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) | – | 65 | 6 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 15 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 91% | 85 | 1000 |
| 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) · 3 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 1.5 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (21)
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
“Lovely Planet may look cutesy, but its streamlined shooting is built for dedicated speedrunners (you can even watch a speedrun of it via Games Done Quick). Players who live for training, repetition, memory and self-achievement will find a quite solid and refreshingly different-looking shooter here, even if it's not completely perfect. With no story or bonuses or really any other elements to speak of, however, the widespread appeal feels limited. Definitely try the demo first if you can.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There's a lot of charm in Lovely Planet, so much that it almost feels wrong to not recommend it fully. The initial presentation sets a fantastic mood and atmosphere, and there's a childlike wonder to the whole experience, but it sadly goes away as stages get increasingly longer and more frustrating. It's sad, really. Lovely Planet has such a strong identity, meshing actual platforming with FPS-style gameplay, but it all clashes so poorly by the end that it can't help but feel like a huge missed opportunity for something really great.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Even if you can only beat the first set of twenty levels, Lovely Planet is a first-person shooter that is worth your time. It's beyond challenging, but when you finally put together the perfect run there isn't anything more satisfying. While it's too bad that the game hasn't seen an easy mode (or crosshair support) added in the console release, it's still a refreshing take on a genre that often feels way too stuck in its ways.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Colorful and cruel, Lovely Planet isn't a game for everyone. Those who hate constant failure will despise this title, and those looking for a more solid narrative or a better graphical showcase will also steer clear of it. On the other hand, the challenge is great enough that those with masochistic streaks will get loads of enjoyment from the game, and the whimsical presentation does enough to buffer any frustrations one may experience after failing to destroy a flying apple for the umpteenth time. As long as you favor quirky shooters, you'll take a liking to Lovely Planet.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Lovely Planet is a really neat game that's unfortunately peppered with the occasional cheap feeling levels.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“It's not a bad game by any means, just very niche and gets incredibly difficult very quickly. If you like to take your time and enjoy a bit of a storyline you should definitely look elsewhere.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Lovely Planet is certainly one of the least conventional titles to don the mechanics of a first person shooter. Its simple and clean visuals go completely against the genre's standards whereas the quick and easy way to bring the player to the game shrugs off any concerns about plot or narrative. A game made for quick, intense gaming sessions that can get too saturating if played with a different mindset.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“A great, merciless speedrunning platformer and twitch shooter with a mediocre presentation.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“The game has roughly around a hundred levels, and the minimalistic level design and focus on speedrunning will definitely appeal to many of you. Memorizing the perfect strategy for a faster run is very addictive, and if it made a believer out of me (remember, I suck at speedrunning!) then it will surely make a believer out of you!”
read full review ↗ - 60
“As the game goes on it gets really tough: you'll find yourself repeating the same level over and over again, getting killed with the exit in sight and screaming at the screen in frustration”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Lovely Planet for the Wii U eShop delivers a fun, charming, and unique take on the FPS genre that emphasizes speedrunning and platforming over killstreaks.”
read full review ↗ - 50
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
Pure Xbox
Worth Playing
MonsterVine
GameGrin
FNintendo
PC Gamer
PS3Blog.net
GameSpew
Nintendo News
ACG…and 9 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hotfix 1.68Jul 25, 2024
- Hotfix 1.67Mar 10, 2024
- Hotfix 1.66Feb 2, 2024
- Hotfix 1.65Aug 28, 2023
- Hotfix 1.64Aug 15, 2023
- Hotfix 1.63Aug 14, 2023
- Hotfix 1.62May 13, 2023
- Hotfix 1.61Apr 26, 2023
- ⚠️ Update 1.6 ⚠️Mar 21, 2023
- Hotfix 1.55Mar 10, 2023
- Hotfix 1.54Mar 10, 2023
- Hotfix 1.53Mar 9, 2023
- Hotfix 1.52Mar 9, 2023
- Hotfix 1.51Mar 8, 2023
- Update 1.5Nov 19, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.41 Live!Jan 9, 2015
- Update 1.41 Live!Jan 9, 2015
- Update 1.4 is Live!Dec 30, 2014
- Update 1.4 is Live!Dec 30, 2014
- Update 1.3 is Live!Aug 21, 2014
- Update 1.3 is Live!Aug 21, 2014