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 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 711 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Sep 2, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 711 total reviews in window · weighted 238.6 up / 27.8 down · computed 6h 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
“It is trying to be a visual novel that has an RPG inside of it, and I also think it needs to be judged on that basis. Do I think that it is quite as good at either of these things as it could be? No. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like it’s a surprising triumph in that regard. However, I feel like it is instead just a regular success in that department. This is a fun game, and while you can definitely tell that it’s not quite a full RPG in its own right, I still enjoyed it front to back.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“If you’re down mostly for the story, and don’t mind the reasonably-good combat being in too short a supply, it may work out for you”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Gratesca Studio and Serenity Forge’s Noctuary offers a gripping, emotional narrative in a richly detailed world and while the combat feels underused, its stunning visuals and story shine.”
read full review ↗ - 64
“Noctuary blends a heartfelt visual novel with stylish, accessible action combat. Its strong story and presentation shine, especially on Switch 2. A must-play for VN fans craving light gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The console edition expands the original vision, polishing the experience with new content, better accessibility, and richly layered voice work. Noctuary delivers, and it lingers long after the credits roll. A must-play for visual novel fans on console.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Noctuary combines visual novel storytelling with action RPG battles to create a memorable experience that will appeal most to fans of visual novels, though its combat is enjoyable as well. With easily over 20 hours of content and a great amount of attention to detail in its storytelling, it stands out as an overlooked gem of 2023.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Noctuary is a small pearl that succeeds where many have failed: building a credible bridge between two distant genres, enhancing their peculiarities without distorting them.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Noctuary is an excellent choice if you wish for a story-driven experience with just the right amount of interaction to keep it interesting. Not everyone will like this game. It could turn out to be a hidden gem for people who like stories that take their time, beautiful art, and stories that come from the heart.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Noctuary stands out as a masterfully crafted dual-protagonist Visual Novel that seamlessly integrates JRPG elements. With a compelling narrative, diverse characters, strategic combat, and a sophisticated Blessing system, the game offers a rich and immersive experience. Whether you’re a fan of captivating storytelling, dynamic battles, or intricate customization options, Noctuary delivers on multiple fronts, making it a must-play for enthusiasts of both genres.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“With many new additions and full voice-over, this is the best version of Noctuary. If you're into something of a unique genre-mix with fast fights and visual novel storytelling, this might be for you.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Despite the weak action, Noctuary has good ideas and a rich world that could build on what worked here and address a few issues that were lacking. Starting with one that I find quite problematic: the game's lack of visual accessibility options: While beautiful, the interface limits text size, making it difficult for those with some degree of visual impairment to read the menus and subtitles. While uninspired, the action scenes are entertaining to a certain extent, but their limited number makes them seem more like barriers to admiring the game's story than a playful element where the characters' powers can be seen in action and the antagonists can demonstrate the magnitude of the threat they pose. I hope the developer sees the project as a good start and brings us an adventure in which the quality seen in the narrative is also seen in the action!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Noctuary is a beautiful visual novel filled with fantastic art, amazing writing, great music and well done Chinese voice acting. The combat is not nearly as thoughtful.”
read full review ↗
Gamer Escape
Nindie Spotlight
Capsule Computers
GamesCreed
NextGen Player
MonsterVine
CrazyGameCommunity.it
NoobFeed
Rectify Gaming
Final Weapon
NintendoBoy
The Outerhaven Productions…and 3 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 🎮Noctuary Lite Version is Live! Now Officially Compatible with SteamDeck!Sep 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- [V1.2.1 Patch Note] Typo and voiceover FixAug 15, 2025
- 📢 NOCTUARY MAJOR UPDATE! CONSOLE VERSION and FREE DLC OUT NOW!Jul 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Fixed the issues of the Art Story of NoctuaryMar 14, 2025