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 | 58 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 91% | 85 | 132 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 5, 2026) · 131 reviews sampled · 132 total reviews in window · weighted 87.9 up / 8.4 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (33)
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
“Rift of the NecroDancer is a great rhythm game. It’s a title that takes the best this genre has to offer and spins that into a unique, compelling remix that you can’t help but bop your head to.This is an absolute must-play and a blast from start to finish.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Rift of the NecroDancer is a spectacular, cute, and extremely engaging ride with an outstandingly energizing soundtrack and infinite rifts full of joy!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Negative emotions may not be so easily dispelled for us as they are with Cadence’s magical guitar, but music can help us to motivate ourselves, making this a feel-good game in more ways than one.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“With Rift of the Necrodancer, Brace Yourself Games has picked up the rhythm genre and, well, riffed on it. This is a smart, stylish remix of what rhythm games can be. By swapping prescriptive note charts for more involved pattern reading, it cracks open a whole new dimension of challenge, one where you will feel both cool and overwhelmed at the same time.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While mixing RPG elements with a rhythm game isn’t a new thing by any means, the modern nostalgia that is evoked with Brace Yourself Games’ Rift of the Necrodancer is just a joy to experience.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“With its innovative mechanics, Rift of the Necrodancer completely reimagines the rhythm game genre, resulting in a unique and highly deserving title. However, not every aspect of the game feels fully developed, though this doesn't significantly detract from the overall experience.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Rift of the Necrodancer is one of this year’s early heavy-hitters if we’re talking indie music games. [...] Replayable, tough as heck when you want it to be, and full of fun minigames that remind you of a time when Nintendo gave a crap about the Rhythm Heaven series: all this and a fun aesthetic make for a quintessential music offering that does its Brace Yourself Games brand proud.”
read full review ↗ - 86
“An absolute banger of a rhythm game that stands out from the crowd, but with a difficulty level that can be intimidating”
read full review ↗ - 90
“At the end of the day, Rift of the NecroDancer is an absolute joy to play. Whether you’re here for the music, the challenge, or just a fun way to kill time, this game delivers on all fronts.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Celebrating rhythm games that were once a hit, Rift of the NecroDancer pays homage to these classics while adding its own originality to break away from the norm, greatly extending the game's lifespan whether for enthusiasts or those just starting in the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“In taking a step back and adhering to more classical rhythm games I think that Rift lost a bit of the appeal of what made the original game special for a lot of players. While the cast and characters do retain their appeal and made me more curious about playing the original, I think that my retention with Rift of the Necrodancer will fade quickly. I'm hopeful that future instalments can find a balance between innovation and keeping the appeal of this world and characters and it won't need a Necrodancer for itself in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Rift of the NecroDancer features some interesting ideas and a great story mode, which shows how well the concepts from Crypt of the NecroDancer work in a new genre.”
read full review ↗
TheReviewGeek
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Nintendo Life
RPGamer
STWGames Italia
Kakuchopurei
Nindie Spotlight
A Gaming Network
Manual dos Games
NintendoWorldReport
Siliconera…and 21 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Omega Strikers Music Pack is Out Now!Aug 5, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- K/DA hits the RiftJun 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Make Some Noise for Pride MonthJun 18, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 1.15.0-b23349 Hotfix #8Jun 15, 2026
- Cadence Plushie and OST 2 tracks available now!Jun 11, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- OST Volume 2 Out Now!Jun 11, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Rift Catalog UpdateJun 10, 2026
- 1.14.0-b22705 Hotfix #6Apr 13, 2026
- The UNDERTALE Music Pack has arrived!Apr 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix #5Mar 12, 2026
- Rift Patch #12Feb 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- RIFT Patch #11Feb 5, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Friday Night Funkin' and UNBEATABLE Enter the Rift!Dec 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix #4Nov 25, 2025
- Turn it up with the Monstercat Music Pack!Sep 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- RIFT Beta Patch 2Aug 20, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- hololive Make Their NecroDancer Debut!Jun 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- RIFT Beta Patch 1Jun 17, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Pizza Tower Music Pack DLC Now Available!May 5, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- RIFT Hotfix #3Apr 24, 2025
- Happy 10 Years of NecroDancing!Apr 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Celeste Music Pack is Out Now!Mar 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- RIFT Patch #2Mar 5, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- RIFT Hotfix #2Feb 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Free Super Meat Boy Content Drop!Feb 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- RIFT Hotfix #1Feb 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Rift of the NecroDancer Demo Leaderboard ResetJan 30, 2025