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) | – | 73 | 114 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 30 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 80 | 865 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 80 | 997 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Sep 21, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 997 total reviews in window · weighted 160.1 up / 12.9 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (93)
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.
- 30
“It’s cheap from both a visual and combat standpoint, it’s unpleasant to control, and the incentives for enduring multiple “runs” are among the worst rewards and unlocks I’ve ever seen. All it accomplished was getting me to replay Shredder’s Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, two games that completely embarrass this sorry little thing.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons succeeds in standing out from its peers with the implementation of roguelike mechanics, a stylish and deep combat system, and a wide variety of playable characters armed with unique fighting styles. However, its lack of a training mode, tutorial mode, or versus mode (all modern-day beat ’em up staples) or any real gameplay innovations makes for a somewhat quick and empty experience. Even so, the Double Dragons are back and more than capable of putting up a fight.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“It's hard to recommend Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons to anyone but the the most hardcore fans of the series. Everyone else should probably give this one a pass.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A fun and engaging beat 'em up with an interesting progression system and a pack of diverse fighters. If only it had just a few more levels, then almost everything in this game would be perfect.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The legendary franchise is back with Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, a delightful gameplay, pixel art and an irresistible chiptune soundtrack. A videogame that puts Billy and Jimmy Lee in their rightful place: among the beat 'em up elite and in the top 3 games to enjoy with friends.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is ultimately a game that brings this iconic, though long-neglected, series back among the genre’s elite. Some players may take a while to get used to the cute art style, others will be disappointed by the lack of online multiplayer, and still others will point out minor flaws, such as weaker platforming sections. However, even skeptics will be easily won over by the game’s well-designed combat system and solid replay value.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Double Dragon Gaiden is beholden to some unique ideas, and they're fairly well-applied. You can experiment with mix-ups and tag team advantages, and multiplayer makes things altogether more enjoyable, although it's restricted to local co-op. But, being associated with Double Dragon is arguably to its detriment. It's a game that has secrets to uncover, twists to happen upon, and plenty of cash grinding and unlocking to do. While initially fun to work through, how many times you'll feel encouraged to replay the campaign is questionable, especially with its overall pacing and neutered thrill of brutally knee-slamming someone in the face. Still, it's certainly worthy of attention for beat 'em up fans looking for old things in new forms.”
read full review ↗ - 75
““Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons” features an amazing cast with awe inspiring combos and styles. Sadly, the game ends up being dragged down by poor level design and a “roguelike” mode that barely fits the formula.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons isn’t dragged down by the classic problem of doing too many things at once and not succeeding at any of them. Instead, we’re left with a solid experience that can stand alongside the best in the series while also being a good entry point for those who might want a less demanding roguelike in their lives. Having accessible entry points into new genres is good. Having fun multiplayer experiences are even better. Don’t ignore Rise of the Dragons, because there are some classic-laced-with-modern shenanigans here that are worth checking out.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons' roguelike structure might take a while to get used to, and the game can get absurdly tough in Mission 3 and onward. And it'll take you a while to get used to each character's recovery animations as it's purposely made like this to make you think twice before you button mash. Still, you won't find a worthy remake and beat-em-up revitalization project like this "side story" filled with so many deep cuts that will make beat-em-up fans of the Technos era smile.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“While the new fighting mechanics and large roster of playable characters hit the mark, the rogue-lite elements don't quite stick the landing. Still, the game is a fairly fun beat-'em-up experience, especially with a friend along for the ride.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“The classic early beat-em-up has gotten a decent upgrade, better than the usual for it, but it has a weird flow overall”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
The Punished Backlog
GameMAG
3DNews
La Orden del Pixel
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
Hu3br
Gamer Escape
Kakuchopurei
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight…and 81 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- A New Hot Fix is Now Available!Apr 21, 2026
- Update Now Live: Combat Polishing & Controls FixMar 10, 2026
- New Hotfix Available: February 24, 2026Feb 24, 2026
- June Bug FixesJul 15, 2024
- Minor Bug Fixes Patch (5/8/2024)May 8, 2024
- The Second Patch is Live!Sep 21, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- The First Patch is Now Live!Aug 24, 2023