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) | – | 79 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 79 | 3 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 98% | 93 | 14 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.6, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 13,882 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 41 reviews sampled · 34 total reviews in window · weighted 25.3 up / 0.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (20)
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.
- 80
“Little Inferno is a surprising game. It's surprising both for the simplicity of its concept ("burn things"), and for the fact that such a coherent and lovingly crafted experience has been built around that idea. It's also surprisingly different from what we traditionally think of as a game, and because of that, it isn't for everyone. But players drawn to the flame will find a fun, funny, and even moving experience in Little Inferno. It's a lot like setting some of the game's more spectacularly flammable objects ablaze, actually; a fast burn, but beautiful while it lasts.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The creepy atmosphere, the single-minded focus on extremely minimal actions, and the mocking self-awareness all contribute to a deft statement on games and how we play them.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Little Inferno is an incredibly unique experience that can't be found in any other game. Burning various items is surprisingly fun and the charming story will appeal to many people.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Little Inferno is terrific the way it is, and doesn't need to conform just to fit inside a box. In the end, it's enough to just snuggle up around the fire and keep it well fed.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“You can treat Little Inferno like a bedtime story or a three-hour movie, but remember that at its heart, Little Inferno is a game about games. It will make you think about what you do in games, the purpose of games, and the future of games, so sit tight, think hard, and keep burning those toys.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Is Little Inferno a game? What the heck do I know! What it is, though is quite unique experience, whose only downside I can think of is the asking price which might be considered by some to be slightly on the steep side.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“A daring experiment in minimalist gameplay and storytelling, although that doesn't forgive the repetition and high price tag.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“What ultimately makes Little Inferno special is the story that swirls out like tendrils of smoke.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Little Inferno looks nice, tells a unique story and will perhaps be seen by some as a triumph in experimental design. But it's not really a video game, so feel free to forget this freaky fireplace.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A truly unique experience, Little Inferno isn't really a game - it's more of a toy box with sinister undertones and a beautiful ending. Had it been a fiver we'd have told everyone to go and snap it up immediately, but at £12.99 for a four-hour game think long and hard about taking the risk since it isn't for everyone. Those who click with it will adore it.”
read full review ↗ - 66
“More physics toybox than game, Little Inferno manages to be both enjoyably mad and annoyingly maddening. Wait to snap it up in an eShop fire sale.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Yet it’s Little Inferno’s weird, dark, off-kilter tone that makes it so refreshing and intriguing. You’ll come for the pyromania puzzles, but you’ll want to see what happens when the smoke finally clears.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
Nintendojo
Eurogamer
Metro GameCentral
IGN
Toronto Sun…and 8 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update notes for Dec 7thDec 8, 2022
- Update notes for November 23rdNov 23, 2022
- Updated linux portMay 9, 2022