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) | – | 83 | 75 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 77 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 79 | 611 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Dec 4, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 611 total reviews in window · weighted 196.3 up / 32.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (54)
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
“All that said, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising largely achieves its central tasks. It lowers the barrier to entry for newcomers while also offering a well-designed roster with enough complexities to keep things exciting for seasoned hands. I found myself pulled into matches that balanced flashy techniques with the more deliberate pacing of old-school genre entries, creating compelling duels I’m eager to return to. Perhaps most notably, it addresses the core issue with the last game, adding rollback netcode that makes online play dramatically more stable. Although there are a few whiffs, such as the inability to filter opponents by connection speed and regressions in its story mode, it generally hits as hard as its colorful cast of combatants.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising improves on everything that was the previous chapterz It adds content and makes what was already there much more enjoyable and easily accessible, thanks also to the presence of a free-to-play mode that allows you to play with a limited number of characters in all the modes present in the full game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“On a whole, I feel like Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is more sure of what it wants to be than its predecessor. It’s not trying to split the difference by being an RPG in one mode and a fighting game in others. On the other hand, the original’s RPG bona fides were a big part of what attracted me to the original, so it raises the interesting question wherein I both prefer the original for what it was trying to do while recognizing that the sequel is probably the better fighting game, which is what it’s trying to actually be. Taking into account the long tail of support for the original, the promise of more characters, and the surfeit of extra modes, this is almost a definite buy for fighting game fans, especially if you are a longtime fan of the original game. But it’s also a good buy if you’ve always loved fighting games but dislike threadbare stories or struggle with the controls. And with the sheer breadth of extra modes available, odds are good you’ll find stuff to love in here.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Truth be told, GBVS Rising's fighting mechanics can get overwhelming, and it still comes off a bit short when compared to this year's 2D fighting crown jewel Street Fighter 6. Still, you have to give credit where credit's due: instead of leaving this 2D game to die, Arc System Works and co. breathed new life to an already-solid 2D fighting game and reworked it for a new audience. Welcome back, Granblue Fantasy Versus. We've missed you and your half-anime-half-traditional-fighting-game-like ways.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Finding its feet for a second round, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising comes out swinging. Delivering an exciting, accessible, and shamelessly sexy fighting experience - packed with dramatic action, fun features, and bags of personality - GBVSR is a major improvement over its predecessor, fully deserving of a spot among the new year’s heaviest hitters.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Rising is the game that the original Granblue Fantasy Versus should have been, and while it's a bit cheeky that players are being asked to pay for it all over again, with yet more DLC characters incoming, it's hard to argue with the overall package. This is a gorgeous fighter that feels great to play.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“This new game addresses the main issues from the original 2020 release and introduces a lot of additional content, such as new mechanics and characters. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is the definitive version. Although it might not be a must-buy for players who played the previous title, it's an accessible and deep fighting game that will appeal to both newcomers and experts.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising may feel like an enhanced release more than a sequel its impressive roster size and fast-paced easy to learn combat make this gorgeous fighter a delight to play.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a redemption and course correction that the series sorely needed to compete against some fantastic FGs out on the market already. If not for the overpriced DLC and lackluster single player content, it could have been “THE” anime fighter to beat. As it stands, it’s one I’m sure to go back to play from time to time and eager to see played at a high level during the majors coming later this year.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“The attempt to make significant changes from the previous title was successful. Visual and system upgrades transformed it into a rewarding fighting game, bringing a new vitality. While efforts were made to enhance the tutorial and controls, it's regrettable that they did not integrate well with the story.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising certainly looks like one of the most gorgeous fighting games out there and it plays well, even if the actual content feels a bit bland.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising does what any good sequel should do, and that's take what works in the first game and amplifies its strengths while also fixing some of its shortcomings. The addition of new moves involving a special meter deepen the overall fighting mechanics, but it still retains the simpler control scheme for newcomers and as a comprehensive training system to help genre rookies get acclimated to the overall Arc System way of fighting. The character roster feels much more substantial and in line with what's expected from a modern-day fighting game, while the rollback netcode gives people more confidence in entering online bouts without fear of most network conditions creating an unplayable experience. If you can shake off the fact that a good chunk of the game is directly lifted from the first title, you'll greatly enjoy Rising.”
read full review ↗
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Worth Playing…and 42 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Version 2.60 Update to Release on September 17Jun 27, 2026
- Version 2.51 Now LiveMar 17, 2026
- Version 2.50 Out Now!Feb 10, 2026
- Version 2.50 Patch NotesFeb 9, 2026
- Version 2.40 Out Now!Dec 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Version 2.40 Patch NotesDec 1, 2025
- Version 2.30 Out Now!Oct 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Version 2.30 Patch NotesOct 14, 2025
- Version 2.20 Out Now!Aug 5, 2025
- Version 2.20 Patch NotesAug 4, 2025
- Version 2.10 Available Now!May 28, 2025
- Version 2.10 Patch NotesMay 27, 2025
- Version 2.00 Patch NotesMar 13, 2025
- Version 2.00 is Live!Mar 4, 2025
- Version 2.00 Patch NotesFeb 26, 2025
- Version 1.62 Patch NotesNov 21, 2024
- Vikala Joins GBVSR Roster in Version 1.60 UpdateOct 25, 2024
- Version 1.60 Patch NotesOct 24, 2024
- Version 1.52 Patch NotesSep 16, 2024
- Version 1.50 Patch NotesAug 18, 2024
- Version 1.42 Patch NotesJun 24, 2024
- Beatrix Adjustments Coming to Version 1.42Jun 17, 2024
- Version 1.41 Patch NotesJun 3, 2024
- Version 1.40 Patch NotesMay 22, 2024
- Version 1.30 Patch NotesApr 1, 2024
- Vane Gameplay TrailerMar 23, 2024
- Version 1.21 Patch NotesFeb 20, 2024
- Version 1.1 Patch NotesJan 16, 2024