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) | – | 73 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 14 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 39 reviews sampled · 37 total reviews in window · weighted 20 up / 0 down · computed 7h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (65)
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.
- 60
“Once the novelty and the wackiness have worn off, you are left with a short and sometimes haphazard experience that treads an incredibly fine (and wobbly) line between hilarity and frustration. While kids will love the simple, bold, bright cartoon-like characters and physical humour, older players will likely feel that they are constantly at odds with the game's controls and become immune to its charms. If you haven't experienced Octodad before it's worth checking out, but be cautious - it will make you giggle as well as probably stretch your patience.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“Don't get me wrong, Octodad is a ton of fun. It's got a self-aware irreverence, call it the Katamari factor, that you usually only find in indie games. That being said, with games like that, I usually focus on the stand-out moments, like the big reveals in Gone Home, the progressive decay of Limbo, or even the silly mysteries of something as slight as Frog Fractions. Octodad doesn't have anything like that. It's a giddy little glide full of heart and genuine goodwill, but never manifesting into anything more than a distraction.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The game stumbles, though, when it focuses more on the "octo" and less on the "dad." ”
read full review ↗ - 65
“If nothing else the IP represents an interesting attempt to turn a brilliant tech demo into a full game and it's certainly unlike anything I've ever played before.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“What will likely either attract people to Octodad or scare them away will be its unorthodox control and style of play. If you’re looking for a serious challenge with tight controls and impeccable level design you will very much come away disappointed. If, however, you’re open to the experience and the humor of it all Octodad is an excellent representation of the genre as a whole and plays very well as a handheld game to boot. If you’re looking for a major change of pace on the Switch Octodad will be happy to help you out with that!”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Octodad: Dadliest Catch is the epitome of cult, as it's clearly a love-or-hate video game, since its purposely "bad" control scheme and comedic approach to things is far from most people's cup of sea water. As for those who think that this is up their alley, it's best to wait a bit. Not because this isn't fun or anything, but because it's currently a bit too pricey for what's on offer.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Octodad: Dadliest Catch is a game that embraces its craziness. The title's zany controls lead to some even stranger onscreen occurrences, and that culminates in a lot of unexpected entertainment. The release does start to grate in long sessions, and perhaps doesn't have enough gameplay variety to carry its core idea, but with PlayStation Move support and a ridiculous co-op component, the package will spread a smile across even the sternest countenance.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“I loved Octodad's premise right when I heard about it, and I'm glad to finally have the chance to play it. The Wii U version doesn't run at 100%, but It's already sold me on any projects Young Horses works on in the future. I just hope it comes to a Nintendo platform sooner.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Still, Octodad is three hours of fun I wouldn't want to throw back. While it is too short an experience it's a great, unique one and I urge anyone who likes fun games to give it a go. Anyone who played Surgeon Simulator and thought it was hilarious should immediately pick up Octodad, and anyone who thought it was funny but wanted a fuller game experience should be covered too. Dadliest Catch is funny, charming, challenging, and packed with loveliness. It's over too quickly, but I can't think of anything I'd rather be playing in that time.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Octodad is a clever game that is fun in the same sense something like Goat Simulator is. It is hilarity, physics-based mayhem that is entirely random. The difference here is that the developers tried to streamline it with actual objectives and level progression, which can lead to frustration.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Its brevity and reliance on contrived challenges work against Octodad: Deadliest Catch, but when it's at its best, it's a damn hilarious game that'll charm the pants off most players.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's a shame Octodad leans so heavily on traditional gameplay tropes like boss fights and stealth sections in its second half, especially when the opening sections suggest something quirkier and more inventive - but taken as a whole, it's still a minor triumph.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Paste Magazine
The A.V. Club
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
GameWatcher
ZTGD
The Escapist
Eurogamer…and 53 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- macOS 64-bit Update Released (Version 1.2.35028)Jan 31, 2020
- macOS 64-bit Update Released (Version 1.2.35018)Jan 14, 2020
- Update Released (Version 1.2.35006)Sep 6, 2018
- Update Released (Version 1.2.19338)Jun 7, 2016
- Update Released (Version 1.2.19338)Jun 7, 2016
- Update Released (Version 1.2.19027)May 12, 2016
- Update Released (Version 1.2.19027)May 12, 2016
- Update Released (Version 1.2.17060)Nov 24, 2015
- Update Released (Version 1.2.17060)Nov 24, 2015
- Hotfix Released (Version 1.2.16507)Sep 16, 2015
- Hotfix Released (Version 1.2.16507)Sep 16, 2015
- Hotfix Released (Version 1.2.16477)Sep 8, 2015
- Hotfix Released (Version 1.2.16477)Sep 8, 2015
- Update Released (Version 1.2.16458)Aug 31, 2015
- Update Released (Version 1.2.16458)Aug 31, 2015
- Update ReleasedApr 30, 2015
- Update ReleasedApr 30, 2015
- Update Released (1.2.13414)Jan 21, 2015
- Update Released (1.2.13414)Jan 21, 2015
- Update Released (1.2.12787 )Oct 20, 2014
- Update Released (1.2.12787 )Oct 20, 2014
- Update Released (1.2.12737)Oct 15, 2014
- Update Released (1.2.12737)Oct 15, 2014
- Update Released 1.2.12729Oct 14, 2014
- Update Released 1.2.12729Oct 14, 2014
- Update Released (1.2.12708)Oct 14, 2014
- Mac OS X Hotfix Released (1.0.10811)Apr 25, 2014
- Mac OS X Hotfix Released (1.0.10811)Apr 25, 2014
- Update Released (1.0.10738)Apr 25, 2014
- Update Released (1.0.10738)Apr 25, 2014
- Polish Language Update ReleasedApr 1, 2014
- Update Released (1.0.10512)Mar 26, 2014
- Update Released (1.0.10512)Mar 26, 2014
- Language Update ReleasedMar 21, 2014
- Language Update ReleasedMar 21, 2014
- Update Released (1.0.10393)Mar 12, 2014
…and 17 earlier patch announcements.