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) | – | 57 | 9 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 80 | 1251 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 7, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 1251 total reviews in window · weighted 131.6 up / 14.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (29)
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.
- 40
“Slender: The Arrival is far from the greatest horror game on Nintendo Switch. With the likes of Outlast 2, Layers of Fear, and Resident Evil to compete against, this bland and bare horror title shows its true colours separated from the hype of 2013. Unlike the mystical powers of the Slenderman, there's nothing compelling here in the slightest, unless you like looking at poorly rendered forestry.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“While Blue Isle Studios' continued dedication to the source material is commendable, it can only go so far with fundamentals that are more emaciated than the titular horror mascot.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Slender: The Arrival 2023 Update brings Slender Man back to life, offering fans a chance to revisit a classic with a fresh coat of paint. While it may not be a groundbreaking masterpiece, it successfully marries nostalgia with modernization. The updated visuals, multiple difficulty options, and story completion are praiseworthy. However, the game's shortcomings in sound quality, motion blur, and a somewhat dated feel compared to other 2023 horror titles may deter some players.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Short of the performance and presentation improvements, this is the same survival horror game that you've probably already played. It functions fine now, and is perfectly adequate if you're in the market for a cheap and cheerful blast of terror, but don't expect much more. Small in both scope and budget, Slender: The Arrival is little more than a rest stop on the way to something bigger and better.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There are scares here, but not much game. Ye have been warned.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“With the move to current-gen consoles and a few new levels, horror hit Slender continues to offer up scares, but at the cost of its own mystique.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Slender: The Arrival lands on the Nintendo Switch six years after its original release and while the game's visual environment looks visibly dated, its sound atmosphere remains exquisite and transmits a feeling of restlessness. Where Slender: The Arrival falls below par is when it comes to its rather generic plot and a feeling of repetitiveness, aggravated by a short lifespan.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“GOOD - Slender: The Arrival is a unique take on the Slenderman story that has stood the test of time. The game feels as fresh as it did six years ago, and it has been perfectly ported to the Switch with no setbacks whatsoever. It’s perfect for a first-time experience, though if you have already played this game then we’re not sure that this game offers enough to warrant another playthrough.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Slender: The Arrival exudes excellent atmosphere and genuine dread, but recycled and repetitive gameplay deeply hampers a potentially enjoyable horror experience.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Ultimately, Slender: The Arrival retains the same experience as the previous versions, though it lacks the visual polish of the PC original. The move to PS4 also gives it tougher competition as far as horror games go, especially compared to the superior (and still free) P.T. If you lack a capable PC, this console re-release should suffice, otherwise stick to the cheaper and technically more proficient alternative.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The audio is impeccable, all the locations have a foreboding ambience that is heightened by excellent use of sound effects to put you on edge”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Although it may please fans of the original, Slender: The Arrival's dull, repetitive mechanics, unsatisfying story and archaic visual design hold it back from being a worthy addition to the horror genre.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
VGChartz
A Gaming Network
Push Square
GameWatcher
GameSpot
FNintendo
Nintendo Times
We Got This Covered
DarkZero
GameSpew
Gamers FTW…and 17 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Development UpdateFeb 14, 2025
- Patch - 07.11.2023 - Removal Of Seasonal Items & Bug FixesNov 7, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix - 27.10.2023 Minor bugs + DLSS fixOct 27, 2023
- Slender Scares - Halloween 2023Oct 26, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix - 19.10.2023 Performance + Bug FixesOct 19, 2023
- Slender: The Arrival 10th Anniversary Update is HERE!Oct 18, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Slender: The Arrival 10 Year Anniversary Update Launches October 18Sep 1, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Halloween in OaksideOct 25, 2014significant · resets scoring window
- Halloween in OaksideOct 25, 2014significant · resets scoring window
- The Steam 2.0 Free DLC Update is here!Oct 15, 2014
- The Steam 2.0 Free DLC Update is here!Oct 15, 2014
- Free DLC, Mac version, and Soundtrack!Oct 7, 2014
- Free DLC, Mac version, and Soundtrack!Oct 7, 2014
- Slender Bunny's Easter Egg HuntApr 14, 2014
- Slender Bunny's Easter Egg HuntApr 14, 2014
- Patch 1.5.5Jan 17, 2014
- Patch 1.5.5Jan 17, 2014
- Patch 1.5.4Dec 13, 2013
- Patch 1.5.4Dec 13, 2013
- Patch 1.5.3Nov 13, 2013
- Patch 1.5.3Nov 13, 2013
- Patch 1.5.2Nov 4, 2013
- Patch 1.5.2Nov 4, 2013
- Patch 1.5.1Nov 1, 2013
- Patch 1.5.1Nov 1, 2013