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) | – | 77 | 12 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 364 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 7 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 20 reviews sampled · 18 total reviews in window · weighted 14.3 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (8)
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
“Taken as a whole, Naiad is a title with incredible art and sound as well as something to say, even if the gameplay isn’t always firing on that same level.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Naiad is a relaxing, soothing game that will swim warm circles around your heart if you let it. It’s an extremely satisfying game to just explore at your own pace, with the only frustrations coming from my own completionist urges and some design decisions that feel like they are going against the stream of such a playthrough. The gorgeous visuals and enchanting music alone makes this a recommended play. The fact that it actually calms down my children is a bonus side-effect!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Naiad offers real pleasures and real frustrations - but always with a purpose in mind.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“NAIAD is a refreshing escape into nature that gently reminds us of our connection to the natural world around us. Developer HiWarp should be very proud of their achievement in developing such a gorgeous game. NAIAD’s calm gameplay, stunning visuals, and heartfelt message make it a brilliant title for anyone seeking a calm, wholesome experience. Whether on PC or Steam Deck, NAIAD flows seamlessly, inviting players to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the journey”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Naiad is an immersive and accessible adventure that’s unabashedly sweet and delightfully simple. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Naiad stands out for its simplicity and beauty, offering a relaxing journey through a picturesque world. Although there are moments when the flow is interrupted by obscure puzzles and repetitive activities, the game succeeds by allowing each player to find their own rhythm, whether exploring every corner or simply gliding through the water. Furthermore, Naiad shows that there is magic in simplicity, making us appreciate this brief and unpretentious journey.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Appreciating Naiad for its fabulous aesthetics and the magnificent sounds of the river and its inhabitants would be all too easy. However, we are faced with a gaming experience that never manages to delve deep into the player’s heart, who initially believes they are in front of a relaxing video game, only to discover they must pay attention to every tiny corner of the river to understand the correct order to touch the water lilies and progress to the next phase. HiWarp demonstrates full artistic maturity but fails to hit the mark in terms of game design; paradoxically, things would have gone much better if the experience had been confined to simple swimming and spontaneous interaction with the animals and other elements of the environment. A banal moralism, which fails to provide a meaningful perspective on the environmental themes addressed, doesn’t help.”
read full review ↗ - –
“A self-described relaxing game about wild swimming, sunk by tedious and ill-explained busywork.”
read full review ↗
Push Square
Life is Xbox
Eurogamer
LadiesGamers.com
CGMagazine
GameBlast
Multiplayer.it
Rock, Paper, ShotgunPatch history
- NAIAD - Update v1.0.19!Jan 29, 2025
- Week 1 - Update!Dec 18, 2024