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) | – | 77 | 150 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 78% | 73 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 85 | 126 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 81% | 75 | 11 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 30 reviews sampled · 23 total reviews in window · weighted 20.6 up / 4.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (118)
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.
- 70
“Playing Visions of Mana almost feels like playing an old JRPG. Its setting was inspired by the Super Nintendo’s Secret of Mana, after all, and you can really feel it when making your way through its wondrous world. However, too much reliance on classic elements also means that the game’s story feels a little too straightforward and as if it, too, is being sacrificed for the sake of reviving the series.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Visions of Mana is a traditional JRPG with a dramatic story and well-developed characters that gets a little more boring outside of the main storyline.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Visions of Mana is an absolutely fantastic game. If I were to evaluate it as a whole, without nitpicking details that the average player, who just wants to have some fun every now and then, wouldn’t even notice, it would certainly receive a higher rating. Unfortunately, those few minor flaws, when added up, detract from the quality of the game, and even though they’re small details, a billion snowflakes can add up to a blizzard. It’s a shame, because this wonderfully fairy-tale-like, cheerful, and action-packed game is incredibly satisfying just because of how beautiful it sounds.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Visions of Mana is a strong entry that effectively revitalizes the lore of the series and keeps it more alive than ever. With dancing merchants, the ring system, and cute creatures such as Sproutlings, the game includes many staples of the series at their best, with Elemental Vessels being a magnificent addition.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Visions of Mana offers a solid JRPG experience with an interesting cast of characters and a world that is fun to explore. I loved the multiple layers of customisation that the game offers to really tailor the experience and your party to exactly how you want to spec them out. I would have appreciated better pacing overall and side quests that were designed better than what we got but the main story mostly makes up for the issues.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Visions of Mana's earnestness and positives outweigh its negatives by a sizeable amount. At the very least, old-school 90s RPG fans should be glad that Square Enix did not forget about this classic series, now with a few more bells and whistles to make it quite a ride.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Visions of Mana is an attempt to modernize classic JRPGs that somehow does everything right but lacks the originality to blow you away and earn a spot in the hall of fame. Instead, it becomes a typical JRPG that doesn’t have any major flaws but is likely to fade into obscurity rather quickly.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“From the stunning, emotion-filled prologue to when the credits roll, Visions of Mana is a spectacular journey that is more than just a visual delight. Understanding the magic system and switching mana elements once obtained is not hard for newcomers to the series to understand. The captivating story is elevated with the memorable soundtrack, and all the characters were likeable. It has its flaws, especially post-game, but overall it is a great introduction to the legendary series and without doubt will lead newer fans to explore older titles, and hope for a new one in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Visions of Mana brings the Mana formula to the modern day, providing a beautiful game that is a blast to play. Some slight problems keep it from being a truly amazing game, though.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While Visions of Mana doesn’t do enough to propel the series to new heights, many can find comfort in knowing that what we have here is another solid JRPG that can easily reiterate why you fell in love with these types of games, and that it’s a comfort to know that in 2024, there are still new adventures that can transport you to the good old days.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Visions of Mana is a return to an old game series with an acceptable and visually appealing impact. It’s always heartwarming when even newcomers to the series can enjoy the new game. In Visions of Mana, you take on the roles of various heroes embarking on a journey toward the Mana Tree. Sometimes, you’ll engage in battles with diverse creatures, other times you’ll find pleasure in listening to the conversations of accompanying characters, and occasionally you’ll explore the environment to discover items. The game’s somewhat dated design for side quests and its failure to fully utilize the open-world gameplay potential, alongside other shortcomings, hinder Square Enix’s product from achieving its full potential. However, for those who love many classic Japanese role-playing games and seek a simple, soothing narrative experience, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy Visions of Mana. Especially noteworthy is how the game occasionally surpasses expectations, such as through its excellent class system, which makes combat with various playable characters exciting and varied. By the way, even after hours of playing Visions of Mana, I never grew tired of admiring its eye-catching visuals and listening to its captivating music. Cheers to a good JRPG experience!”
read full review ↗ - 70
“As a nostalgia-driven retread of the classic Mana adventure, Visions of Mana is rock solid - but it struggles to be anything more than a reminder of how magical those old RPGs could be. If you can look beyond the game's monotonous storytelling and tragically bland characters, the essence of an old-school excursion is here, in the exploration of wonderful environments and in battles against burly boss monsters.”
read full review ↗
Gamepressure
GameMAG
Gaming Professors
RPGamer
ani-game.com
Kakuchopurei
EmuGlx.org
Cubed3
Gamer Guides
Too Much Gaming
Zoomg
Push Square…and 106 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Visions of Mana Demo Update ContentSep 19, 2024
- Ver1.03 Update ContentSep 13, 2024
- Visions of Mana Demo Update ContentAug 16, 2024