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) | – | 85 | 122 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 90 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 86 | 76 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 89 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.7, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 18,863 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 (Mar 27, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 7182 total reviews in window · weighted 251.2 up / 16.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (77)
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
“For anyone who loved Ender Lilies, or enjoys Metroidvania games in general, Ender Magnolia is a must-play. It includes a good amount of exploration, a great story and beautiful hand drawn graphics.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is a worthy sequel to the ENDER series that manages to improve on an already good game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Finally, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is simply a pleasure to be in. It has become even more colorful than Ender Lilies. The locations are drawn with love and attention to detail, with multi-level and dynamic backdrops.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is a dream come true for Metroidvania fans. Its world is brought to life with vibrant art and a beautifully crafted soundtrack. I love how every boss, each one uniquely designed, becomes an ally, forming the foundation of my attacks. The story is deep and intriguing, though it can get complex at times. For fans of the Metroidvania genre, this is a must-play!”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist offers an experience very much in line with its predecessor, with an exquisite Metroidvania that is as challenging as it is beautiful. The artistic style, setting, atmosphere, depth, characters, gameplay mechanics, difficulty, enemy design, and background make it one of those titles that cannot be overlooked.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is a worthy sequel and, at the same time, a standalone game that doesn’t simply try to copy its successful predecessor. With more robust combat options, greater freedom in exploration, and an even more beautiful world, it’s a title that will appeal to both veterans and newcomers alike. The game feels more mature, more thoughtful, and more sensitive, as if it had grown up alongside its fans. In every moment, it reminds us that beauty can certainly exist even amid decay and quiet despair.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Ender Magnolia is an excellent Metroidvania that exemplifies the best of what the genre has to offer. Its combination of tense combat, interesting worldbuilding, and memorable art style makes for a compelling experience that we'd highly suggest to anybody drawn to games such as Hollow Knight or Blasphemous. It's downbeat, but anyone who isn't yet exhausted by Metroidvanias will find a lot to love here.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“When Ender Lilies came out, it was a game that captured that side-scrolling feeling perfectly. Ender Magnolia hits all the notes as well, but it follows a game that was more original with a more engaging story.”
read full review ↗ - 91
“All in all, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist doesn’t just take inspiration from the best games in this style; it has its own essential lessons to impart.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“If you’ve ever lost sleep over a game, truly, deeply obsessed over every mechanic, every moment, every boss fight, then you’ll understand why ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist had me in a chokehold. This sequel to ENDER LILIES isn’t just another Metroidvania; it’s a masterclass in tight combat, fluid exploration, and hauntingly beautiful storytelling. The game sucked me in so completely that I forgot to hydrate. The boss fights? Sick. The build customization? Insanely rewarding. The improvements over its predecessor? Chef’s kiss. Want to know why this might be the first must-play game of the year? Read my full review at Couch Soup!”
read full review ↗ - 84
“In terms of the style of play it mirrors its predecessor, but in terms of its look and some of its feel it’s a step up”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist may not reinvent the Metroidvania genre, but it beautifully nails its thesis. Its tale of dystopian despair unfurls with elegance, carried by characters as striking as they are melancholic, and gameplay that borrows wisely from the genre's titans. Like Lilac herself, Ender Magnolia blooms amid the mist.”
read full review ↗
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3DNews
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Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
RPGamer
Paste Magazine
Couch Soup
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3…and 65 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch notes: 1.1.1Mar 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes: 1.1.0Mar 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes: 1.0.4Feb 7, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes: 1.0.3Jan 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Plans for next version (1.0.3)Jan 24, 2025
- 0.5.1 Patch noteMar 29, 2024significant · resets scoring window