15. Main + DLC 1.28 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Jun 21, 2024
  16. Major Content Update Out Now!
    Jun 20, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  17. Things to do before the Rusted Moss update (or how to get your hands on merch?)
    Jun 7, 2024
  18. Major Content Update + Console Release Date Announcement
    Mar 19, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  19. Major Content Update Delay + Console Release News
    Nov 17, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  20. 1.47 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Sep 28, 2023
  21. Level Editor Update Out Now!
    Aug 31, 2023
  22. 1.46.5 Hotfix Patch Notes
    Aug 14, 2023
  23. Rusted Moss Accessibility Update Out Now!
    Aug 4, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  24. In-depth 1.42.5 Patch Notes (More detailed, may contain spoilers)
    May 23, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  25. 1.42.5 Patch Notes: Includes Bugs Fixes, Balances, and QoL Changes
    May 18, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  26. Patch Notes for Crash/Freeze/Save Data bugs and QoL Changes
    Apr 14, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  27. Hot Fix for Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish
    Dec 5, 2022
  28. Editor hotfix #1
    Sep 13, 2022
  29. The Level Editor Update + Bug Fixes
    Sep 12, 2022
  30. Delay in August Update and changes to its content
    Aug 31, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  31. Hotfix #8 + Custom palettes.
    Jul 17, 2022
  32. Hotfix + Custom language support
    Jul 1, 2022
  33. Hotfix 6.5
    Jun 19, 2022
  34. Hotfix 6
    Jun 18, 2022
  35. Hotfix 5.5
    Jun 15, 2022
  36. June hotfix #5
    Jun 15, 2022
  37. June hotfix #4
    Jun 13, 2022
  38. June hotfix #3
    Jun 12, 2022
  39. June hotfix 2
    Jun 11, 2022
  40. June hotfix 1
    Jun 10, 2022