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Undusted: Letters from the Past

Undusted: Letters from the Past

5minlab Corp. · released Oct 12, 2025

CasualIndieSimulationPCNintendo Switch

Undusted: Letters from the Past is a casual game in which you clean and restore dirty items. What is her story as she returns to a long-neglected house? Enjoy the satisfying audiovisuals featuring sensually designed sounds and graphics.

89
VGC Score
Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Bug Fixes and Patch Notes (v.1.0.2)” (10mo ago)

91%
At launch
97%
Steam all-time
85%
Press
97%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)8524
All-time Steam reviews97%92919
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)97%921508
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 91.6, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 1,839 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 (Oct 20, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 1508 total reviews in window · weighted 103.5 up / 3.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (14)

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
    trust 75Oct 20, 2025

    Undusted: Letters from the Past is a special little project that allows you to excavate someone else's memories through cleaning objects, and possibly dust off a few of your own throughout this tactile and patient process. Its satisfying and ASMR-inspired gameplay is addictive, and its emotional arc will speak to many. 5minlabs has a gem on its hands, one that's been patiently polished to a shine.

    read full review ↗
  • 78
    trust 70Oct 21, 2025

    For the cozy crowd looking for some soothing activity mixed with touching storytelling this will be a mixed blessing

    read full review ↗
  • 100
    trust 68Oct 14, 2025

    In just a little over 2 hours, Undusted: Letters from the Past wrecked me emotionally, but it had a lasting impression on me. It’s a game about dealing with family hardships and grief. However, if you want a short and relaxing game that also tells a beautiful story, look no further! I think fans of games like Venba and Unpacking especially would love this. Just be aware that it does weigh a bit heavy on the heart.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 67Oct 27, 2025

    Undusted: Letters from the Past combines cleaning up interesting and poignant items with stories about why each one matters.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 65Oct 13, 2025

    Undusted: Letters from the Past only took me around 4 hours to complete, but not only will I be returning to collect all the hidden steam achievements, but because of the gameplay itself. The story may not change, but cleaning and restoring objects was so peaceful. There was no pressure, no rush, just a calming experience that gave me space to sit with my thoughts and truly reflect on the narrative.

    read full review ↗
  • 95
    trust 64Nov 1, 2025

    Overall, Undusted: Letters from the Past was cute, heartwarming, sad, beautiful, and well worth a playthrough. It might be short, but the length is balanced by a very reasonable price tag. I enjoyed my time with Undusted, and I will be recommending it to friends who like the same types of games. If you are a fan of emotional visual novels with a little bit of relaxing, meditative cleaning thrown in, you’ll not regret your time with Adora and her family.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 60Oct 23, 2025

    Looking like a cozy and relaxing game, Undusted: Letters from the Past shows itself as more than that and surprises us with a narrative that goes way beyond just cleaning objects in a therapeutic manner.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 59Nov 12, 2025

    If you’re after a cosy evening’s entertainment, I can’t imagine you’ll be disappointed by Undusted: Letters From The Past. Its gameplay is incredibly moreish, pulling you right through to the credits in a single sitting. It’s a brief journey but one that packs an emotional punch and teaches you a couple of important lessons along the way.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 59Oct 16, 2025

    Undusted: Letters from the Past is a satisfying mix of what it presents to the player, a lo-fi cozy cleaning game that leaves me wanting to clean things perfectly over and over, while also presenting a narrative about family that pulls at the heart. I enjoyed myself so much that I played it entirely in one session, about two hours in total, finding myself enraptured in the art, music, story, and gameplay of this fantastic game about cleaning up old things.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 58Dec 6, 2025

    It’s the perfect game for a quiet evening: headphones on, lights low, and heart open. If you appreciate narrative-driven indie titles, if you enjoy ASMR-style tactile mechanics, or if you’re drawn to games that explore emotional landscapes with subtlety and care, Undusted deserves your attention!

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 55Nov 14, 2025

    Cozy and casual game in which you'll work on cleaning up and restoring old items

    read full review ↗
  • 95
    trust 53Nov 12, 2025

    Simply put, Undusted: Letters from the Past is one of those games that feels close to perfection. It has a beautiful story that sucks you into the life of Adora and her parents, addictive gameplay that feels satisfying, a realistic art style that oozes nostalgia, and a haunting soundtrack to soothe your soul. Although this game only takes a few short hours to complete, there's no doubt it will touch your heart strings and make you feel nostalgic yourself - and want to go through your own old stuff to see what stories and memories they uncover.

    read full review ↗

…and 2 more tracked reviews.

Patch history