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) | – | 84 | 10 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 13 |
| 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 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (8)
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.
- 86
“A clever mix of cuteness, solid top-down pool, and plenty of challenges that encourage trick shooting make for some fun”
read full review ↗ - 85
“All of this allows every run to feel wildly different so Subpar Pool stays fresh over time, making it an ideal mobile game. On Switch, it's still super fun, but it truthfully isn't the ideal system for this game. I, for one, am now playing it on my phone after playing it on Switch. Not to say it's a bad experience on Switch, just that Subpar Pool is best made for cranking out a round or two on your phone as opposed to sitting down and spending hours at your TV. Subpar Pool absolutely rocks no matter where you play it, though.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A thrilling arcade pool game with a lot of leeway for making your own blend of rules.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Priced at just £8.50, subpar pool is something I recommend as a no-brainer for anyone who likes the premise.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Like grapefrukt games’ previous outings, it’s made for both quick gaming sessions and lengthy hours spent trying to get just a little bit better, and regardless of which way you approach it, you’re going to have fun.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Subpar Pool is anything but subpar, featuring a whole lot of spectacular arcade pool fun and so much variety that you'll struggle to put it down.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“I had a great deal of fun with subpar pool at first but that fun quickly turned into repetition so keep that in mind before cueing up.”
read full review ↗ - –
“A charming mash-up of golf and pool that's stuffed with great ideas, but is a touch slow in revealing its best to keep you coming back for more.”
read full review ↗
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Rock, Paper, ShotgunPatch history
- Update notes for v1.0.3Oct 31, 2023
- More fixesOct 21, 2023
- Patch notes for version 1.0.2Oct 18, 2023