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 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 74% | 70 | 363 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 70 | 5 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 68% | 66 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0.6 up / 0.3 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (19)
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.
- 55
“The potential was there for something truly special along the lines of Limbo or even perhaps ICO with your immobile brother, but there ended up not being enough reasons to care for the game or the characters within it. Nowhere Studios have an artistic eye that spoke in a unique and moving way to me at first but the technical problems voided that emotional connection and Monochroma ended up being a slog rather than a joy. ”
read full review ↗ - 55
“It's a shame that Monochroma ended up this way, as there are sparks of brilliance buried within. There is a real quality to the sound and level design, which really add to the atmosphere and the puzzles could have been challenging with a little extra work. But the poor controls and the frequent frame-rate issues hamper this puzzle platformer.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Monochroma has the heart of a good dramatic game, but it has neither the soul nor mechanics of one. The presentation and premise are very good, but the lack of payoff hurts. The gameplay seems solid, but there are enough flaws to make it feel like it was put together without much care. The good news is that the developer has been trying to patch the game often, so there is hope that it can ultimately be good, but for now, you have to put up with a lot to enjoy it.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Monochroma could have been something really interesting but its wonky controls and weak gimmick leave it in the pool of other mediocre indie platformers.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you've been harkening for something like Limbo, that isn't Limbo, then take a peek at Monochroma. It's a little frustrating to start off, but once you've got the nuances down then it all starts slotting together. As Nowhere Studio's first title, I can only see their future games getting better as they go.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Monochroma wastes its gripping premise and eye-catching visual design by having clunky controls and a wealth of inconsistencies.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Die-hard platforming fans will feel disappointed, and puzzlers may not feel the game is quite satisfying enough. The overall experience, however, is good enough, just. If you're the curious sort who loves a good yarn, you should give Monochroma a go; but if you find pleasure primarily in the mechanics and control of gaming, you're better off with something else.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“The world of Monochroma starts of promising a dystopian exploration in a silent and haunting world, but the lack of broader narrative or any kind of empathy leaves the world as devoid of life as the dystopia in which it is set. It's a world in which to dip your toes, and maybe even enjoy a short while, but it never really sticks.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A meld of stunning artwork and challenging gameplay make for a puzzle game that will entertain for hours on end, having players losing track of time, interpreting the meaning of Monochroma and connecting it to today's world.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“In the end, it is difficult to recommend Monochroma. Despite its impressive audiovisual presentation, it fails in the areas that make a game a game. It is beautiful in its own dismal way, and the story it tells is decent, but I could not wait for it to end so I would not have to deal with the frustrating control and dull design decisions.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“It's easy to fall in love with Monochroma's style, but the stiff and slow responsiveness of the controls and the annoying brother on your back, makes it a tough challenge to complete the game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Monochroma wants you to debate your every move, to drain you of color and splash you with hope when you play well. It's often too quiet to know if you're doing just that.”
read full review ↗
GameWatcher
ZTGD
Worth Playing
MonsterVine
GameGrin
GameSpot
Niche Gamer
Game Debate
NoobFeed
Destructoid
XGN.nl
Kill Screen…and 7 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- The biggest and hopefully the last update for MonochromaJul 15, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- June 12, 2014 UpdatesJun 12, 2014significant · resets scoring window
- June 12, 2014 UpdatesJun 12, 2014significant · resets scoring window