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Screencheat

Screencheat

Samurai Punk · released Oct 21, 2014

ActionIndiePCPlayStation 4Xbox One

Screencheat is a ridiculous competitive split-screen first-person shooter where everyone is invisible, so players are forced to look at each other’s screens to win. Supporting both local and online multiplayer, combat in Screencheat is fast and furious with a wide variety of one-hit kill weapons.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗Metacritic 69 · users 6.3 ↗
85
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
82%
At launch
92%
Steam all-time
73%
Press
65%
Recent sentiment

PC 85 · PlayStation 72 · Xbox 72

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–735
All-time Steam reviews92%86971
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)65%642
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 5 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 0.9 up / 0.5 down · computed 15m ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (17)

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.

  • 80
    Pure XboxPure Xbox
    trust 70Apr 5, 2016

    “If you and your crew want to play something far more unique than most first-person shooters on the market, then Screencheat is an easy recommendation. Those on their own will have it rough, however, since the online community just simply isn't there for it. It's a shame, since playing against bots can only sustain users for so long. What makes Samurai Punk's game so special is sharing the experience with other players, not the console.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    Push SquarePush Square
    trust 69Mar 9, 2016

    “Despite a very novel central premise, Screencheat simply fails to maintain attention. The title features a variety of weapons, maps, and modes, but its mechanics take too long to grasp for it to succeed as a party game, while being too shallow for it to succeed as a serious shooter. To be clear, there's definitely some fun to be had here, and the goofy visuals and music help emphasize this, but the entire experience reeks of wasted potential.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    The EscapistThe Escapist
    trust 66Mar 3, 2016

    “Screencheat is undeniably fun, party/shooter hybrid which brings back fond memories of the good old days of split-screen.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    MonsterVineMonsterVine
    trust 65Mar 2, 2016

    “Screencheat only has a thin veil of content, containing only the multiplayer modes, a quick time trials mode, and some unlockable ragdoll's, but for $15 you're getting an extremely witty and lighthearted party game.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    GameGrinGameGrin
    trust 65Nov 2, 2014

    “For a group of friends who regularly play together in the same room, this would be an ideal addition to the rotation. It's an ironically fitting tribute to the days of Goldeneye, and one that will have your group in stitches by the end of your first session. Of course, you'll be at it tooth and nail by the second session, and by the third you'll probably be sick of it. While the idea and execution are both excellent, the game just isn't substantial enough to warrant extended play sessions.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    TheSixthAxisTheSixthAxis
    trust 65Mar 15, 2016

    “Unique, accessible, and hilarious to play with friends, Screencheat comes together nicely in one neat little package. It's a chaotically nostalgic trip down memory lane and one that Samurai Punk has fleshed out nicely with a range of systems that shooter fans will be comfortable with. That said, it's tenure over the sitting room may be short-lived. Although fun in small bursts, it doesn't have quite the same staying power or online community that other games enjoy.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Metro GameCentralMetro GameCentral
    trust 64Mar 4, 2016

    “The execution isn't quite as good as the central concept, but this is still a fun celebration of everything that's great about split-screen gaming.”

    read full review ↗
  • 78
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 63Oct 19, 2014

    “Easy going in tone but frantic and stressful by nature, Screencheat seizes on a single novel idea and builds an enjoyable couch shooter around it.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    NoobFeedNoobFeed
    trust 62Dec 31, 2014

    “Regardless of foibles, there is a ton of entertainment value to be found in the wacky shooter that is Screencheat. Looking at an opponent’s screen and trying to collect that kill with a weird weapon, while another player might be doing the same, is exhilarating.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Rectify GamingRectify Gaming
    trust 61Mar 1, 2016

    “All in all Screencheat is a very good party game for family, friends or for anyone. We'd say go and buy it.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    IGNIGN
    trust 61Oct 25, 2014

    “Silly weapons and invisible opponents put a fresh twist on Screencheat's old-school approach to multiplayer shooting.”

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    Gamers FTWGamers FTW
    trust 61Mar 4, 2016

    “Screencheat is a clever shooter, but one that ultimately lacks depth or longevity. However, the sheer amount of fun to be had with friends is undeniable, and that aspect alone makes the game worth trying for those yearning for their local multiplayer fixes”

    read full review ↗

…and 5 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Screencheat Publishing + Soundtrack Update
    May 23, 2019significant · resets scoring window
  2. 3.2.0 Patch
    Feb 19, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  3. 3.2.0 Patch
    Feb 19, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  4. 3.1.0 Patch
    Nov 25, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  5. 3.1.0 Patch
    Nov 25, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  6. 3.0.0 Anniversary Update
    Oct 22, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  7. 3.0.0 Anniversary Update
    Oct 22, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  8. 2.1.8 Patch
    Sep 11, 2015
  9. 2.1.8 Patch
    Sep 11, 2015
  10. 2.1.7 Patch - XInput and Custom Controllers
    Aug 7, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  11. 2.1.7 Patch - XInput and Custom Controllers
    Aug 7, 2015
  12. Screencheat 2.1.6 Patch
    Jul 21, 2015
  13. Screencheat 2.1.6 Patch
    Jul 21, 2015
  14. Screencheat Saturday 2.1.5 Patch
    Jul 3, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  15. Screencheat Saturday 2.1.5 Patch
    Jul 3, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  16. Patch Notes (v2.1.3)
    Jun 11, 2015
  17. Patch Notes (v2.1.3)
    Jun 11, 2015
  18. Screencheat Update 2.1 - Training Time
    May 6, 2015
  19. Screencheat Update 2.1 - Training Time
    May 6, 2015
  20. Screencheat Update 2.0 - The Omega
    May 1, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  21. Screencheat Update 2.0 - The Omega
    May 1, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  22. Screencheat Update 1.2
    Mar 1, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  23. Screencheat Update 1.2
    Mar 1, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  24. Patch Notes 16/01/14
    Jan 16, 2015significant · resets scoring window
  25. Patch Notes 16/01/14
    Jan 16, 2015
  26. Patch Notes 12/12/14
    Dec 11, 2014
  27. Patch Notes 12/12/14
    Dec 11, 2014
  28. SCREENCHEAT UPDATE + HUGE SALE + PAX AUS 2014 FUN TIMES!
    Dec 10, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  29. SCREENCHEAT UPDATE + HUGE SALE + PAX AUS 2014 FUN TIMES!
    Dec 10, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  30. Patch Notes 8/12/14 (v1.1.1)
    Dec 8, 2014
  31. Patch Notes 8/12/14 (v1.1.1)
    Dec 8, 2014
  32. Screencheat Path 1.1.0 - "Steeple Elimination Spectacular"
    Dec 5, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  33. Screencheat Path 1.1.0 - "Steeple Elimination Spectacular"
    Dec 5, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  34. Patch Notes 26/10/14
    Oct 26, 2014
  35. Patch Notes 26/10/14
    Oct 26, 2014
  36. Murder Mystery Update is out today!
    Oct 1, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  37. Murder Mystery Update is out today!
    Oct 1, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  38. Screencheat Beta Is Closing - The Future & Your Reward
    Aug 30, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  39. Screencheat Beta Is Closing - The Future & Your Reward
    Aug 30, 2014significant · resets scoring window
  40. Content Drop #1 Is Live - Changelog Is Here!
    Aug 18, 2014significant · resets scoring window

…and 3 earlier patch announcements.