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) | – | 74 | 36 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 224 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 65% | 64 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 1.6 up / 0.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (29)
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
“Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara draws its charm from its charming, almost minimalist graphics, and it further endears itself by popularizing a genre that has, unfortunately, been overlooked in recent years. However, in terms of level design, controls, and movement options, it is much closer to the average than the games that served as its inspiration.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara isn’t exactly a bold reinvention of the 3D platformer, but it repeatedly proves that it’s got it where it counts. Smooth controls, decent level variety, and lots of collectibles all make this one a fairly easy recommendation, even if it is a little simplistic looking. If you're after 7-10 hours of solid, colourful 3D platforming, we’d suggest giving this one a shot.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“This game is one of the best platformers I've played recently, taking some great content from nostalgic 3D platformers.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a carefree and wholesome platformer with lots of sights to see, shiny things to collect and optional speed runs to challenge yourself. It’s a balanced platformer that’s sure to scratch that collecting itch, wrapped in a neat island adventure package.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Leaving the door open for future Mara adventures, I think that these characters really lend themselves to different genres and experiences. Even if I didn't pick up on many of the callbacks to Summer in Mara, I could tell that the developers really like these characters and this world they've created. Perhaps it's time to explore the RTS or RPG genre in Mara?.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an action-adventure game that follows a different concept from its predecessor and does a very good job at creating a fun and accessible experience to both newcomers and more seasoned players alike. While the difficulty curve can sometimes feel unbalanced, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara brings an exciting sense of exploration and the game's competition dynamic between pirates helps with making it a captivating adventure that gained its place in the Nintendo Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Koa and The Five Pirates of Mara is an adorable game that is trying its hardest to pay homage to the old mascot platformers of the past, but sadly doesn’t get there and instead lands flat on its face. The game is definitely not for the hardcore platformer fan but is instead a great game to give to their younger sibling so that they can get a taste of the genre or develop a rage-quitting habit.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“"Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara" proudly carries the torch lit by its predecessors, while offering a fresh, simplistic spin on the platforming formula.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Though its ceiling is apparently early on, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an enjoyable speedrun game, just make sure to change up the default controls!”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a very enjoyable speedrun-focused platformer with plenty of collectibles and genre clichés. It isn't revolutionary to platformers, and it runs very short, but if you don't mind the price tag, it's well worth a try.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“KOA and the Five Pirates of Mara is a simple 3D platformer that is available on many platforms. It can be some nice simple platforming fun to play with a younger family member. Whilst not a challenging title, KOA features plenty of charm and a cute presentation.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a platformer straight out of the PlayStation 2 era and whether that is a good or bad thing is up to you to decide. While the gameplay and visuals are pretty basic, I enjoyed running and jumping through these levels for the few hours that they lasted.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
Atarita
Life is Xbox
NintendoWorldReport
Starbit
GamesCreed
SVG
GameLuster
GameGrin
LadiesGamers.com
ThisGenGaming…and 17 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.