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) | – | 73 | 8 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 79 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 76 | 3 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 64% | 63 | 5 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 12 reviews sampled · 13 total reviews in window · weighted 4.8 up / 2.7 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (25)
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
“I give Badland props for its challenge, multiplayer, bold visual style, and content relative to its price. But it's a game that wears its mid-2010s origins on its sleeves, warts and all. I feel it hasn't held up as well as hoped and will have its work cut out for it to stand out on the congested Switch eShop. Want to play Badland in 2021? Do so on a mobile device instead. You'll get touch screen support and more content that way.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Badland is as dark, brooding, and mysterious as the most sullen teenager, but this seemingly simple game is built on a foundation of ingenious design. Its hands-off approach to guiding the player makes for an invigorating challenge where it counts, and plentiful checkpoints help alleviate the frustration that comes from later levels. It teaches you how to interact with the environment before turning it all on its head with a slew of mutations that change your abilities, and that's a little bit brilliant.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“While this is a title that has been around for quite some time at this point, I’m surprised by how well it has held up both in terms of its great funky art style and its simple-but-challenging play...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“What it comes down to is that, even though it's a redesigned version of its mobile counterpart, BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition is experimental and rich enough to justify its existence on a home console.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Badland: Game of the Year Edition translates to PlayStation platforms well. The understated but attractive aesthetic runs smooth and fast on all platforms, and there's tons of content. The challenge does get a little stiff, however, and the experience was clearly designed around short play sessions. It's unlikely to hold your interest forever, then, but for the short time that it does it's a splendid game.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“If I had written the review after I had cleared Day 1, I would have been ready to give Badlands some awards. The frustration of the later levels and all the level skipping that I did to see if it would improve really left a sour taste in my mouth. There's a really good game here, just know your frustration point and be ready to jump out when it gets there.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Badlands offers local co-op, multiplayer, and a ton of levels to keep players going, yet it feels like a game made for quick access, and I found myself getting rather bored after 30 minutes of play. On a mobile system this game feels right at home with in its casual play time, but I can't help but feel a little alienated with it on consoles.”
read full review ↗ - 91
“With 100 single-player levels, Badland: Game of the Year Edition is a worthy single-player romp on the Wii U, if you don't mind a little frustration every now and then. But with 100 co-op levels, not to mention 27 multiplayer deathmatch stages, it's a perfect addition to your multiplayer arsenal. So long as you're okay with senseless clone death.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Badland: Game of the Year Edition is a successful example of how a game designed for mobile devices can be interesting to play on the Wii U. Despite its inconsistencies and the lack of a solid plot, its gameplay provides some brilliant moments and the game is full of content and compelling ideas.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Thanks to a simple but attractive gameplay, it's easy to spend many fun hours navigating the levels and avoiding their dangers. A welcome contribution to the Nintendo Switch catalogue for those who enjoy experiences involving physics-based gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Badland: Game of the Year Edition seems undercut by its basic nature more than the troubles that ports face. Though fun and challenging at times, it struggles to match up to the best its genre has to offer.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Frustration and short lifespan aside, Badland is a deliciously difficult side-scroller that offers remarkable value in its gruelling challenge.”
read full review ↗
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We Got This Covered…and 13 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update notes for August 30th 2023Aug 30, 2023
- Massive Update - 40 000 New Levels! And -80% off this week!Jan 24, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Massive Update - 40 000 New Levels! And -80% off this week!Jan 24, 2016significant · resets scoring window