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) | – | 71 | 5 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 81 | 398 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 0.7 up / 0 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (15)
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
“Cinders breathes new life into a tired fairytale in a way that is smart, dark and funny.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Pretty well instantly upon finishing my initial version of this story I was compelled to start up and try another path as there are quite a number of key decisions I can imagine would greatly affect the outcome...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The story in Cinders can and does veer off at unexpected tangents. Absolutely nothing is concrete, and what feels like the best choice can end up being the worst if a scenario is repeated a few times to see what will happen next. With a high replay value to experience different decisions, Cinders certainly provides a new take on a classic tale, with style and imagination that will impact gamers more than other versions of the tale can. A wide range of morals are presented to the gamer, making it their choice whether Cinderella is a kind girl, or one who looks out for herself, and is as selfish as her step-sisters initially seem.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cinders' story had me hooked from beginning to end, while its compelling cast of characters, the themes it explores and its deviations from the traditional narrative of Cinderella made for a surprisingly poignant tale that I won't soon forget.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Cinders is a good example of a visual novel on the Nintendo Switch based on a familiar tale, that of Cinderella, told through a more modern lens. While the game is rather short, its four endings act like good motivators to keep the players focused, especially with its quality writing and appealing visuals. Cinders would only benefit from longer storylines that would amount to a lengthier experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“GOOD - Cinders is an interactive novel that retells the classic Cinderella story from a more mature perspective of each of the four women involved. Seemingly countless decisions, a variety of endings and a well-written story make up a solid foundation. Couple that with beautifully made 2D art scenes and well-planned mechanics in the game and Cinders comes out as strong game in this genre.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Cinders attempts a modern, feminist take on the classic fairy tale but poor writing and uninspired art leave it smothered in the ashes.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Though Cinders would like to be a mature version of the Cinderella fairy tale, it fails to separate itself from the original and ends up rehashing a story we've all heard before.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cinders is a short but highly replayable visual novel with dynamic characters and sharp writing. The visuals and soundtrack aren’t revolutionary but serve the narrative well. However, slowdown, while infrequent, can be a game-breaking experience when it appears.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cinders is an excellent visual novel that makes the player think a lot about the Cinderella tale. With striking and very believable characters, it is possible to understand the motivations of each one and test dozens of different options to lead the protagonist in the way the player prefers, for better or for worse, and bear the consequences of those decisions. Despite not having Brazilian Portuguese localization and some rhythm issues, it is recommended for lovers of good stories.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The bottom line of my playthrough is that not much I had done mattered in the end. If you are interested in playing Cinders, be prepared to play it to completion for the best experience because it is clear that not every door has a prize behind it, and not every ending suits a fairytale.”
read full review ↗ - 73
“Despite being extremely poor gameplay-wise, Cinders is a fascinating, smart and fresh take on the (obsolete) Cinderella tale.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
GameGrin
FNintendo
Nintendo Times
TechRaptor
We Got This Covered
Nintendo Enthusiast
Nintendo Blast
GamingTrend
Spaziogames…and 3 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 1.2.7 brings gamepad supportFeb 25, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.2 is out!Jun 21, 2018
- Update 1.2 ComingFeb 6, 2018
- Update 1.2 ComingFeb 6, 2018