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) | – | 79 | 25 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 95 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 88 | 130 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 29, 2024) · 130 reviews sampled · 125 total reviews in window · weighted 79.7 up / 5.3 down · computed 9h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (16)
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
“As someone who grew up with NES platformers, Gimmick 2! feels like having a favorite dish at a new restaurant where they've tweaked the recipe by adding one or two new ingredients. I know I've had better, but it's still tasty. While this challenging game doesn't earn the broad recommendation I hoped for, it's worth a long look for skilled platformer enthusiasts.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“"Basic platformer meets its end before it can properly begin."”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gimmick! 2 is an easy recommendation for fans of retro platformers and a no-brainer for lovers of the original. Its cutesy, feel-good vibes belie a trove of super-tough but cleverly crafted challenges that are surmountable with practice, precision, and patience. What's clear is the absolute reverence that developer Bitwave Games has for the source material. Dispel any notion of this being a retro cash grab; this is the sequel that the underappreciated and ahead-of-its-time NES classic has always deserved.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“An improvement over the old-school original, but its momentum-based style can still make it tough to love”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Yes, it is hard, but that is what makes it special. The game never punishes its players and instead encourages trying again with excellent checkpoints. I do wish the original was included in this package just so I could revisit it, but otherwise this is a fantastic sequel to one of the most unique platformers of all time.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gimmick! 2 is an awesome sequel to it’s NES predecessor, that has great controls, nice but fair challenge and music from the maestro David Wise himself.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“While Gimmick! 2 isn’t for me, it’s a cute little game that might be just the thing some are looking for in the platforming genre. Personally, this game stands as a curiosity that reflects a game that many discovered years after its release and that’s a fantastic approach to game development.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“All in all, Gimmick 2 is a wonderful followup that shows Yumetaro’s game having a bright modern comeback akin to Blaster Master Zero and Ufouria before it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gimmick! 2 is everything a sequel to the original classic should be. It takes the core elements that made the first game special and builds on them with refined graphics, improved level design, and a charming presentation that outshines the original in every way. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel or introduce groundbreaking new ideas, it does what it sets out to do exceptionally well. This is an easy recommendation for fans of retro platformers, and I’d even go as far as to recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good gaming experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Then again, it’s nice to get the chance to play one of these games without having to resort to exploitative import prices or worse, ROMs and emulation. Given Sunsoft’s resolve to seeing this release through this time means that a whole new audience will get to do away with myths and legends about this series to find that these are fun and simple games very much worth checking out and adding to your digital gaming library wherever.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gimmick! 2 is a love letter to the original game, with all sorts of fun challenges and levels to complete across six worlds. The game does a wonderful job of juggling the appeal to both long-time fans and new players. Additionally, the soundtrack from David Wise is spectacular, capturing the adventurous spirit of the game. Overall, Gimmick! 2 is a great sequel that more than rises to the challenge.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Gimmick! 2 is a short experience with only six levels, but that won’t feel like the case if you are not willing to buy into its design choices. The assisted mode should help more casual players get into it, but at its heart, this is a platforming trial that may look simple but has much more to offer.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Fintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
ZTGD
KonsoliFIN
Forever Classic Games
Seafoam Gaming
LadiesGamers.com
Entertainium
Final Weapon
SavePoint Gaming…and 4 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- October Patch 1.4Oct 29, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.3.1Oct 7, 2024
- HotfixSep 26, 2024
- Hotfix 1.3,1Sep 26, 2024
- The first major Gimmick! 2 patch is hereSep 24, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix patch-notesSep 6, 2024