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) | – | 57 | 15 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 287 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 91% | 85 | 229 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Feb 28, 2024) · 229 reviews sampled · 156 total reviews in window · weighted 71.6 up / 7 down · computed 18m ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (15)
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
“Gibbon: Beyond the Trees is an endless runner, but with an unconventional hero and an environmental message. You’ll quickly get the hang of the gameplay, which is based on a surprisingly fun, fluid swinging mechanic, and even after a few hours, you’ll still want to keep improving. That said, the game is otherwise rather light on content, so you might want to consider picking it up on sale.”
read full review ↗ - 71
“There's definitely something to be said for games that have their own unique style and point of view, and in those areas Gibbon does itself pretty proud...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gibbon: Beyond the Trees tells a hugely important story wordlessly and effortlessly, combining the gameplay and story in ways that inspire both powerlessness and hope.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“undefined.Off-putting controls, repetitive gameplay, and some pretty rough performance make Gibbon: Beyond the Trees unfortunately not really a recommendation on Switch. While the visual style is truly gorgeous and you feel as if you're actually controlling a gibbon, the game just doesn't hold up even for the short time you'll spend with it. The danger gibbons face truly is an ecological crisis, but if you want to support that cause, a donation towards the Gibbon Conservation Society is far more satisfying than playing this game.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“While It is refreshing to implement the movement of gibbons with simple controls, the game's short playtime and repetitive gameplay remains regrettable. Wouldn't it have been more efficient if the message was implemented as an animation using their fairy tale-like visuals?”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Gibbon: Beyond the Trees is a fantastically paced game seemingly designed to be experienced in bite-sized chunks with challenging controls that could be mastered by those willing to put in the effort. With all the thought and care put into representing these beautiful creatures and their heartbreaking lives, the game’s issues appear to stem from a lack of resources, not passion. Despite the repetition and technical struggles, it’s a short, sweet experience whose positive elements are more memorable than its faults.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Gibbons is a game that really clicked with me from the moment I picked it up. I’ve reviewed many games for this wonderful website and lovely surprises like this keep me coming back to writing time and time again. I will add some caution that this game will not click with everyone. Some will likely see this as simply a Monkey swinging simulator, and the gameplay may not click. It’s rare to play a game where the developer’s message resonates so clearly and leaves me thinking for days, contemplating and inspired. I’m a huge supporter of animal charities myself, and this felt like such a good way to bring awareness to an overlooked issue. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to cover this game. I sure hope you give it a chance too. If not, then please consider supporting a charity that speaks to you.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A gorgeous 2D platformer dealing with a serious issue”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I thank the team at Broken Rules for delivering a well-crafted title with such attention to detail and applaud them for tackling topics that are not often highlighted in games. I look forward to seeing what they are working on next.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Gibbon: Beyond the Trees, like Old Man's Journey before it, is a tightly-packed, hour-long adventure that lays bare the eco-terrorism that continually threatens these titular primates. While it doesn't do anything particularly groundbreaking as a game, it's a brisk, beautiful and, at times, terribly sad game that moves along at a rate of knots, even if that places a strain on the now-aged Switch hardware.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The true goal of the game, raising the plight of the gibbon as one of the most endangered primate species in the world, is admirable and touching. If anything, the simplicity in the game’s design only serves to stop this key message from being crowded out.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Gibbon: Beyond the Trees has a noble cause, to bring attention to the issue of animal conservation and human impact on the planet. And while it looks fairly good in doing so, the repetitive gameplay and sluggish pacing prevents this adventure from making any big leaps.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
Nindie Spotlight
Gfinity
NintendoWorldReport
INVEN
Checkpoint Gaming
LadiesGamers.com
PS3Blog.net
Thumb Culture
Press Start
GamesHub
New Game Network…and 3 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Daily Run Leaderboard Hotfix 1.9.3Mar 4, 2024
- Improved Liberation mode and final polish round incoming!Feb 28, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Incoming: EncyclopediaDec 9, 2022
- Game Update and Fixes 1.5.4Aug 21, 2022significant · resets scoring window