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 (Metacritic) | – | – | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 93 | 59 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 99% | 95 | 118 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.2, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 118 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 (Feb 23, 2026) · 118 reviews sampled · 87 total reviews in window · weighted 41.7 up / 0.6 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (12)
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.
- 83
“Duck Side of the Moon is quite an enjoyable short ride, where you’ll be relaxing your way through a 3- to 5-hour-long journey that reminds us all about not overworking ourselves, learning to take our time, and relaxing whenever necessary.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you accept that you are buying more of an interactive therapy session than an epic adventure, you will leave, or rather fly away, more than satisfied.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Duck Side of the Moon is a great addition to the cozy game genre and one that adds more interaction than many other titles. It often feels like a fusion of modern cozy game and classic collectathons which makes for a fantastic feel-good time and one that I really enjoyed.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“There is a lot to enjoy in Duck Side of the Moon, the storyline is witty and charming, the exploration is expansive, and the crafting is well structured. At times, flying as Doug was great fun, but I also found it frustrating, especially when needing greater dexterity than my fingers wanted to demonstrate. However, there is a disconnect between the upgrade path and access to the various areas, and together with the issues I encountered, my overall enjoyment was reduced.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Duck Side of the Moon is a quacking good time: an adorable space-bound adventure with simple yet inviting mechanics, silly yet engaging writing, and the occasional shockingly emotional moment. For those looking for a relaxing game, this title will more than hit the mark, winning you over with its unique score, fun exploration at your own pace, and overall memorable experiences.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Duck Side of the Moon is a light, ironic adventure, built around a simple idea but carried out with coherence, but also without particular peaks of depth and quality.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cozy space-themed adventure that places you in the role of an astronaut duck”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's very short but oh-so-sweet: Duck Side of the Moon is a cosy adventure about repairing your ship after crash-landing on a rocky planet, and it'll warm your heart. It's just a shame that it's done with in only a few hours.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Duck Side of the Moon is not going to challenge you, and it is not trying to. It is a sweet, funny, relaxed exploration game about helping rock aliens, mining space minerals, dressing up a duck, and slowly fixing a busted ship. The missing map keeps it from feeling as frictionless as it should, but everything else lands with enough charm that I still kinda loved my time with it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“While it’s a short experience, Duck Side of the Moon boasts graceful movement and controls that make zipping around a friendly little galaxy immensely fun. It does not revolutionize anything you’ve seen before that carries the “cozy” tag with it but rather shows incredible promise for a new studio making games, bringing light into a currently dim moment in the industry.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Duck Side of the Moon is a true little indie gem that doesn’t try to be something it’s not, it’s perfect exactly the way it is. Concise, charming, and incredibly fun, it’s a wonderful example of how “less is more” can absolutely hit the mark.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In the end, Duck Side of the Moon is one of those experiences that thrives on its identity. It knows exactly what it wants to be, a slightly odd but thoughtful collectathon with a duck in space, and it delivers on that vision without overcomplicating things. The combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, and understated storytelling creates a cohesive experience that’s easy to get lost in. There are moments where the pacing could feel a bit uneven, and the point-of-no-return system won’t be for everyone. But these are relatively minor bumps in an otherwise smooth journey. The game balances humor and sincerity successfully. It’s a rather complicated mix, but one that Duck Side of the Moon handles with surprising ease. So yes, it turns out ducks do belong in space as fully-fledged protagonists of their own strange, compelling adventures. Duck Side of the Moon may not change what a collectathon can be, but it absolutely reminds you why the genre works in the first place; this is one quacktastic space adventure.”
read full review ↗
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SomGeek
TheSixthAxis
LadiesGamers.com
Try Hard Guides
CrazyGameCommunity.it
PS3Blog.net
GameSpew
Duuro Magazine
So Many Games
Virtualni Kutak
Gaming BoulevardPatch history
- Regional Pricing UpdateJun 19, 2026
- Duck Side of the Moon - Hotfix #6May 19, 2026
- Duck Side of the Moon - Hotfix #5May 15, 2026
- Duck Side of the Moon - Hotfix #4May 14, 2026
- Duck Side of the Moon - Hotfix #3May 11, 2026
- Duck Side of the Moon - Hotfix #2May 8, 2026
- Duck Side of the Moon - Hotfix #1May 7, 2026
- Patch #1 - Steam Next Fest DemoFeb 25, 2026
- Steam Next Fest Demo Live!Feb 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window