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) | – | 71 | 114 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 81 | 485 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 70 | 18 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 88% | 82 | 3 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 9 reviews sampled · 7 total reviews in window · weighted 4.3 up / 0.6 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (87)
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
“Contra: Operation Galuga marks the return of Konami's classic, with a game that respects its legacy and offers a challenging experience but updated to the current times. a new opportunity for the saga and a neat, effective and fun game. It is full of details, winks and references to the franchise that denote the love and care with which it was developed, making it a must for every fan of 'The Big C'.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Contra: Operation Galuga is a fantastic return to the classic 2D run-and-gun shoot ’em up genre, in the legendary style of the NES Contra. The new visual style suits the game perfectly, and everything is enhanced by the series’ signature soundtrack. The game also features several new levels, a rogue-lite-style Perk Shop, and weapon upgrades. This nostalgic experience is slightly marred by finicky control settings that require frequent re-saving and the need to use a controller during co-op play. However, if you’re a Contra fan and aren’t put off by the higher price, this game definitely won’t disappoint you.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“WayForward has done god's work in design and execution, and in rekindling the feel of Konami's blistering run-and-gun IP. It's all expertly assembled: an adrenaline-fuelled bullet ballet that knows exactly what Contra is and should be, borrowing key elements from the series' back catalogue and elevating the action with an original moveset that feels fresh, fun, and exciting to toy with. It's this undeniable accomplishment that makes the Switch version somewhat deflating. There's a great game here, and yes, it is playable, it is fun, and it can be learned. But it's damaged by so many technical setbacks that one weeps for what should have been. Unity-coded titles on the Switch don't have a great track record, but WayForward can't really blame the tools and should have ironed it out considerably. Contra: Operation Galuga stands tall amongst its peers - just not this version. If you're a serious Contra fan, we're going to drop something utterly perverse for a Nintendo-focused publication, lay down a suppressing fire, and tell you to head straight over to Steam.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Contra: Operation Galuga, though nothing new and has some story issues, is still a love letter to Contra fans just wanting to shoot stuff.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The moment-to-moment action is terrific, level designs and boss battles are mostly great, character and weapon diversity provide high replay value, and customization options allow for an adventure as dangerous or approachable as you like. With a more interesting story, a less tedious progression model, and nicer artistic assets, it would enter that next tier of greatness.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Fans going into Contra: Operation Galuga will be very bored and repulsed by the hideous mobile-like graphics. Anyone else who just wants to mindlessly run and gun while taking it easy, might have a few hours of amusement. The lack of polished controls and excessive load times on Nintendo Switch don't do this one any favours, either. This is a very mediocre shooter that plays it too safe and feels soulless.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game's story mode is short overall, but thankfully there's an Arcade and Challenge mode that offer great replayability. The challenge mode in particular is a highlight as it doles out mini-challenges for you to blast through, like tricky platforming or a pacifist run of a level. So, all in all, this is undoubtedly the best game the series has had in a long time, and one fans of the classic games won't want to miss out on.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“Contra: Operation Galuga stays true to its roots but makes changes to appeal to old and new players. The result is a good arcade experience that adapts to the player and appeals to nostalgia to convince classic game lovers. While it delivers on being fun and challenging, it fails in its presentation with soulless designs and a less-than-stellar technical side. It is ideal for fans of retro games but for action lovers there are better options to choose from.”
read full review ↗ - 93
“Contra, one of the indispensable games of the 80s, has been adapted to the present day with its mechanics and visuals. Contra: Operation Galuga is a great game that stays true to the original with new boss battles and level designs.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Contra: Operation Galuga is a reimagining with fresh touches to gameplay and story to breathe new life into a series that fans have been dying for, yet brevity and limited co-op hold it back.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“What it lacks in visual attractiveness, it does make up for with a solid run-and-gun experience that is comparable to the best Contra games of the past. The additional characters, four-player Arcade Mode, and tricky Challenge Mode extend the replay value, but some of the more fun, Easter egg-type perks that you can unlock require far too much grinding. While it may fall a bit short of being a sure-fire hit, Operation Galuga provides a fair amount of entertainment and some good ways of adjusting the difficulty of what has been a notoriously tough video game series.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“On the Series X, Contra: Operation Galuga is definitely a fun title. While the game's story is run-of-the-mill, and the static cutscenes and clunky narrative ensure that the game isn't a standout. But if you like run-'n-gun action, you can't go wrong with this title.”
read full review ↗
La Orden del Pixel
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
eXputer
VGChartz
Cubed3
Push Square
LevelUp
Atarita
Capsule Computers
NintendoWorldReport
neXGam…and 75 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update alert!Apr 25, 2024
- UPDATE: Confirmed bugs in demo now fixedFeb 21, 2024