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) | – | 72 | 200 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 76% | 71 | 332 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 79 | 97 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 77% | 72 | 521 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 14, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 521 total reviews in window · weighted 176.9 up / 51.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (140)
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.
- 75
“Is a game of exceptional ideas imperfectly executed, which is exactly what you’d expect from a studio that has spent its career taking ambitious swings. The forging system is genuinely great. The directional combat, at its best, is distinctive and rewarding. The world is beautiful and the soundtrack is outstanding. And the Version 2.0 improvements represent real value for players arriving fresh on Steam. But the Crimson Fort escort mission, the enemy input-reading frustration, and the navigation opacity of the opening dungeon are real obstacles that drive players away right when the game needs them most. If you have tolerance for friction and an appreciation for genuine mechanical ambition, Blades of Fire has enough to offer that it’s worth the $29.99 introductory price. If you need a smooth experience from hour one, try the demo first, it’s an honest representation of the early game, but not of everything that follows. For more action-adventure coverage, check out our full reviews section.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Blades of Fire is a pretty decent, average game. It looks good graphically and works just as well. Unfortunately, it can be irritating and even boring at times.”
read full review ↗ - 80
- 55
“Reflecting on my time with Blades of Fire, I’m left feeling conflicted. Its forging and weapon degradation systems are engaging, improving upon the most annoying feature in recent Zelda games. The combat also makes a decent first impression, and only improves as you obtain new weapons. In theory, the game had everything going for it. In reality, though, it simply left me wanting to play other, better games instead. Its characters, world, and story are generic at best and uninteresting clones at worst. The more I played, the more disappointed I became.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Blades of Fire turned out to be an emotional swing, which is why the joyful moment is followed by complete disappointment. We have received a masterpiece that is not understood by the world.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Blades of Fire had potential. Nicely designed combat system, Interesting and original world, and most importantly, a big-name developer. To call the game bad would be unfair, but to call it mediocre would be fitting. A story without much meaning, stupid jokes, and most of all, a frustrating map that has you running back and forth. Unfortunately, combined with the PlayStation 3-like graphics, the game still fails to appeal to a broader audience. It's more for people looking for a retro feel in a modern way.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Blades of Fire, MercurySteam's latest release, feels like a spiritual successor to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, but with an extremely original and narratively solid approach. It's a game that emphasizes exploration and combat through a system that, while not perfect, is varied and entertaining. Of course, I can't overlook the Forge mechanic, which adds an extremely interesting system to the overall experience, around which much of the gameplay revolves.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Ultimately, there’s too much work involved for not nearly enough reward from the world or the narrative, despite the occasional interesting twist and turn.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Blades of Fire is an action RPG that, despite not reinventing the genre, offers a robust experience for those looking to distract their minds while cutting monsters in half. The forging system is the big differentiator, ensuring a feeling of authentic progression. Despite so many positive points, the developers stumbled on important elements, such as the narrative and the variety of challenges. Still, for those who enjoy the combination of high difficulty, dark setting and visceral combat, this is a furnace worth facing.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Blades of Fire may not be a perfectly polished gem, and at times its stubbornness when it comes to navigation and map-reading can be frustrating. However, if you give the game a chance and dive into its depths, it will reward you with a completely unique and addictive weapon-forging system and a raw, innovative combat system that never gets old. The relationship between the two main characters will tug at your heartstrings, and the joy of wielding a sword you forged yourself, one that wreaks havoc among the enemy ranks, is simply priceless. In my opinion, it’s a very well-made major title.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Blades of Fire has two faces, at first the game irritates with nearly every little thing, but after a while the pieces seem to fit quite nicely. I wanted to discover new mechanics (that were extremely poorly explained) and really get to know the game. But that does not change the fact, that it is tiresome and demands frequent breaks.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Blades of Fire is an impressive and solid action RPG that executes soundly on its foundational ethos, which lends itself extremely well to its combat and lore. Unfortunately, the game’s remarkable aspects are somewhat undermined by its scope, level design, and some janky gameplay and presentation elements.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
Gamepressure
Stryftek
The Punished Backlog
GameMAG
INDIANTVCZ
La Orden del Pixel
Slant Magazine
GameFM
Gaming Professors
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer…and 128 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- BLADES OF FIRE - HOTFIX 2.1 PATCH NOTESMay 28, 2026
- BLADES OF FIRE IS OUT NOW ON STEAM, INCLUDING VERSION 2.0!May 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- BLADES OF FIRE - VERSION 2.0 - TITANIUM DIFFICULTY AND NEW GAME+May 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- BLADES OF FIRE - VERSION 2.0 - ANVIL TRIALS AND ARCANA SHOWCASEMay 6, 2026significant · resets scoring window