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) | – | 78 | 48 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 82 | 395 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 89% | 83 | 222 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 30, 2025) · 222 reviews sampled · 207 total reviews in window · weighted 147.5 up / 17.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (31)
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.
- 85
“Tomba! Special Edition is a fantastic and unique game. Even though I had hoped for a full remaster, the original is still fun just the way it is. The added content and features-like saving anywhere and rewinding-are great, and despite some dated mechanics, the colorful world and quirky side quests make it a rewarding, fun experience that is definitely worth playing. While the 34 year old me scores Tomba at an 8.5, purely due to outdated mechanics, the 7 year old me gives it a 10/10 ;)”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Tomba! The memorable PlayStation platformer is back with a remaster that does its job very well and gives the Whoopee Camp franchise a new lease of life. The Tokuro Fujiwara-designed game continues to stand out among modern offerings. It does so thanks to its colorful scenery, ingenious level design and the particular charm of our pink-haired protagonist. The 2.5D gameplay has aged like a fine wine and, although it does not reach the excellence of other titles by the author, it is a beautiful chapter in the history of gaming that is worth visiting.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Tomba! is still a weird and mostly wonderful little platformer, packed with character and charm from beginning to end. Some of its more convoluted design elements can frustrate, and the backtracking's a bit of a slog at times, but the core, grab-happy gameplay remains satisfyingly fun. And, with the addition of unlimited saves and a rewind function, it's hard not to appreciate and enjoy this revived PS1 oddity.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“To Tomba! Special Edition has the ability to take us back to the era of the first PlayStation where there were several developers with an appetite to experiment and build on a particular craze to create something beautiful.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Tombi! Special Edition makes up for its shortcomings with its distinctive charm and cheerful vibe so effectively that the occasional ’90s jank hardly bothered me at all. Yes, at times you really have to rack your brains about where to go next and some of the tasks are downright esoteric, but the overall experience is still quite refreshing. As a platformer, Tombi! is fun and childlike in a good way.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“Tomba! Special Edition might not be for everyone but it is an important moment in video game history that hopefully leads to more games ported to modern platforms and more robust ways to interact with those titles. Out of everything happening in retro gaming, the Carbon Engine is one of the most exciting things happening. Games deserve to be preserved and this release is a godsend for anyone with a passing interest on the adventures of a pink-haired feral lad.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Tomba! Special Edition is a painstaking tribute to an enduring PlayStation oddity. Hopefully this is an opening salvo for rereleases of older, odder games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Tomba! Special Edition successfully brings back a beloved classic from the PlayStation era. The game’s vibrant visuals and charming character designs create an engaging atmosphere that captures the spirit of the original.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Tombi! might just be the most 8/10 game ever, and absolutely no higher than that. I personally love it; but the esoteric quests, remarkably easy boss fights, and slightly wonky controls at times do make it a hard sell. However, if you want a daft and weird little curio to spend some hours in, this will keep you as happy as a pig in, well, you know. Oh, also, if you loved the demo on the demo disc, you owe it to yourself to see what's beyond the 100 Year Old Man, believe me.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Tomba! Special Edition is a slightly improved version of Tomba! from 1997. No graphical changes, but the changes that are there make playing Tomba! Special Edition a lot easier. It gives you a wonderful nostalgic feeling and takes you back to that time. You have to get used to the graphical style and also the sometimes clumsy controls. But if you can, then Tomba! Special Edition is a wonderful game to get through the summer with.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“Tomba! Special Edition is a lazily-done remaster of a classic PlayStation title. It retains the exact same gameplay and visuals, but with an added museum to view related media and a new soundtrack. So although it might appeal to aged gamers for nostalgic reasons, there’s really nothing about it that would justify its price for younger players.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There is a reason why used copies of Tomba! fetch prices past the $100 range in the second-hand market. It is a blissfully enjoyable experience that makes you feel like a hyper kid again with snot running down your nose as you hold in your pee because you don’t want to stop playing. Given how many remakes and remasters get things wrong, maybe it was for the best that Tomba! Special Edition is as safe as it is.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Update notes for 7/30/2025Jul 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1Sep 3, 2024
- Update Notes for August 2Aug 2, 2024