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BIT.TRIP RERUNNER

BIT.TRIP RERUNNER

Choice Provisions, Gamecraft Studios · released Sep 19, 2023

ActionAdventureIndie

The classic rhythm platformer is back as BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER! The fun of the original now sports fresh mechanics, art, and soundtrack, plus RUNNER MAKER, which allows you to create custom levels. A must-play for rhythm newbies, experts, and everyone in between.

88
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence

anchored at patch: “Patch 2 Now Live!” (2y ago)

91%
At launch
97%
Steam all-time
n/a
Press
96%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)0
All-time Steam reviews97%93202
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)96%91216
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.6, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 403 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 (Nov 9, 2023) · 216 reviews sampled · 204 total reviews in window · weighted 111.2 up / 4.7 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (10)

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.

  • 90
    trust 65Oct 9, 2023

    Definitely one of the best surprises of the entire year, and I’m eager to see what the community comes up with next for this charming runner. It’s 2013 all over again!

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 62Sep 26, 2023

    With the inclusion of the original game and a set of new mechanics that slot in naturally, Bit.Trip Rerunner is a stellar example of a remake.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 61Sep 18, 2023

    BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER is a must-play for fans of rhythm platformers and creative level design enthusiasts. The combination of classic gameplay, innovative level creation, stunning visuals, and a thumping soundtrack ensures an enjoyable and immersive gaming experience. It’s a testament to how a classic title can be rejuvenated and made relevant for both long-time fans and newcomers to the genre.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 61May 28, 2024

    Bit.Trip Rerunner not only gives the original a major makeover, but turns it into a big party. It celebrates the history of the series with a lot of fun extras, 150 different levels with music from previous games and a very extensive level editor. This is not a simple remake, this is a game that the makers have put a lot of effort and love into. This makes it interesting for both fans of the original and new players who have never touched the series before. It even gives more insight into how the game was made. This is how a remake should be made!

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 60Sep 30, 2023

    BIT.TRIP RERUNNER is a very straightforward remake, but one that does exactly what it needed to do. It didn’t change a thing in its gameplay, for there was no need to fix what wasn’t broken. It offers vastly superior visuals, with a brand new “retro meets modern” coat of paint, and an excellent level creator to exponentially increase its lasting appeal and overall value.

    read full review ↗
  • 91
    trust 57Oct 17, 2023

    Playing BIT.TRIP RERUNNER has made it clear to me just how much my gaming tastes have changed in the past decade. But that’s very much a case of “It’s not you, it’s me.” RERUNNER shows the series has got as much life in it as it ever did, and if you’re in the mood to be challenged, it’s worth your time and money.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 56Jun 1, 2024

    BIT.TRIP RERUNNER is a polarising game that manages to mix some of the most heartening extra features that I've seen in a remake collection with some of the most frustrating gameplay that I've experienced in a rhythm platformer. I can absolutely see the foundations of a solid rhythm platformer here, but I feel like in being so rooted in tradition, this remake loses the potential to bring new people in. While I could see myself getting used to the heavy physics and visual language of RERUNNER, the unfortunate lack of visual variety in this package means that I found myself growing relatively tired before I reached the end. The level editor is a wonderful addition that suffers from this as well. Despite this, I left RERUNNER feeling generally impressed with the care that's been put in, but this is one for the fans.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 54Sep 22, 2023

    BIT.TRIP is back in a big way with renewed graphics, the same masterful soundtrack as always and a complete level creator. With special care for its community and a lot of love from its developers, the Wii classic is back to stay.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 53Jun 7, 2024

    With simple but demanding gameplay, BIT.TRIP RERUNNER is one of those games that makes you want to play “just one more time” several times. Integrating many possibilities into the runner genre, including rhythmic and action elements, the stages are fun and challenging. To top it off, the level creation and sharing mode brings even more life to the game.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 45Jun 10, 2024

    It's hard to believe that this series has been around for 15 years but BIT.TRIP RERUNNER proves that it's still a ton of fun nowadays.

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. Patch 2 Now Live!
    Nov 9, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  2. NEW MUSIC UPDATE!
    Oct 11, 2023
  3. Patch 1 Now Live!
    Sep 27, 2023significant · resets scoring window