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) | – | 82 | 37 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 79 | 70 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 80% | 74 | 3 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 9 reviews sampled · 8 total reviews in window · weighted 3.8 up / 0.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (22)
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.
- 70
“A little more TLC with the boss battles might have resulted in a more memorable experience, but Lovish is a satisfying adventure nonetheless. It’s a timeless type of entertainment that takes a simple a premise and runs with it. As the gaming industry continues to get more complex, bigger, and frustrating, it’s a solid reminder that at the end of the day, what matters most is creating a product that people can have fun with.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“Single-hit deaths and a variety of challenges are countered by some silliness and reasonably-tight controls to make for a retro-styled bit of fun”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Lovish is a very stylish love-letter game to the era of NES, mixing a lot of the great retro feel and mechanics into an enjoyable blend of short, one-room levels with a charming personality.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Lovish is a true love letter to old-school gamers, made by someone who clearly understands and respects the golden age of video games.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The thing I really enjoyed about Lovish is that it's just very surprising. Many of the cinematics are clever, there's a set of late-game bosses and stages and directly reference many NES games from my childhood including Super Mario Bros. 3 and Bubble Bobble, among others, and you'll occasionally find yourself playing a shockingly long minigame based directly on some old favorites. The cinematics might get old, and some of the Crowns are weirdly hard to find, but overall, I think this Lovish is a fun romp.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Lovish is a fun return to platform games from the past. The game made by LABS Works and DANGEN Entertainment feels both familiar and strangely new at the same time. The idea behind the story, saving Princess Tsuna while dealing with Sir Solomon’s crippling insecurities, is silly, funny, and utterly charming.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Lovish is a cute and sweet 8-Bit retro-inspired action game that parodies the hero-saves-the-princess trope. Each puzzle room is filled with challenging obstacles and enemies that are constantly changing and evolving throughout your playthrough. Though there are some issues, such as the game’s stores stocking useless items, there being no way to pause the game and boring boss fights, Lovish makes up for this by including a lot of secret levels to find and explore, meaning that there is a lot for players to discover and experience after the base game is beaten.”
read full review ↗ - 90
- 80
“Lovish has some tight, punishing and unrelenting gameplay firmly packed into an aesthetically pleasing and insane narrative that never tries to justify itself beyond “why not?” The game has as much replay value as you want to put into it, and I personally found it to be a delight and a treasure.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“If you like precision platformers and really want something to give you a challenge, I think Lovish will definitely scratch that itch. For people who are prone to losing their patience, however, there is unfortunately little here to enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“Despite its simplicity and minuteness, Lovish is an 8-bit retro platformer that gets right to the point with its retro charm. Some of its progression feels archaic, but it makes up for it with tongue-in-cheek satire and tight platforming. It's a delight of an indie gem that's best appreciated by 90s kids who are still wearing their rose-colored glasses.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Lovish is a chaotic homage to 8-bit action platformers, blending tight single-screen challenges with tongue-in-cheek storytelling and a surprising amount of depth. Players control Sir Solomon, a lovestruck knight tackling absurd scenarios and brutal stages, all while chasing a princess who may not be worth the trouble. With its irreverent tone, punishing one-hit deaths, and rewarding progression system, Lovish balances skill, humor, and nostalgia to deliver a distinctly indie experience that’s both challenging and memorable.”
read full review ↗
Maximum Utmost
Nindie Spotlight
ReGame It
Pizza Fria
NintendoWorldReport
GamesCreed
Checkpoint Gaming
Niche Gamer
WayTooManyGames
Netto’s Game Room
Digital Chumps
Noisy Pixel…and 10 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update notes for February 18, 2026Feb 18, 2026