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) | – | 88 | 102 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 98% | 94 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 87 | 31 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 98% | 94 | 1975 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 93.0, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 2,233 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 (May 29, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 1975 total reviews in window · weighted 265.5 up / 6 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (57)
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.
- 90
“Zelda, Mega Man, and Metroid are just a few names to which Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo pays homage. And while living up to those greats is grueling work, somehow, Pipistrello makes it look easy. It’s wonderfully designed, perfectly paced, and filled with secrets and side attractions that are well worth its lengthy runtime.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“One of the best indie games of the year with tons of great features, from its unusual plot twists to its addictive gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Folks, Gordon Gekko had it wrong. It’s not greed that’s good, but the yoyo, which “clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.” And if those words sound as hyperbolic as they do in Wall Street, just wait until you get your hands on Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo and see how gloriously right this weird, wonderful yoyo-centric adventure is.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a masterclass in retro Zelda-like game design, expertly fusing classic mechanics with creative new ideas to make for a thoroughly memorable and worthwhile experience. Occasional difficulty spikes aside, we'd highly recommend you pick up Pipistrello at the next available opportunity, especially if you're a Zelda fan who prefers the top-down design of games such as The Minish Cap. Much like its title character, this one has a lot of cool tricks up its sleeve.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“"Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo" truly shines as a unique gem with a personality all its own. It's a heartfelt and intelligent homage to the great classics of the past, blending irreverent characters, biting social commentary, and gameplay that's a cross between a Zelda-like and a Metroidvania. With a simple but brilliant idea like the yoyo, Pocket Trap has crafted an experience that entertains, surprises, and leaves a lasting impression, proving that innovation can spring from a deep love for the medium's roots.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a well-made and hard-hitting metroidvania that hits all the right notes and sticks the landing with its proverbial yoyo shenanigans.With lovely graphics & sound from legendary composer Yoko Shimomura (catchy tracks and all), a cute plot concerning gentrification of all topics in a landscape of anthropomorphic beings, and fun-yet-challenging metroidvania action using your yoyo and other related antics, file this title under the dark horse category of standout indie games of 2025.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is impressively polished, with gameplay that invites experimentation by offering multiple creative solutions instead of just one correct approach. This flexibility, paired with responsive physics and clear visual feedback, makes puzzle solving satisfying and central to the overall progression. The bouncy, chunky graphics paired with the uppity chiptune create an atmosphere that's fun, inviting, and nostalgic, without ever feeling cloying or overdone. It's the kind of game that perfectly nails what it sets out to do, while going above and beyond expectations.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“While it’s general feel is very old school on a general level, the varied and smart use of a yoyo as your weapon of choice makes it refreshingly different”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a phenomenal love letter to a bygone era of video games and toys that many people played and loved.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a great game, and yes, it's definitely worth playing! In times of increasingly complex games, with gigantic maps and mechanics that sometimes leave us lost, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo bets on a beautiful style and extremely enjoyable gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“This is a brilliantly designed top-down adventure that is one of the best 2D Zelda-esque indie games of the entire Switch era. My teeny-tiny complaints only lie with the combat, but the delightful puzzles and joyous yoyo parkour more than make up for some occasionally tiresome battling. We might be days away from the Switch 2, but be sure not to miss this absolute gem of a game.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A genre-defining adventure, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo nails that innate arcadey feeling just right. Its inspired puzzles, wacky dialogues, and perfectly recreated GBA soundtrack and graphics do make it feel like someone unearthed this game recently after being lost to the sands of time.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Overwhelmingly Positive v2.0 Update!Aug 18, 2025
- v1.5 UpdateJun 5, 2025
- v1.4 UpdateJun 3, 2025
- v1.3 UpdateMay 29, 2025significant · resets scoring window