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) | – | 76 | 6 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 77 | 33 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 76% | 72 | 9 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 25 reviews sampled · 21 total reviews in window · weighted 15.9 up / 4.9 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (51)
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.
- 80
“The result isn't quite a masterpiece, but the game is smart, fun, and best of all, explicitly built with the intention of spurring more creativity in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shadowrun Returns meets lots of expectations outlined during the Kickstarter campaign. It's an atmospheric story based on the Shadowrun universe and its adaptations. The game looks like a good "analog" RPG session, with a clear goal and epilogue. Unfortunately the campaign is a simple, one-shot experience, and not a deep RPG system. Don't expect a complex, multi-threaded game with lots of important decisions to make - Shadowrun Returns is not like that, but a really good story makes up for it. And there's the editor that allows to create great things, but requires suitable and talented people.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shadowrun Returns succeeds because, beyond its cyberpunk leanings, it's also a mash-up of many concepts born in that halcyon decade. It's very much of its time, but for many of us, its time was pretty great.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While there are a few flaws in Shadowrun Returns, most notably linearity, the lack of a save function and a slightly under-utilized world, the excellent and consistently fun writing and XCOM-inspired combat make it a worthwhile experience. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Those that love or have fond memories of Shadowrun will get the most out of Shadowrun Returns, but anyone that enjoys RPGs, XCOM and cyberpunk settings could also find something to love.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Judged purely as a standalone game, it's an unambiguous success.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“An enjoyable role-playing game with the scent of a classic, if not the essence.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There are some issues with game difficultly and length, but this is one of the most successful Kickstarters so far, and an excellent retro style role-player in its own right.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“An entertaining 12 hour romp with some seriously powerful modding tools that promise many more campaigns to come. [Sept 2013, p.82]”
- 74
“Shadowrun Returns’ bang-to-buck ratio is largely going to depend on the quality of content that springs up from the devs and the community after release, but as it stands today, it’s a mostly average RPG running in a visually underwhelming engine.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A well-made and entertaining comeback of the old brand-name brings the atmospheric campaign, but mainly its potential longevity thanks to the user-generated content. [Issue#233]”
- 70
“Though hindered somewhat by game-design oversights and one hell of a game-breaking bug, Shadowrun Returns remains a satisfying strategy-RPG largely defined by its world and lore, but also as a platform for more and more standalone adventures.”
read full review ↗
Slant Magazine
GRYOnline.pl
GameWatcher
The Escapist
Eurogamer
GameSpot
Metro GameCentral
PC Gamer
EGM…and 39 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Shadowrun Returns version 1.2.7 is now live!Jul 30, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns version 1.2.7 is now live!Jul 30, 2014
- RELEASE NOTES 1.2.6Apr 14, 2014significant · resets scoring window
- RELEASE NOTES 1.2.6Apr 14, 2014significant · resets scoring window
- Shadowrun Returns Price Reduced to $14.99Apr 10, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns Price Reduced to $14.99Apr 10, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns Price Reduced to $14.99Apr 10, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns version 1.2.5 is now live!Mar 7, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns version 1.2.5 is now live!Mar 7, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns Patch 1.2.4 live!Mar 7, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns Patch 1.2.4 live!Mar 7, 2014
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.1.1Dec 18, 2013
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.1.1Dec 18, 2013
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.1.0Oct 31, 2013significant · resets scoring window
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.1.0Oct 31, 2013significant · resets scoring window
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.0.4Aug 15, 2013
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.0.4Aug 15, 2013
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.0.2Aug 1, 2013
- Shadowrun Returns: Release Notes 1.0.2Aug 1, 2013