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) | – | 60 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 69% | 67 | 69 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 34 | 5 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (20)
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.
- 60
“There are already a ton of platformers to choose from on both of Sony's current home consoles, but the good news is that Aaru's Awakening is free to anyone with PlayStation Plus for the time being. If you fancy something artsy and with some challenging gameplay, then we think that you should consider giving it a shot. Everyone else will want to pass on this one.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“[M]any could say I just suck at the game, and I would agree with you, but I know my way around a platformer, and Aaru's Awakening has the makings of a good one, but is bogged down by poorly implemented controls and some choice level design. Only the hardcore of players will get into it, and even then they will have controller breaking thoughts while playing it.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Aaru's Awakening is gorgeous to behold and a chore to play.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“I loved the art style of Aaru's Awakening, I loved the story premise it had, and I loved teleporting. I did not love the rest of the gameplay decisions along the way.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Beautiful and creative, but controls and design issues often drag it from challenging to frustrating.”
read full review ↗ - 30
“Aaru's Awakening employs difficulty in ways unconsidered and illsuited to its design, leading to a game which does little but frustrate at every step.”
read full review ↗ - 67
“Despite some good ideas and a cool art style, Aaru's Awakening falls short of being a dream platformer.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Aaru's Awakening is a competent if unspectacular game, that with a little more time in the oven could have been much better as an overall experience.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Aaru's Awakening is a great example of how looks can deceive. Its gorgeous world and beautifully detailed environments are absolutely breathtaking, but the core gameplay that lies within leaves much to be desired.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A fine game which presents a grueling challenge, Aaru's Awakening is perfect for the player who thinks 2D platform games today just aren't difficult enough.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Lumenox's first game is a treat for the eyes, but a clunky and often frustrating teleportation system weighs down the experience.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“All of this will likely be tremendously appealing to a particular sort of player, and Aaru's Awakening clearly deserves a certain recognition for putting its own twist on the unforgiving 2D platformer. But if you are going to enter this world, know that the extrinsic rewards are few. The challenge is really all there is. The gods give only what they will, and are unconcerned with whether mortals find it sufficient.”
read full review ↗
Push Square
ZTGD
GameSpot
TheSixthAxis
PC Gamer
Kritiqal
IGN
Gamestyle
Gamers FTW
Destructoid
Post Arcade (National Post)
Kill Screen…and 8 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update 2.0Mar 6, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- Update 2.0Mar 6, 2015
- Update!Feb 25, 2015
- Update!Feb 25, 2015