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) | – | 79 | 82 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 78% | 72 | 627 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 78 | 23 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 78 | 425 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 22, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 425 total reviews in window · weighted 155.9 up / 29.9 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (68)
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.
- 65
“Ultros is an ambitious metroidvania with starkly contrasting visuals and interesting gameplay elements. It's almost too much for itself with some ideas that don't always resonate. It's not for everyone, but if you're in the mood for something way off the beaten path, you'll find it here.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Hadoque’s debut title Ultros is a stunning, colorful Metroidvania. From its opening moments, the game draws the player in with its wondrous color palette and captivating music. Traversing its world, known as the Sarcophagus, feels familiar if not a bit uncanny for those who have played other recent genre titles, like Dead Cells or Hollow Knight. In a crowded and competitive genre, Ultros stands out as a memorizing, psychedelic adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Ultros, Hadoque's title, is a very creative proposal that combines metroidvania elements with a series of very creative mechanics, resulting in a unique experience. A most unusual and even cathartic adventure that leaves you wanting more.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Ultros respects its players enough to make them work hard for the best ending. Accordingly, it never feels like a waste of time to manually connect your save points to the overall network (so that you can fast travel between them) or to gather the right seeds, spray them into the proper orientation, and occasionally splice together parts into hybrid platforms. If anything, these deliberate actions serve to sow a deeper sense of purpose and understanding of conservation in players. In doing so, Hadoque’s marvelous creation stands leafs and branches above not only other puzzle platformers, but most other socially conscious games as well.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Singular and confident, Ultros is a startling piece of work that knows exactly what it wants to be, and hones in on that goal with laser beam focus. It depends on time-tested videogame actions and concepts not just for their comfort and retro appeal, but as a familiar foundation that can be gradually fucked with as part of the game’s greater themes. And although those themes and their presentation are intentionally confusing and obtuse, Ultros never devolves into chaos for the sake of it; there’s always a clear point of view and thought process driving the game’s design. Ultros brings mystery back to gaming in brilliant fashion, delivering us the first genuinely great game of 2024.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“An unusual Metroidvania that has a very distinct look and feel, but not all for the better”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Ultros was an impressive experience in many ways. Its graphic and sound style was able to continually stimulate my mind, while at the same time opening it to thinking outside the canonical binaries. Although structurally it borrows elements already seen elsewhere, it knows how to recombine them in an original and interesting way. If you know how to go beyond a few vague elements, and know how to rummage through its lore, you can discover a work with great personality, which knows how to be both entertaining and intellectually stimulating.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ultros boasts a visual identity that deserves real recognition, a stunning vision of alien colour with design ideas that live long in the memory. Its platforming and combat can't quite match that vigorous success, sadly. Still, if you're on the hunt for a unique-looking Metroidvania game that comes bursting with ideas and a modest 10-hour runtime with the option of more if you love it, few games can match it for style.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ultros drips style, but does not skimp on substance. The psychedelic art style and dreamy soundtrack elevate the familiar, but not quite tired, gameplay loop.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ultros is a stunning space ride through the trippy landscape of The Sarcophagus that will keep players wondering what secrets they will uncover amidst the captivating backdrop. Though the narrative can be hard to get your head around and the world is easy to get lost in the "gardenvania" concept brings additional magic to the Metroidvania genre. Ultros has paved the way for the genre to not play it safe and is one of those experiences that reiterates how games can still present us with unique ideas and worlds.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ultros is a gorgeous hallucinatory escapade that dazzles visually as much as it impresses gameplay-wise. From the mesmerizing alien ship backdrop to the methodical combat to the taxing-yet-rewarding gardening mechanic, this game is full of surprises. If you're looking for a wholly original Metroidvania game with innovative new roguelite elements, Ultros is quite the trip.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Psychedelic stylings accompany a game of transformation and discovery.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
The Punished Backlog
La Orden del Pixel
Slant Magazine
Paste Magazine
Nindie Spotlight
Gamesource Italia
Push Square
Siliconera
Checkpoint Gaming
NextGen Player
Eurogamer…and 56 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 🌱 Help ULTROS Bloom! 🌱Nov 22, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Maintenance on the SarcophagusMar 26, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Repairs have been made on the Sarcophagus✨🪐Feb 26, 2024significant · resets scoring window