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) | – | 75 | 51 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 85% | 78 | 865 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 59 | 9 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 78 | 9 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 26 reviews sampled · 19 total reviews in window · weighted 9 up / 1.7 down · computed 20m ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (52)
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.
- 55
“If it interests you, South of the Circle is a game worth playing at least once. But while I can tell that some heart was put into it, it does feel like one of those artsy games trying to seem deep. Other than a few instances, South of the Circle made me feel empty, thinking of how it could have been meatier. It's also priced a bit high for what essentially is a movie with little gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“An engaging interactive novel. Gameplay-wise it's not that amazing, but the story and the atmosphere are really great.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“So how should we rate South of the Circle, a game with a powerful story, beautiful visuals, amazing music, and even better voice acting, but one that, in just under four hours, basically doesn’t let you do almost anything, doesn’t let you influence the story, offers choices with zero impact, and has a confusing ending that essentially sends you right back to the beginning…? That is the question. I can’t say the game bored me outright, but something was simply missing for me here. The title has an amazing atmosphere, amazing characters, and an amazing message, but I don’t know if the role of a mere spectator satisfied me enough.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“South of the Circle is the very definition of a masterpiece with its hyper-relevant story, phenomenal voice acting and Oscar-deserving dialogue.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“South of the Circle tempts gamers with pretty, stylized graphics, a promise of a movie-like experience, and an emotional storyline. And it delivers!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“How much you enjoy South of the Circle will be determined by how much you like to engage with games on an intellectual and emotional level. It's a tricky balance to strike, but once it's beyond the first scene, South of the Circle has a lot more substance than its first impression lets on. It might be light on traditional gameplay, but it knows what it wants to say, and stays focused on that throughout.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Perhaps, if you’re a bit more easy-going than me and don’t mind the one-note characters and multiple plot points that never really go anywhere, you’ll have a much better time playing this than I did. It’s also worth mentioning that the game itself is rather short, so despite how frustrating it can feel, you aren’t exactly wasting a ton of time making your way through it. All in all, I wouldn’t completely label this game as not worth playing, but I do suggest tempering your expectations so that there is minimal disappointment as you progress through the story. That isn’t to say I regret playing it, but I don’t think I would’ve missed much if I hadn’t.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“South of the Circle feels akin to frostbite: it's difficult to feel anything for the characters after continued exposure to suffocating game design & mismanaged narrative.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Telling a tale that spans multiple times and places, it makes for a different sort of romantic journey”
read full review ↗ - 80
“With wonderful acting. writing, and striking visuals, South of the Circle is an experience worth seeking out, even if the dialogue options and movement are lacking.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's a narrative game from start to finish with very little interaction required of you. And when they do come, the various choices will not change the result at all. However, the story is intriguing and will keep you hooked until the end and the visual style is sublime. It would be nice to say a lot more about the game but in all honesty, there is not much to add. The game ends rather quickly (about 3 hours) and whether it's your time of game or not, is entirely up to you. As for me, I recommend it for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“To be fair, the game is visually appealing, with a minimalistic art style that manages to convey the feeling of the time. It's an interesting experience and a unique premise (how many other Cold War disaster games are you going to play this year?), but ultimately that can't save the title from falling a bit flat.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- New patch available!Nov 3, 2022