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) | – | 71 | 16 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 89 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 64% | 63 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 1.4 up / 0.8 down · computed 12h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (11)
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
“As far as platformers go though, Umbraclaw is pretty unique. Give it a go if you feel like you had your fill with overpowered-at-the-end main characters in their 2D platformer games, and opt to rely on skill using a cat and its shadowdash.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“The idea of an under-equipped cat roaming the underworld in search for her owner is a great one, but it never makes the transition from page to screen. Because everything is designed around the abilities of a simple house cat, stage designs are far too simple and boss battles are disappointingly monotonous.”
read full review ↗ - 73
“It has a unique take on the Metroidvania genre, giving you options on how you tackle it, but it comes up feeling odd”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The idea behind Umbraclaw and its character designs is amazing, but know going in it can be challenging and demand perfection.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“While Umbraclaw has an interesting core mechanic revolving around the nine lives of a cat, it's lacking in execution with bland level design and lackluster combat.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Still, Umbraclaw is a gorgeous experience that’s great to control, but not one you’re going to figure out without a lot of patience and repetitive playthroughs, and a game that really should have just been allowed to be a short fun game without needing to force artificial padding with repeat plays.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A typical 2D side-scrolling action game, but the unique mechanism kicks in when you become tougher and stronger as you die during progression. You’re in an underworld full of dreamy color themes. You start off as an ordinary cat, dodging traps and enemies but if you accidentally lose a life, the cat will gradually get stronger with supernatural powers and be able to attack and play aggressively. From here the player has to weigh the balance between sacrificing life to gain powers or the ordeals of responsibility by getting resurrected each time you make a mistake. The entire playtime is quite short and the boss battles may feel repetitive, but it allows players to take a unique path on approaching every combat strategy differently based on your attained skill level as you proceed towards tougher boss fights.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Umbraclaw is perhaps the artsiest game Inti Creates has ever made. From its great art direction to its fantastic voice acting, it genuinely caught me off guard with how much was put into the simple look and feel of the game. Better still is that this is all in service of a genuinely great story with a lot to say. It’s to a point that this is one of the rare platformers where story explicitly and strongly informs the gameplay. Gameplay winds up being where the game falls somewhat short, as it is simply undercooked, if still perfectly serviceable. Honestly, though, I’m fine with that. Through whatever issues it may have, Umbraclaw proves that a game can truly be more than the sum of its parts.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Umbraclaw manages to convey pretty well its concept of a spirit plane that corrupts individuals and the efforts of a cat to come back to the living world. With its difficulty modes and a combat system in which death is a way to get stronger, what we have here is a bold action platformer with very high quality, easily recommended for all sorts of players.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Umbraclaw is a 2D platform adventure that stands out for its originality and emotional depth. Assorted skill mechanics and immersive storytelling create a unique experience that challenges the player at every turn. Kuon's journey, with its multiple outcomes, encourages replayability and offers different ways to overcome challenges, from the most fragile feline form to more powerful and complex forms.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Umbraclaw's unconventional nature will surely perplex many gamers but once you get it, it's hard to stop playing with this cat.”
read full review ↗
Kakuchopurei
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Siliconera
GameLuster
Seafoam Gaming
IGN
NookGaming
Nintendo Blast
GameBlast
Video ChumsPatch history
- Umbraclaw has been updated to Ver 1.2.1!Jun 28, 2024
- Umbraclaw has been updated to Ver 1.2.0!Jun 27, 2024
- Umbraclaw has been updated to Ver 1.1.2!Jun 6, 2024
- Umbraclaw has been updated to Ver 1.1.1!May 31, 2024
- Umbraclaw Demo has been updated!Feb 6, 2024