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) | – | 63 | 28 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 88 | 55 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 0.1 up / 0 down · computed 59m ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (23)
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.
- 30
“If you're looking forward to play some good rail shooter on consoles, then there are lots of great alternatives to Air Twister. Just take a look at REZ on PS5 or Panzer Dragoon Orta on Xbox consoles.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“While we were desperate to love Air Twister, it feels like an undernourished Space Harrier homage full of missed opportunity. For Sega fans who want little more than a Space Harrier experience in new clothes, there's little to complain about… except maybe that soundtrack. But, while the extra modes expand the game's longevity and encourage a clear, they feel tacked on. It's fine to go back to for a quick blast now and then, but sit with it for a day or two and its lack of inspiration starts to gnaw. The arcade hardcore are most likely to reap the greatest rewards, but even then there may be a nagging feeling of uncapitalised promise.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Fans of rail shooters and Suzuki's early arcade work should give this oddball a chance. While the game's core mechanics are rather shallow and its visual assets unimpressive, it succeeds in replay value, boss battles, and music.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Walking the fine line between honoring and completely ripping off the classic arcade shooter Space Harrier”
read full review ↗ - 75
“It is almost as if Air Twister has a lot of secondary depth in its systems that isn't really supported by its short simple campaign. That being said, even while being highly aware of these flaws I still had a really good time playing through it. Everything about Air Twister is bizarre and often flawed, but I can't say it isn't fun.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Air Twister is a peculiar game that can be intriguing and fun despite its flaws. It’s neat to see Yu Suzuki go back to the success of Space Harrier all these years later, though the price may be a bit steep for those who aren’t arcade enthusiasts.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Yu Suzuki has done something original here. Definitely not for everyone, but it has its charm. Unfortunately, it also has its flaws. It is hard to get into the game when one of the bosses is a clock. The final boss is just a geometric formation. The story is there, but it's as if it's not there at all. The gameplay isn't bad, but even that gets old after a while.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Air Twister’s main game is short once you manage to nail down a run, but boy is it very sweet and well worth trying to challenge yourself with, with the optional modes/adventure map providing enough replay value to challenge yourself further.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Air Twister is a very engrossing rail shooter that keeps luring gamers back for more. The steady stream of bonus content is a satisfying beckoning mechanism that makes replays rewarding. On top of the intrinsic rewards, it is gratifying to improve and master the levels with Valensia’s soaring music as the backdrop.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Air Twister is the sort of game that works well on the Switch due to its simplicity and ease of playing in short bursts. Along with the host of arcade titles that I’ve taken a look at over the course of the system’s lifespan, it’s yet another respectable addition to its catalog. Just don’t expect it to blow you away or anything, what it does might not be much, but it is as well developed as it can be for what it is.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“I had a pretty good time with Air Twister, even though it did feature a myriad of shortcomings, from its boring plot to its short duration. It’s a somewhat limited game in terms of scope, but it’s Yu Suzuki at his best: this is pure arcade fun, the kind he used to churn out with gusto back in the 80s and 90s.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There's no doubt that a lot of love went into the title, and that it was made more out of a passion for revisiting a classic formula than creating a new, groundbreaking brand. The production values are decently pleasing, with its more primitive elements referencing its arcade-style older brother (the same Space Harrier graphics are used in every enemy projectile). But for the average player looking to discover a new indie game to try on the eShop, this is where the hesitation lies. All in all, if you already know who Yu Suzuki is and his legacy, you can dive headfirst into the world of Air Twister and you won't regret yet another spiritual successor that fails to live up to expectations and carves out its own identity.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
Nintendo Life
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
MonsterVine
SECTOR.sk
Seafoam Gaming
Niche Gamer
Entertainium
WayTooManyGames
NintendoBoy…and 11 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.