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 (Metacritic) | – | 84 | 32 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 733 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 91 | 1352 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 90.6, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 1,470 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 5, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 1352 total reviews in window · weighted 182.6 up / 7.1 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (10)
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
“Grunn is a masterclass in tonal whiplash. It lures you in with the promise of a chill gardening sim and slowly drowns you in a Lynchian fever dream. The game is bizarre, bold, and wholly unique. It rewards curiosity, punishes complacency, and wraps it all in an atmosphere that's both inviting and quietly terrifying. If you're into indie games that make you feel just a little bit insane (in the best way), Grunn is a must-play.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Grunn is a small yet charming adventure, perfect for unwinding after a stressful day, but don’t be fooled: the numerous dark secrets hidden within this town will captivate you, urging you to complete the game in a single sitting. The blend of classic 'gardener simulator' style with an atmosphere far more unsettling than it initially appears creates a unique experience that we highly recommend.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“The rabbit hole goes down deep in Grunn, and I couldn’t stop myself from digging deeper and deeper in search of answers. In a game like this which rewards players for paying attention and experimenting, secrets feel like gifts. This is one garden path you should walk down.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Grunn is fully committed to being a surreal experience, but doesn’t go too far to the point where it becomes nonsense, instead striking a good balance between the mundane and weird. It deserves its place as one of the most charming horror titles released this year, and is more than worth playing if you enjoy feeling isolated, uncomfortable, and Dutch.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Grunn is a wonderful mystery-horror game hiding under the cover of a simulation game. There are genuine jumpscares and moments that are so tense you’re waiting for something bad to happen. The art style, audio and the way you have to uncover the story have made it a really memorable game. I’m still playing through it and I cannot wait to be able to say that I’ve unlocked all the endings. Dan has done a really good job at creating a fun little experience that makes you want to play more. Given how much time I’ve sank into this game, it would be unfair to give Grunn anything other than the Thumb Culture Platinum Award”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Grunn really is one of the best surprises of this year. It’s a testament, I think, to both the central mystery of Grunn and its genuinely brilliantly designed simulated gardening, that a video game about trimming the same three hedges over and over again could be this good. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I’m not sure that Grunn is going to remain cemented in my mind the same way Bernband is. The goals here are a lot more modest and less bold. On the other hand, it is an enjoyable experience. No matter how many times I woke up in that seat on the bus, I was always ready to take on the game again. Gradually unraveling its mysteries while keeping the hedges trimmed kept me engaged. Without thinking too hard about it, Grunn is probably the most relaxing horror game I’ve ever played.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The result feels like being trapped in a Alejandro Jodorowsky movie, sinister, strange but beautiful and compelling. Everywhere you look there is some unsettling image, from skeletons lying on riverbanks, to bizarre children sitting alone in bus shelters and ferry canteens. The puzzles are shrewd and challenging, and the blocky discordant visuals make the whole environment feel like some sort of uncanny valley of the mind. If you’re looking for a very different sort of challenge, in a decidedly unnaturalistic open world, Grunn delivers much, much more than the sedate rural idyll it initially promises.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Grunn is an inventive and surreal gardening sim that leads you down different paths with every run, never losing its appeal. ”
read full review ↗ - –
“A delightfully strange mystery box of toytown oddities and disturbing encounters, Grunn will murder you repeatedly and still leave you proud of an immaculately trimmed hedgerow.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
STWGames Italia
The Indie Informer
Niche Gamer
Thumb Culture
Destructoid
Guardian
God is a Geek
Rock, Paper, ShotgunPatch history
- Fixed a couple of bugs!Oct 5, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Small patch: added some new settings!Jun 12, 2024