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) | – | 80 | 42 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 91% | 85 | 101 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 7, 2026) · 101 reviews sampled · 95 total reviews in window · weighted 73.7 up / 7.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (21)
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.
- 85
“Homura Hime is an incredibly ambitious, deeply passionate project that manages to stand toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in the character action genre. While the narrative takes some polarizing risks and the PC optimization is currently dragging its feet, the core gameplay loop is an absolute triumph. For an asking price of just $24.99, getting 10 to 15 hours of top-tier, adrenaline-pumping spectacle combat is an unbelievable steal. If you can look past the technical rough edges, this is undeniably one of the best hidden gems of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Homura Hime is an interesting blend of bullet-hell, hack and slash, and soulslike genres. It does not try to excel in any of these genres, but instead it manages to deliver a satisfying experience by offering a toned-down version of each. It is an excellent title for players who love playing bullet-hell and action games that feature impressive combat and point-blank accuracy for survival. The visuals are cool, and the level design is fairly decent as well. You do not have to be a master of any of these specific genres to enjoy your time in Homura Hime.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Homura Hime isn't a perfect game, and it doesn't really even try to be, which, in its own peculiar way, makes it endearing. It has its flaws, whether it’s the story, which sometimes veers into over-the-top anime drama; the upgrade system, which isn’t always perfectly balanced; or moments when the screen turns into such a colorful explosion of effects that you’re more guessing what’s happening than actually in full control. On the other hand, though, it offers something that’s hard to overlook. Raw energy, a distinctive style, and above all, a fun, fast-paced, and addictive combat system that pushes you to improve. It’s exactly the kind of game that can frustrate you because you know you died due to your own mistake, but at the same time, it compels you to immediately hit “retry” and dive right back in. And that’s often a sign that something is working as it should. With this title, Crimson Dusk has shown that they have both the talent and the courage to experiment, and even though their first major project isn’t flawless, it’s definitely worth checking out. If you like fast-paced action games, a challenge, and a distinctive anime aesthetic, Homura Hime has a lot to offer, you just have to be prepared for the fact that it’ll really put you through your paces at times. But that’s where its greatest charm lies.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Homura Hime is an interesting addition to the hack and slash genre with an appealing artstyle and a fun combat system that aims to mix pure fighting and bullet hell elements, making the game really frenetic and satisfying to master.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“For an indie game, the boss fights are really, really good. It's fun having the boss go "movie mode" on the player when they catch them in an attack, and the parrying feels really enjoyable. The fighting to get there, though, is average at best, and the platforming borders on horrendous for how often buttons don't prompt on a teleport-jump, or the dash falls slightly short, leading to unnecessary frustration. At the current price point, Homura Hime is a bit tough to recommend, but will be worth it on a sale.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Much like the ghost stories it tries to tell, Homura Hime amazes at every turn. The riveting boss fights drum up excitement as you make your way to the final battle of every mission. Dodging a barrage of bullet-hell projectiles at a precise moment, when it works well, makes you want to come back for more. And the combat, developing over the course of the game with more skills, combos, and options, accomplishes its goal to keep things interesting over its 10-to-15-hour runtime.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Homura Hime is a blast, and it's the perfect love letter to the character action genre. In a world where these kinds of experiences are few and far between from big developers, it's so good to see an indie studio have a debut as strong as this.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Homura Hime is a slick hack-and-slash and bullet hell hybrid that naturally forces you to think in both mindsets at once. It’s a game that, beneath its vibrant designs and bright color palette, lies a surprisingly dark story filled with genuine shock value. It may not reinvent the genre, but it executes its ideas with enough confidence to leave a lasting impression.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Homura Hime is a fun game. At its best, it’s a unique and distinct blend of Ninja Gaiden and bullet hell systems that forces you to develop a rhythm and dance to it. At its worst, it tends to drag out it’s welcome and stutter under what is a fairly light load. But it has heart, and it loves a genre I love and doesn’t ask much up front.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Though the pacing can feel like it is padding for time, and its smaller fights can be a little repetitive, Homura Hime really picks up in its exciting boss fights, serving as a parry-heavy hack-and-slash game with cinematic moments and bullet-hell elements that challenge your mastery of the mechanics. Though a bit short, Homura Hime is well worth its asking price and should especially appeal to fans of its anime aesthetic and score-chasing design.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Homura Hime manages to do something rare for an indie action: maintaining coherence and momentum from start to finish, offering a deep combat system and a narrative capable of captivating.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There’s certainly plenty of fun to be had with Homura Hime, but there are games I’d rather play when I’m in the mood for some chaos and a challenge.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
GamesHedge
Gaming Professors
Fun Factor
Cubed3
Pixel Byte
TheSixthAxis
Game8
Smash Jump
Try Hard Guides
CrazyGameCommunity.it
Gameliner…and 9 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Mini UpdateAug 12, 2026
- Performance and QOL EnhancementsAug 7, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMay 25, 2026
- Mini UpdateMay 8, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMar 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMar 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMar 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Message of Thanks from Crimson Dusk and Future RoadmapMar 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMar 7, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMar 6, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMar 5, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Mini UpdateMar 4, 2026
- Demo UpdateOct 15, 2025