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) | – | 72 | 6 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 88 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 84 | 3 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 1.6 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (52)
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.
- 70
“Despite a few rough edges, this surreal platforming adventure is a heartfelt, emotional experience that's well worth your time.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There is, however, a powerful experience here. Papo & Yo makes its player face the terrible relationship of abuse in a very personal way.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Papo & Yo is not a technically perfect game, and is perhaps a little short for the asking price, but it covers a topic that is rarely discussed in the world of video games thoughtfully with an inventive style that provokes an emotional response at several points.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“This is a videogame that deserved a bit more attention, rather than being labelled as simply a fun download only diversion. That said, Papo & Yo is still a remarkable experience, one of the most emotive games of the year so far and one that will stay with you well after the credits have rolled.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The message and weight of the game are top notch and impressively implemented, but the bland puzzles and inconsistent polish hold it back a little.”
read full review ↗ - 87
- 70
“Never feels challenging, so it lacks exhilarating highs.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Papo & Yo isn't always pleasant, for reasons both technical and emotional, but its cleverness is exceptional. It's a world of pure imagination, for good and for ill, and while its puzzles aren't the most challenging you'll find, their presentation is so unusual that you'll race through them just to see what comes next.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It's the ugly subject matter that's challenging, and the way in which the game invites you to walk through the contours of distress. And yet there is something redemptive at its heart.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The gameplay of Papo & Yo won't grab you, but its imaginative portrayal of a young boy's struggles makes it a worthwhile and special experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's fun, cohesive and meaningful yet suffers from a lapse in replayability and all-round polish.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The daring, deeply personal story is more than enough reason to give Papo & Yo a shot, but don't expect to be wowed by the underlying puzzle platformer gameplay.”
read full review ↗
Push Square
GameWatcher
ZTGD
The Escapist
Eurogamer
GameSpot
TheSixthAxis
EGM…and 40 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.