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) | – | 69 | 5 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 97 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 81 | 189 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 0.4 up / 0 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (13)
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.
- 60
“The gap in quality between mobile games and console/PC releases is almost non-existent now, as is proved by the likes of Shadow Blade: Reload. As such it fits the portable nature of Nintendo Switch like a glove, with its short-yet-challenging levels offering a platforming experience that's ideal for both short bursts of play and longer speedrunning sessions. The sound design helps create a rhythm to your progression through each level, and there's plenty of secrets to find in each level, but the absence of the level editor included in the PC/PS4 port makes this version feel a little hollow by comparison.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There is no sense of identity, leaving the impression that this is just another ninja game for the pile. Lackluster presentation, a boring story, and repetitive scenarios show exactly why Shadow Blade: Reload can't rival the likes of The Messenger or even the original Ninja Gaiden games. For those hoping for another great action-platformer on the Switch, you'll want to keep looking.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It’s an enjoyable game which doesn’t really have any flaws. And given it's in Early Access, it will probably gain missing features over the coming weeks.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Shadow Blade Reload is a fun game that you can enjoy for a couple of hours or spend some time getting better at its levels in your spare time. But there are better games in this genre and it makes the it a hard sell ”
read full review ↗ - 100
- 80
“Shadow Blade Reload is an example of how to properly pull a platformer off without the unnecessary clutter seen in more tropey and uninspired titles. It’s to the point which ties into it’s accessibility and overall entertaining value, and it’s a game I can easily see myself going back to after finishing once, or even twice.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shadow Blade: Reload mixes an appealing story with a solid level design and great characters and boss fights, and the result is a wonderful 2D action platformer. Different difficulty levels and challenges section also increase the replay values. Add Nintendo Switch's portable capabilities to all this and you have a game that you can enjoy almost anywhere.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“While nothing remarkable, Shadow Blade: Reload does at least do a solid twitch platforming job. When it’s hitting its lightning stride, it’s actually quite fun, but too often it trots along being bland and unimpressive instead.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“While Shadow Blade: Reload may not re-invent the platformer genre, it is both pretty to look at and fun to play. With multiple stages, collectables, difficulties, and challenges there’s more than enough ninja action to keep Kuro busy for a while.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shadow Blade Reload is a fun game, but it’s not an interesting game. It has several things going for it, like the striking visuals, quick gameplay, and the level editor. But mostly it falters as the distracting voice acting and low-level difficulty hold the game back enough that it can’t be considered all that impressive of a title.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“And I might add a fourth column this into which fits: a knock-off. It’s as if someone played Mark of the Ninja and thought “we can make a worse version of this.” Just take away the depth of combat, the freedom of choice, and any semblance of longevity, and voila. That’ll be $15.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Reload is much better than the mobile version and it’s a fun way to kill some time; however, being this unoriginal isn’t really going to turn any heads.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
NintendoWorldReport
GameGrin
Pardis Game
ACG
The Cube
BaziCenter
PlayStation Universe
Digitally Downloaded
GamingTrend
Game Revolution
COGconnected…and 1 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- White screen issue fix is live.Oct 26, 2016
- White screen issue fix is live.Oct 26, 2016
- Cutscene SubtitleMar 8, 2016
- The Linux Version is available!Feb 28, 2016
- The Linux Version is available!Feb 28, 2016
- Minor FixesAug 18, 2015
- Minor FixesAug 18, 2015
- Xbox One Controller on Win10 Fix!Aug 16, 2015
- Xbox One Controller on Win10 Fix!Aug 16, 2015
- Xbox One Controller on Win10 Fix!Aug 16, 2015
- Full Version is Released Today!Aug 10, 2015
- Full Version is Released Today!Aug 10, 2015
- Full Version Release Date Set.Aug 1, 2015
- Full Version Release Date Set.Aug 1, 2015
- Update version 0.9 is here!May 27, 2015
- Update version 0.9 is here!May 27, 2015
- Version 0.85 with big enhancements!Feb 28, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- Version 0.85 with big enhancements!Feb 28, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- Big Update!: Version 0.8Dec 29, 2014significant · resets scoring window
- Big Update!: Version 0.8Dec 29, 2014significant · resets scoring window
- Big update coming soon!Oct 2, 2014
- Big update coming soon!Oct 2, 2014
- Steam Workshop integration is here!Sep 2, 2014
- Steam Workshop integration is here!Sep 2, 2014
- Improved GraphicsAug 22, 2014
- Improved GraphicsAug 22, 2014
- More Ninja information with update 0.6.5Jul 27, 2014
- More Ninja information with update 0.6.5Jul 27, 2014
- Update 0.6.4Jul 25, 2014
- Update 0.6.4Jul 25, 2014
- Early Access Launch Update (version 0.6.0)Jul 21, 2014
- Early Access Launch Update (version 0.6.0)Jul 21, 2014
- Update 0.5.6Jul 15, 2014
- Update 0.5.6Jul 15, 2014
- Version 0.5.5 UpdateJul 13, 2014
- Version 0.5.5 UpdateJul 13, 2014