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) | – | 87 | 101 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 858 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 93% | 87 | 678 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Sep 19, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 678 total reviews in window · weighted 141.5 up / 10.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (51)
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.
- 90
“A great journey from its beginning to its end, it is one of the most beautiful games on PS5 with fast, fun, and smooth gameplay mechanics, along with a great artistic direction, breathtaking scenery that catches the eye, an excellent technical level, and very good replayability.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Sword of the Sea offers a meditative adventure with excellent sword-jumping mechanics. However, due to its short duration, the game may become tiresome because of its repetitiveness.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A wonderful and breathtaking adventure that can easily be called one of the greatest releases of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Sword of the Sea also ends very abruptly. And though it may be strange to criticize a game for being too short, better to be left wanting more, right?, that abruptness only magnifies the sense that something is missing here.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“When it's flowing, Sword of the Sea is unlike anything else this year. Part skate park, part dreamscape, part living painting.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sword Of The Sea is a pleasure to play. Its traversal system allowed me to soar irreverently through monumental graveyards. Its narrative saw me flooding death with life and new hope. Its beauty boyoyed my spirit. Even with a few rough moments at the end, I still want nothing more than to fly back into its world.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sword of the Sea certainly won't have the same impact that Journey did all those years ago, but in so many ways, it feels like a direct evolution of that legendary experience. It's a beautifully smooth game, set across a series of gorgeous environments that are a joy to explore. While its more game-y elements do feel a tad forced, they're not enough to distract from what is a sumptuous adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Behind this visually stunning game lies an astonishingly emotional story that is gripping even without any spoken dialogue. The relatively short playing time makes it perfect for a quick, intense session. However, thanks to the metrics and collectibles, it also offers incentive for further runs. Anyone who enjoyed the visuals of predecessors such as ABZÛ, Journey, or The Pathless will already have Sword of the Sea on their radar. But this game can also be warmly recommended to everyone else.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Sword of the Sea is a gorgeous and hypnotic arthouse epic full of incredible set pieces and stunning visuals that sets another high bar for studio Giant Squid as the premiere destination for meditative gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 86
“Sword of the Sea proves that games can be art. It is a stunning and captivating experience. Where at times the plot may fall short, the grandiosity of the world really does the heavy lifting. It encapsulates everything Sword of the Sea, or for that matter, Giant Squid stands for: art. It is safe to say that this game is a win for its art itself.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Sword of the Sea was not just a fleeting experience, but one that surpassed all expectations. From its very first reveal, it was clear that we were witnessing a unique work and an enchanting journey. What the Giant Squid team delivered placed the game in a special league of its own, making it simply one of the standout titles of the year, and perhaps even one of the finest experiences of this entire generation.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Surfing on desert sand is anything but dull. Sword of the Sea transforms its movement mechanics into pure fun and very elegantly directs the player's journey into a brilliant adventure.”
read full review ↗
Eternal Games
GameMAG
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Seasoned Gaming
The Indie Informer
Push Square
TestingBuddies
KonsoliFIN
GamesCreed
Just Play it
HCL.hr…and 39 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Sword of the Sea Patch Notes 9/23/25Sep 23, 2025
- Sword of the Sea Patch Notes 9/19/25Sep 19, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Sword of the Sea Patch Notes 8/29/2025Aug 29, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Sword of the Sea Patch NotesAug 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window