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) | – | 69 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 97 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 78% | 73 | 414 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 1 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (61)
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.
- 90
“While some of its procedural generation can sometimes make for an unnecessarily challenging experience, City of Brass more than makes up for it with the sheer creativity you can have exploring its Arabian Nights-themed maps. With genii to imbue you with wacky powers and the ever-tantalising need to collect more gold (as well the option to compete with others via the leaderboards), Uppercut Games has produced one of the most entertaining roguelikes to swing onto Nintendo Switch. And you can throw ghost chickens. What more do you need?”
read full review ↗ - 75
“I have no doubt that City of Brass won’t provide an experience everyone will love, but then again that’s not a shock when games try new things...”
read full review ↗ - 60
“City of Brass is a fantastic starting point for newcomers to the roguelike genre, but those that know a thing or two may leave feeling a little short-changed. The core gameplay loop at its heart is very satisfying, thanks to its experimental nature, and with the genies' perk selection, there's a decent amount of variety when you're in the thick of it, but there just isn't enough here to keep you coming back past your first couple of completed runs. There's definitely fun to be had here for a few hours, but it's nothing you'll remember with a great deal of affection in six month's time.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“City of Brass has a great theme and aesthetic, but falls victim to the same issues most roguelikes have. I feel like a broken record every time I review one saying this would have been a better traditional game as opposed to a run-based one. Still, there are neat ideas and the theme of it is hard not to love.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A Tasty Recipe For Rogue-lite Delight ...City of Brass - a first-person rogue-lite with a vivid Arabian Nights veneer - shows that if you have an enchanting art style, enemies that are a pleasure to duel and manipulate, and a combat system that's rhythmic and versatile yet simple to execute, procedural generation can become less like a vapid maze of eyesores and more like a tool that actually contributes degrees of surprise and suspense.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“City of Brass is a really well put together experience that's always fresh no matter how many times you enter the gauntlet.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Provided you keep expectations in check, City of Brass can be fun. The game is set up well for those starting out with roguelikes, and the various tweaks ensure that everyone has a chance to see the ending. For the hardcore, it can also be tweaked to be tougher, and that'll be necessary if you want any kind of challenge. This doesn't feel like a long-lasting experience, but the presence of leaderboards will be an incentive to those who might want to speed-run through the game. If you don't mind a few of the aforementioned flaws, then give this title a chance.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Good-looking and accessible addition to rogue-lite genre, but with clumsy controls, repetitive gameplay and no sense of progress.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“City of Brass is a good dungeon crawler, with some of its best moments and mechanics derived from its rendition of an Arabian Nights theme. While its repetitive scenery and uneven presentation are noticeable tarnishes on its sheen, the satisfying combat and well-balanced difficulty curve will keep you going back for more.”
read full review ↗ - 63
“City of Brass is a very decent choice for those who want to try a new genre or get familiar with the Roguelike games. But due to some mechanical shortcomings and lackluster rewarding system, City of brass fails to offer a complete experience as seen in the greatest games of this genre.”
read full review ↗ - 30
“With an awesome inspiration and some very cool ideas, it's an immense shame that City of Brass game ends up being as dull as it is. With lacklustre combat, enemy design, rooms and movement, City of Brass feels like a chore to play. With the smorgasbord of Rogue-lites to play these days, some of which are among the best games you can play, City of Brass is an easy pass.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“While there is something to be said about the game’s combat and Arabian setting, the frustrating amount of traps and repetitive gameplay makes City of Brass hard to play, and the lack of upgrades makes it hard to come back.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Push Square
ZTGD
Chalgyr's Game Room
Gamerheadquarters
Worth Playing
SECTOR.sk
GameSpot
Bazimag
TheSixthAxis
Black Red Gaming…and 49 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 1.6.6Jul 14, 2023
- Patch 1.6.5Jul 5, 2023
- Patch 1.6.4Jul 3, 2023
- 1.6.3 Patch NotesApr 1, 2022
- Update 1.5.1 OUT NOW!Mar 29, 2019
- Hellion's Escape - New Playable Character, Gear and Enemies added to City of BrassSep 5, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Fortune's Rivals - New Playable Character Classes for City of BrassJul 16, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Free Content Update v1.1 The Sultan's ArmoryMay 30, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- City Of Brass: Patch Notes - (v1.0.1)May 13, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- City of Brass - Full Steam Release Out NowMay 4, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- City of Brass - whipping towards v1.0!Apr 2, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- City of Brass - whipping towards v1.0!Apr 2, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- v0.5 Blessings & Burdens - OUT NOW!Feb 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- v0.5 Blessings & Burdens - OUT NOW!Feb 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- v0.5 Blessings & Burdens - Coming Soon!Feb 21, 2018
- v0.5 Blessings & Burdens - Coming Soon!Feb 21, 2018
- Update 0.4 - Secrets of the City - Now Available!Dec 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Update 0.4 - Secrets of the City - Now Available!Dec 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- City of Brass - Beware the Palace Grounds - Available Now!Nov 28, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- City of Brass - Beware the Palace Grounds - Available Now!Nov 28, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- v0.3 The Palace Grounds - New Environment!Nov 27, 2017
- v0.3 The Palace Grounds - New Environment!Nov 27, 2017
- Coming Soon: v0.3 Update - The Palace GroundsNov 23, 2017
- Coming Soon: v0.3 Update - The Palace GroundsNov 23, 2017
- City of Brass - Enter the Catacombs - Available Now!Oct 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- City of Brass - Enter the Catacombs - Available Now!Oct 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- v0.2 Enter the Catacombs - New Relics!Oct 21, 2017
- v0.2 Enter the Catacombs - New Relics!Oct 21, 2017
- v0.2 Enter the Catacombs - New Enemies!Oct 20, 2017
- v0.2 Enter the Catacombs - New Enemies!Oct 20, 2017
- v0.2 Enter the Catacombs - New Environment!Oct 18, 2017
- v0.2 Enter the Catacombs - New Environment!Oct 18, 2017
- Coming Soon: v0.2 Update - The CatacombsOct 12, 2017
- Coming Soon: v0.2 Update - The CatacombsOct 12, 2017
- Community Feedback and Tuning UpdateSep 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Community Feedback and Tuning UpdateSep 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window