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) | – | 78 | 24 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 92 | 118 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 98% | 94 | 236 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.9, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 236 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 15, 2024) · 236 reviews sampled · 207 total reviews in window · weighted 110.9 up / 2.3 down · computed 3h 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
- 100
““Phantom Spark” is an Absolute showcase of how to build a game entirely focused on time trials while not making the player feel frustrated. Ghosts is pure bliss for those Looking for some mighty challenge and chasing the perfect line for hours on end. A must have for any racing fan.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“A pretty smooth-riding futuristic racer that is all about momentum and technique, just only racing against time and ghosts”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Phantom Spark delivers an exhilarating experience for fans of fast-paced, time-trial racing games, reminiscent of Trackmania. Its focus on constant improvement and speed will satisfy those who love pushing for faster lap times. However, it’s not for everyone. if you’re not into high-speed precision and repetition, it may feel less appealing.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Phantom Spark is a wonderfully easy-to-pick-up racing game that draws inspiration from classics like F-Zero and Wipeout and takes you on an entrancing journey of self-improvement. The racetracks are varied and offer a welcoming difficulty curve. The game offers a lot of room for error for newbies, but there is much more room for perfecting each track while getting lost in the soundtrack. The addictive gameplay loop comes from trying to beat your own ghost. Phantom Spark is a great little racing game that is definitely worth a try as long as you are okay with retrying a lot.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I know this title has been a barebones explanation of what Trackmania did for many years, but with a different coat of paint and theming of the 2000s with an excellent soundtrack and visuals, Phantom Spark is absolutely worth the spin. It is a fantastic game with exceptional presentation, optimization, controls, physics, and worthy challenges to force yourself to keep improving. It feels refreshing as you grasp the controller to beat your best time on every try, just as the first time you booted in, which is rare for any racing game in the market.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Racing isn’t a genre of game I’d usually associate with the term ‘thoughtful’. This isn’t to say they aren’t well thought out, more that they provoke a player’s reflexes and timing more than anything else. You focus on the next turn coming, not the third. Phantom Spark bucks this trend, however. I found myself invested in each track, willing my Spark to make a turn just tight enough to speed through, to shave a thousandth of a second off my time. If I came into this looking to redeem my eight-year-old self, I failed. This game isn’t a successor to Wipeout Pure. Instead it’s a great time trial game in its own right; stylish and smart. If you like racing games, you should give it a go.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“To get the most out of Phantom Spark, you’ll have to love time trials. If you’re a diehard racing game fan who prefers racing against yourself rather than others, that may put the game squarely on your radar, but if the allure of racing games is facing off against other people, be they bots or a Player Two, then this game may leave a lot to be desired.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Phantom Spark is a great racing game for taking times that seek to get closer to perfection, using precise controls and well-designed layouts to challenge the most dedicated players. However, with few game modes, uninspired multiplayer and artistic minimalism, it does little for those looking for something other than constant repetition in search of the impossible thousandth.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Phantom Spark pares away everything inessential to provide a blissful time trial racing experience, buttressed by pleasant pastel visuals and a calming soundtrack. There are no extra bells and whistles, but what this indie racer does, it does very well.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Race to get better. Race for self-improvement. Race to understand how knocking a few hundredths of a second off a best time can feel like victory.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Don't be fooled by Phantom Spark's seemingly simple gameplay; it's as fun as it is straightforward. Borrowing elements from F-Zero, Trackmania, and Thumper, Ghosts' title is a hymn to speed and skill, an irresistible draw for those seeking the perfect lap time. Without unnecessary frills and power-ups, it maximizes the player's abilities, leading to a loop where the search for the perfect trajectory makes all the difference between victory and defeat. Simple to approach, hard to master, and highly satisfying.”
read full review ↗
Fintendo
Hu3br
Nindie Spotlight
Life is Xbox
GamesCreed
NoobFeed
Thumb Culture
Gaming Age
PSX Brasil
New Game Network
Hardcore Gamer
Console-Tribe…and 3 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes - August 15thAug 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window