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) | – | 83 | 6 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 81 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 90 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 85 | 6 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 90 | 10 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.8, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 19,264 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 29 reviews sampled · 20 total reviews in window · weighted 21.3 up / 1.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (56)
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.
- 85
“And when everything settles, it's clear that Dust is a labor of love that stands out as one of the best downloadable releases of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game is a cohesive and stunning effort that keeps you coming back for more.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Doesn't do much to innovate the platform-adventure sub-genre, but it does manage to look and play beautifully throughout, and sometimes that's enough.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“If you have a passion for action games, the Metroidvania style or just gorgeous animation in general, you need to play this game. It is definitely packed and more than worth the price of admission, and it is quite possibly my favorite XBLA game to come out this year. This is what Summer of Arcade was designed for.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“An obvious labor of love, Dust: An Elysian Tail more than earns its asking price of 1,200 MSP ($15 USD) through a mix of strong characters and solid gameplay. It's wholly old-school, and we wouldn't have it any other way.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Crafted with painstaking attention to inventive detail and charm, Dust is never less than an outright joy to experience.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Dust: An Elysian Tail is made of straightforward elements built to extraordinarily high standards, and rarely loses sight of its commitment to beauty, craft, and straight-up fun.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Dust does many things well, but it doesn't do anything brilliantly. The combat's decent, the structure invites the revisiting of old areas, and the narrative stays interesting. Taken together, these things are enough to keep you plugging away till the end.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Dust: An Elysian Tail periodically stumbles, but impressive visuals and enticing exploration make for a successful journey.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Jaw-dropping presentation and art aside, Dust: An Elysian Tail is a delightful experience that deserves just as much attention from gamers as the designer put in when creating the title.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Surprising hit you better try first in demo, you'll either love it or hate it. Those who try it may find Dust as a combination of Metroid and Castlevania games. [Oct 2012]”
- 90
“A refreshing experience, one that reminds us of why people make games-and why we, in turn, play them. Combining quaint, charming elements with highly executed gameplay, Dust would be an impressive adventure even without the fascinating story behind its development.”
read full review ↗
RPGamer
ZTGD
Worth Playing
The Escapist
Eurogamer
GameSpot
DarkZero
EGM…and 44 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Version 1.04 Live - Patch NotesSep 6, 2013
- Version 1.04 Live - Patch NotesSep 6, 2013
- Version 1.03 Live - Patch NotesMay 29, 2013
- Version 1.03 Live - Patch NotesMay 29, 2013
- Version 1.02 Live - Patch NotesMay 27, 2013
- Version 1.02 Live - Patch NotesMay 27, 2013