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) | – | 76 | 146 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 86 | 3 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 76 | 491 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 51 | 126 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 80 | 404 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 16, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 404 total reviews in window · weighted 197 up / 31.7 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (123)
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.
- 75
“Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a solid metroidvania that provides 7 to 10 hours of very good fun. However, it is not a perfect title. It has a flaw in almost every category. Nevertheless, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. This game is like a diamond, but full of imperfections and lack of polish. Personally, I had a great time with this production. Between game sessions, I couldn't wait to get into Zau's character again. If another Tales of Kenzera is created, I will be very eager to check it out.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an achievement in storytelling, and its gameplay only complements it, giving players an avatar to live through a universally human experience. The combat, platforming, and exploration are satisfying and thoughtful, combining to create another great entry in a hall-of-fame genre in gaming. I can only hope that the title of the game hints at more tales to come. Surgent Studios has something special on its hands, and this is a developer and IP worth keeping an eye on.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an example of an interesting concept blighted by lazy implementation.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Tales of Kenzera: ZAU impresses visually but falls short in gameplay. It struggles to manage its ambitions in the Metroidvania genre effectively. The game often feels overwhelmed by unnecessary ideas, suggesting a more straightforward, linear approach might have been more effective than its overstretched attempt to emulate successes like Ori and the Blind Forest.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“That narrative undercurrent makes Tales of Kenzera: Zau’s mechanics and direction less about lack of ambition than accessibility. At a mere 10 hours, this is a game whose brevity is by design. After all, its story is, ultimately, about letting go, about accepting life’s harsh limits, and finding meaning in the time you have. Even as short as Tales of Kenzera is, it speaks in meaningful ways about things that audiences have needed to hear for a long time.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a decent game, but it sits in the shadow of much better Metroidvanias on the Switch. We love the setting and storyline, but as Surgent Studios' first stab at what has proven to be a wildly popular genre over the years, it struggles to set itself apart with rather bland exploration and repetitive combat. Coupled with compromised visuals and performance on Switch, veterans of the genre may want to give this one a miss. For newcomers, however, the breezy gameplay might make for a nice introduction to Metroidvanias.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Unlike many titles that drift unnoticed through the vast sea of gaming, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU leaves a lasting impression, etching a deep mark on our hearts. In my view, the creators have deliberately highlighted how, for some, life can be harsh and fraught with challenges that not everyone can face. However, through this narrative, they also remind us that hope is the last to fade, and that moments of joy and personal growth can still be found even in the most dire of circumstances. The message Zau imparts embodies the essence of “growth”: life cannot be viewed through the lens of idealized perfection, for even the most beautiful rose is armed with thorns capable of inflicting pain. Accepting a cruel fate is never easy, but it is crucial to find the resilience to persevere, to absorb the lessons pain has to offer, and to move forward, evolving into a new version of ourselves. This evolution, though marked by the scars of the past, carries with it the promise of a brighter future.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“[Tales of Kenzera: ZAU] has its hiccups, but the music scores, the vocals, the beautiful settings, its overall feel; it really makes you feel empowered. The "I CAN DO ANYTHING" kind of powerful! For a simple baby-level Metroidvania gamer like me, I enjoyed it for what it is.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Surgent Studios' debut title is a tale of two extremes: enthusiasm for this heartfelt story about grief and apathy for the Metroidvania around it.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“An attractive, reasonably challenging, and smart Metroidvania experience awaits”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a solid debut for Surgent Studios and a genuinely heartfelt and moving piece of art to boot. We love its focus on narrative aspects, and the obvious time and effort that's been put into its characters and dialogue. For anyone who's had to go through the pain of losing a family member there's a genuinely emotional and uplifting adventure to undertake here, regardless of some slight clunkiness along the way.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“Tales of Kenzera ZAU is a brilliant platformer adventure game that is visually appealing and backed by a solid storyline with heart-touching voiceovers. The game is not free of bugs, and may not excite you in terms of progression, but the exploration will keep you hooked. If you’re a platformer aficionado, ZAU is the right pick for you!”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU Patch 1.5 notesNov 21, 2024
- Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU Patch 1.4 notesOct 16, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU Patch 1.3 notesAug 21, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU Hotfix 1.1.1 notesMay 22, 2024
- Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU Patch 1.1 notesMay 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window