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) | – | 66 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 30 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
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.
- 70
“Overall, The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is a fun experience that's light on the metroidvania aspects. It's well designed and executed, if a little short. This makes it an easy way to pass a few hours, and it scratches that exploration itch. It might be a little crude at times, but The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest was a game I think I'll remember in a sea of similar titles.”
read full review ↗ - 50
““I'd rather to play the NES version of Fester’s Quest.””
read full review ↗ - 77
“A mix of pointed humor, some procedural unpredictability, and what feels like a unique challenge help to at least make this an interesting experience overall”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest on Nintendo Switch is a meticulously built yet curiously lifeless micro-metroidvania, where, despite the controls being super-sharp and its pixel art vibrant, the adventure feels boxed in. Repetitive rooms, shallow exploration, and a brief runtime make it resemble a neat demo instead of the real deal. As for its constant meta commentary, it’s very amusing for about 30 minutes, but ultimately drains the world of its potential to immerse.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest has the bones of a good game. It features some genuinely great platforming mechanics, a weird but unhinged, visually striking opening, and entertaining core shooting. If you just want a new platformer to double-jump your way through, it might scratch that itch. However, outside of the basics, it lacks the punch needed to be truly memorable. The recycling of early-game enemies, a lackluster overarching story after the initial setup, and deeply frustrating boss design hold the game back from reaching its full potential.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest is a wild ride. It is a tight and beautiful platformer that is only held back by the randomized maps and some frustrating bosses.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“When Elden Pixels tees up a gameplay surprise, it's pure joy. When you get to that next boss, you're going to feel good about dispatching them. The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is a game whose highs are in the atmosphere, and is short enough where the flaws aren't felt for long.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“I think this is a great, short Metroidvania. If you are someone who doesn’t need a well-crafted story, you just want to jump around and shoot monsters, this might be a great weekend play.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Prisoning is an interesting and unique game and really goes a long way to justifying the return of Acclaim. It feels familiar enough, yet sprinkling in a host of flavor to make it stand out. I really enjoyed playing through the game. The boss fights are the highlight for sure, and I wish it was a bit more fleshed out, but this is a novel title that breaks the standard on several levels. Definitely worth checking out.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest isn't a bad game, and the handful of hours you'll spend with it will certainly pass the time with a decent level of enjoyment, but there isn't really anything particularly memorable here. The procedural generation means that subsequent playthroughs will feature slightly different layouts, though this undercuts the intricate level design that good search adventure games need. Coupled with the sometimes questionable humour and you have a title that can offer a passing distraction but won't stay with you.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“This is a game you can easily sink a few hours into. I haven't reached the end yet, as it's quite challenging, and you certainly won't encounter the first boss in the first hour. Seasoned platformers might blast through it a bit faster, but even then, you'll need to learn the patterns and stay constantly alert. All in all, The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is a surprisingly strong and solid metroidvania. With its witty humor, strong enemy design, tight gameplay, and quirky presentation, this game is a definite recommendation for both fans and non-fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is exactly as it presents itself. It wants to be more, but I wish it didn't think it had to be. It's regular retro platforming, with a good map, checkpoints, forgettable characters, and cool bosses. It's something to do. You'll probably play it twice, but that's twice the something to do.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.