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) | – | 81 | 22 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 84% | 77 | 471 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 73 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 5, 2026) · 70 reviews sampled · 73 total reviews in window · weighted 48.9 up / 8.5 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (11)
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.
- 80
“Ascend to Zero is a game that entertains and manages to capture players’ attention, especially fans of the genre. It can be enjoyed in short sessions, great for taking a quick break, or for hours on end if you love grinding. The game boasts solid art and sound design, perfectly suited to its atmosphere, though the somewhat weak narrative prevents it from truly shining. It remains, however, a solid choice for fans of fast-paced roguelikes, though it might eventually wear out a more casual player. Ultimately, it’s a game that works well within its own microcosm thanks to its time-based mechanics, which are its true strength. It’s worth giving it a try, even if just to pass the time between breaks.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Ascend to Zero's chaotic roguelike gameplay will no doubt scratch that Hades or Vampire Survivors itch, but it's more than that - a challenging, fun and deceptively layered experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ascend to ZERO elevates a familiar roguelike formula with an ingenious time-manipulation mechanic that influences every decision you make. While it stumbles slightly with pacing and long-term variety, its clever core gameplay and addictive progression make it one of the more memorable action roguelikes in recent years.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“An action roguelike where you stop, earn, and master time itself. Combat that lets you defeat bosses with 0.1 seconds remaining, a design where frustration and progression interlock with narrative, and the thrill of explosive growth stand out. Sluggish early-game pacing and late-game repetition are drawbacks, but this striking new title reveals its own distinct identity.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Ascend to ZERO cleverly weaves the concept of time into its core design, combining the fun of action shooting with the satisfying progression of roguelites and loot-driven games. While the endgame still has some issues with its numerical balancing, for an indie title, it delivers on what matters most: creativity and novelty.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ascend to ZERO is a fantastic roguelike, one that combines its unique time-trial mechanics with a quick, dirty, and clever adaptation of survivors-like combat and satisfyingly intense level scaling. The game looks and plays great, but some poor localization and the grindy nature of its difficulty curve might prevent some players from fully appreciating it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ascend to ZERO is a great time for roguelike fans, making it a solid recommendation for fans of the genre and those who have XBOX Game Pass.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Flyway Games brings a fun experience with Ascend to ZERO, just like every good roguelike. The time stop ability, tech chips, and equipment manage to deliver a dynamic gameplay loop that keeps you hooked for hours. However, bugs can appear whether in weapons, attributes, or characters skills and a luck based progression ends up making the experience frustrating. Even so, its a perfect game for anyone who enjoys the characteristic repetition of roguelikes and wants to try out the time control.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Ascend to ZERO was a dream roguelike game for me, with a very interesting time-freezing premise and an intense gameplay that only got better as I unlocked new stuff.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ascend to Zero brings some of my favorite elements to the roguelite genre. Its late-game focus on gear sets adds one last unique element to a fun, great-sounding, surprisingly deep Survivors-like.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“It only took a few minutes to realize that Ascend to ZERO wasn't trying to be just another roguelike inspired by Vampire Survivors. The core structure certainly resembles other games in the genre, featuring hundreds of enemies filling the screen, constant upgrades, and that addictive "just one more run" loop. The difference lies in one mechanic that completely changes how every run is approached: time. Here, the clock is much more than a survival timer. It represents almost everything. The duration of each run depends on it, your progress through each stage is directly tied to the remaining seconds, and every decision has to be made quickly to avoid wasting a resource that is just as valuable as your own life. The story follows Chrono Child, a young girl sent through time after a scientific experiment leads to humanity's destruction at the hands of a machine invasion. Alone in a devastated future, her mission is to return to the past and prevent that catastrophe from ever happening. While the narrative provides an interesting backdrop, its primary role is to support the game's time manipulation mechanics, which ultimately become the true centerpiece of the experience.”
read full review ↗
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Softpedia
DayOne
Press AttackPatch history
- A Sneak Peek into Ver 1.1.0!Aug 28, 2026
- Demo Has Ended!Aug 11, 2026
- Patch Notes - v1.0.16.0Aug 5, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Chrono Dispatch – A Thank-You from the Dev Team & Roadmap RevealJul 31, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.15.0Jul 31, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.13.0 (+v1.0.14.0)Jul 29, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.12.0Jul 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.11.0Jul 22, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.10.0Jul 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.9.0Jul 18, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.8.0Jul 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes - v1.0.6.0Jul 15, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Ascend to ZERO v1.0 IS HERE!Jul 13, 2026
- [Updated 260702] FINAL Demo Before Launch and ZERO Rush Event Have Concluded!Jun 26, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update - April 28Apr 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- March 25 Demo UpdateMar 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Some Development Updates Post PlaytestMar 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Quantum Community Report 12.26Dec 26, 2025
- Chrono Dispatch - Playtest Balance UpdateDec 19, 2025
- Quantum Community Report 12.17Dec 17, 2025
- Major Demo Update - October 13Oct 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Upcoming Demo Update Sneak Peek!Sep 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update - August 1, 2025Aug 1, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update - June 20, 2025Jun 20, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update - June 13, 2025Jun 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Special Voice Actor Update! – June 11, 2025 Demo UpdateJun 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Avatar Addition! – June 9, 2025 Demo UpdateJun 9, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- New Stage! – June 6, 2025 Demo UpdateJun 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update - May 30, 2025May 30, 2025
- Demo Update - May 23, 2025May 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update – May 16, 2025May 16, 2025
- May 16, 2025 Update PreviewMay 13, 2025
- Demo Update - May 2, 2025May 2, 2025
- Demo Update – April 25, 2025Apr 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch Notice – April 14, 2025Apr 14, 2025
- Avatar, Items, and Simulation Mode! – April 11, 2025 Demo UpdateApr 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update on Game Balance and Item ChangesApr 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update - April 4, 2025Apr 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update - March 28, 2025Mar 28, 2025significant · resets scoring window
…and 5 earlier patch announcements.