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 (Metacritic) | – | – | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 79 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 97% | 93 | 158 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.7, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 158 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 3, 2025) · 158 reviews sampled · 135 total reviews in window · weighted 72.3 up / 2.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (8)
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.
- 78
“A charming and pleasingly odd old-school whirlwind mystery-adventure through the afterlife”
read full review ↗ - 79
“A clever and interesting adventure, whose short duration and relatively low difficulty of its puzzles do not allow it to shine more brightly.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“In the end, the overall impressions of Shadows of the Afterland are positive. You can look forward to a well-written story set in the world of souls and several interesting characters whose fates you will genuinely want to follow.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you’re looking for a simple, short, but enjoyable point-and-click adventure, Shadows of the Afterland is worth a look. The game features some strong environments and appealing visuals, but its storytelling lacks depth and the puzzles are fairly straightforward. Still, if you have four to five spare hours and are looking for a modestly priced experience, it offers a decent amount of fun.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shadows of the Afterland is a very pleasant way to kick off the year. Its an adventure featuring a twist-filled story, meaningful themes, and puzzles that aren’t overly difficult. At the same time, its subtle, unobtrusive humor occasionally brings a smile to your face. Despite the fact that we’re tasked with investigating the circumstances of our own death, it’s an experience I’ll remember as surprisingly chill. Not a bad deal at all for €15!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shadows of the Afterland should be recognised as a top-tier point-and-click adventure on the Nintendo Switch. It was a fun (if at times moribund) experience which looks great and is faithful to its inspiration, but it will only appeal to fans of the genre and not a whole lot more.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A breezy romp through the afterlife that’s never as funny or as sad as it could be but may possess you all the same.”
read full review ↗ - 80
Nindie Spotlight
SomGeek
Retrolike.net
Switchaboo
RPG Fan
PS4Blog.netPatch history
- Minor update 1.0.3Feb 20, 2026
- Minor update 1.0.2Feb 12, 2026
- Demo updated + Full Game Development updateJul 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Major Demo Update: New Characters, Smoother Gameplay & More!Oct 28, 2024significant · resets scoring window