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) | – | 80 | 7 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 817 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 74 | 1 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 79 | 3 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 8 reviews sampled · 9 total reviews in window · weighted 5.9 up / 1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (49)
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
“CastleStorm is a wonderfully well-rounded package that offers up enjoyable RTS gameplay in an approachable fashion, with a high skill ceiling that caters to players of all skill and interest levels.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While there are some variant mode choices that will let you play against a friend, get right into a fight against the computer, or work to hold back waves of enemies focusing on strategy or action, the meat of the game is its Campaign mode...”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Swords, Sorcery, and Whimsy unite, in this fun feudal take on the Tower Defence Genre. Solid mechanics backed by exceptional use of the hardware's unique properties, and extensive content for the solo player as well as the many, make CastleStorm a worthy acquisition to adorn any Switch home screen.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Too many stages rely on the two basic victory conditions, and I would have liked to see more boss stages or more complicated objectives. Regardless, CastleStorm is engaging not just for those who enjoy tower-defense games; there is enough fun, customization, and challenge for all Switch owners. Your princess might not be in this castle, but it's worth taking a look around anyway.”
read full review ↗ - 59
“There’s nothing inherently broken about Castle Storm, it just tries to do too much for its own good. It doesn’t help that the base concept is still very derivative either, and I couldn’t shake the Angry Birds vibe I was getting throughout.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“CastleStorm's unusual mix of elements never quite congeals into anything too brain-taxing. But hurling bombs at buildings and flinging pointy sticks at barbarians is bound to get your blood pumping for a little while. [July 2013, p.76]”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The occasional control issues are regrettable but hardly insurmountable, and the blend of offensive and defensive objectives and the competitive play are sufficient reasons to overlook that minor flaw as you happily commit yourself to the task of ruining the marauding Vikings' day.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Despite some original ideas and a wealth of content, CastleStorm chokes on it's own ambition by lacking the follow through necessary to truly stand out. It is an incredibly boring yet unique game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Castlestorm displays certain qualities which are more than welcome and that shake the ground a bit in what is overwhelmingly a niche style. Nevertheless, its record would be far more interesting if its technical flaws and repetitiveness were solved.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A great mix of action, strategy, and endearing silliness, and also a great reminder that there are some games only download services like Xbox Live Arcade can provide.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Castle Storm is a highly accessible yet mechanically deep take on the RTS genre, mixing in elements of both tower defence games and physics-based combat to an impressive level of competency and quality. The amount of content available throughout is staggering, and an endearing graphical style keeps you enjoying each spectacle the game throws at you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“For its price, CastleStorm is a gem, and a very noble addition to the Switch's library indeed.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
GameSpot
GameSkinny
FNintendo
Metro GameCentral
Switch Player
GameSpew…and 37 more tracked reviews.