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) | – | 86 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 84% | 78 | 16 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (18)
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
- 80
“Compelling to a fault, with a hypnotic and exhilarating central conceit, Grindstone is a tiny bit special. Hopefully, it won't be dismissed by players for being a mobile port, or being mistaken for a "match-three" game akin to Candy Crush, it's not. A full-featured, elegantly designed experience, Capybara's action-puzzle-tactics game is a tiny marvel and we'd strongly recommend it to any and all Switch owners. Ever-so-slight resource exhaustion is the only thing letting it down, but it's easily forgiven when smashing seven shades of shawarma out of creeps is so flipping fun. We say it's time to reverse that well-worn idiom and put your yes to the Grindstone.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“There’s nothing I like more than a surprise game that shows up, slaps you around a bit, and leaves you thirsting for more...”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Grindstone is an example of a game which hits all the right notes and keeps up a quality in gameplay throughout that many struggle to maintain. The divine gameplay mechanics give a wonderful sense of control in spite of the randomness of how enemies fall, and the inputs of buying equipment or using currency to give temporary boosts gives ample opportunity for improvisation if things don't go quite your way. I only wish there were more to play.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Grindstone is a puzzle classic, and Capybara Games have ensured that its transition to PS5 is flawless.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Grindstone is a simple dungeon crawler bursting with charm and instant gratification. The short, engaging gameplay loop is good enough to never get boring, no matter how many times I went through it. It’s effective, fun and addictive and has found the perfect portable home on the Nintendo Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you’re into its visual style and addictive, puzzling experiences then Grindstone stands with the best of ‘em.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“One of the best puzzle games of the last decade, with its mix of tactical puzzle-solving, extreme violence, and charming visuals.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Another hit puzzle game from Capybara Games. Not on par with their Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, yet a very fine experience.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Grindstone‘s premise is simple in the best way possible: this is the sort of puzzle game that really gets its claws into you and doesn’t let go. Getting a high score in a daily challenge is a thrill, and getting a record-breaking chain is oh-so-satisfying. It helps that it looks fantastic, too, with a sumptuous hand-drawn art style. If you’re after a casual puzzle game with some substance, you really can’t get any better than this. Just prepare yourself to be unable to put it down.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Candy Crush essentially created the formula that Grindstone and so many others follow. It is just something that needs to be noted before walking into it though.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Apple Arcade showpiece arrives on Nintendo's portable.”
read full review ↗
Fintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
TheSixthAxis
LadiesGamers.com
Nintendo Wire
Metro GameCentral
IGN
GameSpew
WayTooManyGames
Screen Rant…and 6 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Castle of the BlackApr 7, 2023
- Dragon Cove is liveMar 10, 2023