Cobalt Core | VGC Score 89

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 (Metacritic)	–	94	26
All-time Steam reviews	96%	91	1000
Metacritic user ratings	–	–	0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)	96%	92	638
Calibration prior (typical game)	–	72	50

Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 90.8, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 4,396 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 29, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 638 total reviews in window · weighted 224 up / 8.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (5)

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.

100
Eurogamer
trust 66Dec 13, 2023
“Tight, inventive gameplay, cascading card synergies, and gentle, witty character-writing ensure that, while Cobalt Core might not slay Slay the Spire, it does indeed slay. ”
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87
PC Gamer
trust 64Jan 19, 2024
“Delightful deckbuilding that uses starship travel to build upon the Slay the Spire formula instead of merely imitating it. Outstanding.”
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90
But Why Tho?
trust 58Nov 8, 2023
“Cobalt Core provides a memorable story with fun characters, tense gameplay moments, and a payoff that is nearly unmatched. Despite the characters’ best attempts to escape the loop, it’s a game that you should play over and over.”
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100
Hey Poor Player
trust 56Nov 16, 2023
“Cobalt Core was a wonderful surprise for me, and is absolutely one of my favorite games of the year. It marries two disparate genres effortlessly and has a deep but easy-to-understand combat mechanic, engaging and lovable characters, and a mysterious plot. If you love rogue-like, deckbuilder, or Shmup, you can’t go wrong with this one.”
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90
GLHF on Sports Illustrated
trust 49Feb 4, 2024
“As with any good roguelite, there are new pilots and ships to unlock, as well as card sets and modifiers to change what you’re capable of. It’s also injected with some of that Hades magic, with your pilots dropping new hints to the story with each successful run. The story and characters aren’t quite as in-depth as Hades, but it makes up for that by being funny and charming in a way few games can manage.”
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Patch history

1.2.9
Feb 10, 2026
1.2.8
Jan 18, 2026
1.2.7
Jan 12, 2026
1.2.6
Jan 4, 2026
small patch
Sep 24, 2025
Linux update!
Aug 31, 2025
1.2.5 hotfix
Aug 27, 2025
1.2.5
Jul 29, 2025significant · resets scoring window
1.2.4
Oct 14, 2024
1.2.3
Sep 30, 2024
Patch notes- 1.2.1
Aug 28, 2024
Patch notes: 1.2.0
Aug 28, 2024
Patch notes: 1.1.2
Jul 17, 2024significant · resets scoring window
Patch notes: 1.1.1
Jun 28, 2024significant · resets scoring window
Version 1.1- more enemies!
Jun 17, 2024
Patch notes: 1.0.7
May 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window
Patch notes: 1.0.6
Dec 20, 2023significant · resets scoring window
Patch notes: 1.0.5
Nov 27, 2023significant · resets scoring window
Patch notes: 1.0.4
Nov 22, 2023
Patch notes: 1.0.3
Nov 18, 2023significant · resets scoring window
Patch notes: 1.0.2
Nov 15, 2023significant · resets scoring window
Patch notes: 1.0.1
Nov 12, 2023