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) | – | 83 | 22 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 29 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 83% | 77 | 980 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 21, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 980 total reviews in window · weighted 227.2 up / 32 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (96)
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.
- 75
“What will you take away from Salt and Sanctuary? The euphoria of having finally conquered another or the first souls-like game that was definitely worth the broken controllers and keyboards. The game won't take you more than 20 hours if you settle for not beating all the bosses and not having the gear you wanted.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As derivative as it may sound, Salt and Sanctuary is an enjoyable romp on the Nintendo Switch thanks to its entertaining combat. It's good enough to warrant checking it out despite some concerns. With Dark Souls for the Nintendo Switch missing in action, Salt and Sanctuary is an enjoyable way to get your Souls fix.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“All told, Salt and Sanctuary is just about what you'd expect it to be: it's more or less a 2D Dark Souls, but with a little more emphasis on less. Salt and Sanctuary does an admirable job of hitting all the right beats that it needs to provide a challenging and fun action adventure that will no doubt provide a solid bang for your buck, but it doesn't do a whole lot to stand on its own two legs; this is a game that can only thrive on the scraps generated by the overwhelming popularity of a much better game series. We'd give this one a recommendation to any Dark Souls fans - this is a decent way of capturing that game's spirit - but those who've never been interested won't find much new here to entice them.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Although it might look like just another Souls clone set in a 2D environment, Salt and Sanctuary manages to almost effortlessly transition the familiar gameplay into a different dimension. The gameplay is deep, offering multitude of combat options and as rewarding as it was in Dark Souls.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Ultimately, Salt and Sanctuary goes beyond simply aping the trademark difficulty of the Souls games. It has a lot to offer those looking to pass the time until the next Dark Souls release, as well as those willing to dive even deeper down the rabbit-hole. ”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Salt and Sanctuary has become an instant classic. Any Souls' fan will enjoy it as any of those games and its progressive difficulty is, as usual, really rewarding.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“All in all Salt and Sacrifice delivers what it set out to do admirably, and for myself the comparisons to the Souls series are a positive since they mostly overlap what I appreciate in roguelikes...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Do not underestimate Salt and Sanctuary: it'll chew you up and spit you back out, drawing from From Software's modern action RPG blueprints and translating the hard-as-nails gameplay to two dimensions. It demands your attention, never holds your hand, and rewards your patience and skill. Some players will find the lack of information too obtuse and difficulty too harsh, and a few cheap enemies and well-hidden traps will certainly frustrate. For those willing to go the distance, however, this is an intricate and fulfilling game just waiting to be conquered. As far as Souls wannabes go, this is one that's certainly worth its salt.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ska Studios smartly transformed the core concepts of a Souls game and turned it into a side-scrolling action game with an ample amount of Metroidvania influence. The result is tough as nails, but doable with perseverance and gumption. Salt and Sanctuary is not for the faint of heart, but it's a journey worth suffering through for those who think they are worthy.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Salt and Sanctuary is a great game- built on a solid combat engine and a world that begs to be explored. If it weren't for the numerous bugs and the pedestrian difficulty, it could have been something truly exceptional.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Salt and Sanctuary for the Switch is a great port. Everything is smooth and it works just as I had expected it to be. There are no slowdowns, the graphics look just as good, the audio is just as chilling as ever, and the adventure is still an awesome one to be had. If you haven't already had the chance to dive into this comber, and woeful tale, you should. It's worth it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While Salt and Sanctuary is truly its own game, with themes and elements appealing to fans of the genre, there were moments when it was too similar to its predecessors, and some unnecessary mechanics were added in an attempt to separate itself from the pack. Sometimes, paying homage to something can get caught up in the fine line of copying. However, it is a title that fits well with a "pick up/put down" pace and gives players a lot of choice in how they wish to play. Salt and Sanctuary provides ample replay value in a fun title that is fast-paced and challenging enough for anyone seeking a "Souls-like" game.”
read full review ↗
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Worth Playing…and 84 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes for 1.0.2.2Oct 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes for 1.0.2.1Aug 16, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes for 1.0.2.0Aug 1, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes for 1.0.1.1May 26, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Released (v1.0.1.0)Apr 15, 2023
- Linux SDL UpdateNov 13, 2022
- 1.0.0.9, Linux/macOS EditionNov 11, 2022
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.9Oct 29, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Public Beta Has ArrivedAug 20, 2022
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.8Jul 10, 2018
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.7Mar 10, 2017
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.7Mar 10, 2017
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.6Oct 7, 2016
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.6Oct 7, 2016
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.5Jul 8, 2016
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.5Jul 8, 2016
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.4May 25, 2016
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.4May 25, 2016
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.3 and EarlierMay 18, 2016
- Patch Notes for 1.0.0.3 and EarlierMay 18, 2016