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) | – | 78 | 11 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 525 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 76 | 3 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 60% | 60 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 1.6 up / 1.1 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (39)
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
“Cosmic Star Heroine is one of the better RPGs around. It may tread familiar ground, but it does so on its own terms, making for a game well worth experiencing even if you aren't a fan of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“This is a homage to the classic sci-fi RPGs of the '90s that successfully takes out many of the annoying bits but boasts a fair amount of the depth and consistency. Cosmic Star Heroine is a JRPG for those who long ago grew bored of JRPGs, but committed fans might find it just a little too slight an offering.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Cosmic Star Heroine is far more than a simple send-up of some of the genre’s most beloved classics.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“It's not difficult to find new games that are designed with the 16-bit era in mind, but it is rare to find ones that develop new and enjoyable game mechanics. While the writing could have benefited from some additional depth, the expansive party and combat options provide hours of entertainment, making Cosmic Star Heroine a worthwhile addition to your Switch library.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you are a fan of retro-styled JRPG titles, Cosmic Star Heroine provides a nice dose of nostalgic science fiction to enjoy. The visuals are better than the sound, but the overall presentation is comfortable and enjoyable, ably assisted by a deeper-than-expected combat system. There is not a ton of content here nor replay value in the roughly dozen hours it takes to see Alyssa's adventure through to the end, but it is definitely a worthwhile adventure while it lasts.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“This take on classic turn-based RPGs struggles to give its fresh ideas room to breathe.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Cosmic Star Heroine feels like a short, classic JRPG that has been ported from an ancient system, warts and all. Some of the glitches and usability issues are criminal, and should never be acceptable.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Not every game needs to be 100 hours long and cost $60. Cosmic Star Heroine hits the sweet spot of delivering fun gameplay mechanics with an upbeat and crazy story filled with charming characters and funny writing.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Cosmic Star Heroine is a charming retro-inspired game that sets itself apart with its deep battle system. Don’t go into this game expecting a unique storyline, but instead know that it was made with a lot of love and care by people who are obviously fans of SNES-era RPG’s. Cosmic Star Heroine does a ton of things right and provides many hours of entertainment at a budget price.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Although the story never amounts to much more than listing off sci-fi tropes, it keeps the adventure moving between fun setpieces. Where Cosmic Star Heroine really surprised me was by having one of my favourite turn-based battle systems that gives players a lot of options without ever overwhelming them. What could've been a lazy throwback to better 16-bit RPGs in less capable hands turned into one of the best indie RPGs in recent memory.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Glitches aside, Cosmic Star Heroine is one of those pleasant experiences made by a talented smaller studio that revels in gaming's roots. All at once a homage and a refinement of classic RPGs with just enough heart and imagination to rope in players of any age or skill.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cosmic Star Heroine is a love letter to some of the RPG greats from ages past, wearing its inspirations on its sleeve while making an impact very much its own. Brilliant, tactile combat and a lovely presentation bring out all the nostalgic feels.”
read full review ↗
Gadgets 360
Nintendo Life
RPGamer
NintendoWorldReport
Chalgyr's Game Room
GameSpot
Niche Gamer
Nintendo Times
SwitchRPG
JRPG.moe
The Game Fanatics
Super Deformed Gamescast…and 27 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- v1.16 live! (Bonus dungeons!)May 29, 2018
- One Month after Launch Status Report!May 12, 2017
- One Month after Launch Status Report!May 12, 2017