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) | – | 76 | 30 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 78% | 72 | 79 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 75% | 70 | 96 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 20, 2025) · 96 reviews sampled · 68 total reviews in window · weighted 53.1 up / 18.1 down · computed 2h 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.
- 50
“GigaSword is a Metroidvania with great puzzle platforming and pretty rough... everything else.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I adored my time with GigaSword and ultimately didn’t want it to end. It is the special type of game you stay up late devouring, go to bed thinking about, and wake up wanting to play more. The classic metroidvania loop of exploring, finding abilities, and breaking new ground is beautifully complemented by a deceptively simple puzzle mechanic that had my synapses firing left and right. And bashing enemies to bits with your massive sword is pretty awesome too.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“A metroidvania that favors puzzle-solving over action, but that don’t assume that makes it less difficult”
read full review ↗ - 75
“A retro inspired triumph, the politically charged story laid out will move even the most jaded of players. With well-thought-out level design, imposing boss battles and clever puzzles, there’s a lot to love here. Gigasword, in its proud 8-bit NES design, is not for everyone, but it doesn’t need to be. Seasoned players who have found themselves rejecting modern sensibilities will find a home here. One for legendary heroes whose time has yet to pass.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“There’s something special about GIGASWORD. Beneath its technical flaws and occasional frustrations lies a game built with real care, a throwback that manages to feel both familiar and fresh. It’s rough around the edges, certainly, but every pixel and puzzle carries the mark of a creator swinging for something big. I genuinely enjoyed my time with it, even when its issues got in the way, and I hope future updates can smooth out the experience so more players can appreciate what’s here. Like its protagonist burdened by his colossal blade, GIGASWORD stumbles under its own weight, but still manages to stand tall in the end.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“GigaSword is a monumental achievement, proving that a one-person studio, with the support of a passionate fanbase, can deliver one of the best metroidvanias of 2025.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gigantic swords are unwieldy and therefore unrealistic. Gigasword takes this truism to heart in the most creative way in its Metroidvania puzzles. Gigasword recalls the game design of an older time with all its fist-pumping, hard-won victories but with all its baggage too. There’s little exposition for mechanics, or they remain unexplained, leaving you to trial and error to make progress. However, smartly designed boss fights, beautifully interwoven levels, and powerful abilities make Gigasword an easy game to recommend to Metroidvania fans searching for the latest and greatest in the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 69
“Gigasword presents a unique approach to Metroidvania gameplay, requiring players to navigate the map with and without the giant sword to progress. However, some aspects feel unnecessary, such as having to retrieve mineral loot after death or the inability to access fast travel within the map. Players are forced to revisit the very sections that initially offered the game's innovation. Many common enemies are repeated, and certain boss battles are significantly more challenging. A technical issue on the Switch prevents players from experiencing the full game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Gigasword is a mix of an old school art style, Metroidvania progression, Souls-like combat, and the addition of a weighted weapon that changes how you solve puzzles and platform. All together it makes for an interesting and enjoyable gameplay feel that I was happy to engage with for hours. I felt less enthused about the aimless backtracking, which could have been fixed with better signposting or a more nuanced map. While those issues did frustrate me, I still would recommend this to folks looking for a throwback to older titles, with an original twist to keep things fresh for the modern day.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“GIGASWORD is a fresh 2D metroidvania that balances puzzles and action quite well. Yet similar to the massive sword Ezra wields, the game at times weighs itself down.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“GIGASWORD is a difficult retro action-platformer. It won't hold your hand and it requires focus. But the journey is a rewarding one and one that's built on a strong foundation of lore and hard-hitting action.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Despite my issues with the adventure, GIGASWORD is still a tremendous Metroidvania experience. It’s frankly hard to believe this was made by a solo developer, it’s that good. Not only is it one of the best examples of the genre I’ve played in recent memory, it’s also a game that’s a glowing love letter to the NES era of gaming. Here’s hoping the issues I mentioned above get fixed so that everyone can fully enjoy this puzzle platformer.”
read full review ↗
Geek to Geek Media
The Punished Backlog
Nindie Spotlight
Pixel Byte
Gamer Social Club
TheSixthAxis
So Many Games
GamerFocus
Game Sandwich
But Why Tho?
Console Creatures
Hey Poor Player…and 3 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes 1.2.0 - Map PinsMar 27, 2026
- 11/22 - Fast Travel and auto saves hotfixDec 22, 2025
- 12/18 Patch Notes: Fast TravelDec 18, 2025
- 11/21 - Patch NotesNov 21, 2025
- First Week Recap!Nov 20, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- 11/17 - Patch NotesNov 17, 2025
- 11/15 - Patch NotesNov 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- 11/14 - Patch NotesNov 14, 2025
- Fastest Demo Times!Jul 1, 2025significant · resets scoring window