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) | – | 62 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 70% | 67 | 292 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 51% | 53 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 0.6 up / 0.6 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (14)
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.
- 40
“Castaway Paradise is hardly the first game to take inspiration from Animal Crossing, and it certainly won't be the last - but its unoriginal adherence to the Animal Crossing formula is bad enough, without the added veneer of in-app purchases, hastily reskinned and demonetised for a full-price release. It began life as a Facebook game back in 2014, and it still feels like one seven years later.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Castaway Paradise does a moderately good job of being entertaining. The quirky and demanding characters are funny, and there is something about the game that makes collecting all the items fun especially with the upbeat music. Fishing is not the easiest feature, and with real time affecting crops and other game elements it may not be as easy to play for those with limited time to play, but even played in short bursts progress happens. There were occasional crashes too, but it saves regularly so not much progress is lost. Once all island areas are unlocked and built there are still main quests to complete but unlike other games there does feel less of a reason to keep going other than unlocking new items.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Castaway Paradise is one of PS4's more pleasant experiences, offering a tropical vacation that'll keep you busy for hours on end. Although the game's addictive qualities do wane over time, the process of steadily expanding and improving your island is both relaxing and satisfying.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“Castaway Paradise focuses on Animal Crossing while adding great features from Harvest Moon to make a perfect new entity.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Castaway Paradise is a title that tries to live up to other genre defining hits like Blue Harvest and Animal Crossing, but merely comes across as a cheap knock-off of the two. A life simulator that doesn't look very lively, your money is better spent else where.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Unfortunately, Castaway Paradise is a disappointment. It simply doesn't capture interest like Animal Crossing does, whether it's due to the broken economy, the endless repetition of quests, or perpetual fruit gathering.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Castaway Paradise is a great time sink, it is very easy to spend an hour or two just mulling around the islands. Catching a few fish, pulling out some weeds or just tending to your crops. Gameplay that will appeal to most gamers, especially those that have played Animal Crossing. The Switch is a good home for the game as the portability of the switch would be great for checking in for the daily rewards in Castaway Paradise on a commute to work.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A few minor issues aside, this is one paradise worth getting shipwrecked on.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“If you thrive on sim like games and you’re looking for a different game to play from the norm, then Castaway Paradise is for you. It has been quite some time since I thoroughly enjoyed one of these type games and it really brought back some memories from experiences like this in other games. Games like this are always down to how they speak to each individual player. For the low asking price (£8.83 here in the UK), it’s well worth picking up, even if games in this genre aren't usually your thing.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Castaway Paradise is a great alternative to Animal crossing which can be played on rival platforms. Mechanics and processes have bled through from the original mobile version into the console port and while most of them have adapted well, there are some which have been heavily balanced in favour of the player. Usually, that wouldn't be a bad thing, but I feel this game should be time-consuming and more involved rather than handing you everything on a plate like certain things do at the moment.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Castaway Paradise has potential, and it'll be interesting to see if the developer updates it with new content in the future. While it's nowhere near as in-depth as Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing, it is still a very relaxing and entertaining little adventure. Its unique visuals are simplistic but colorful, and the characters you get to meet are entertaining. If you don't happen to have a Nintendo console with which to play Animal Crossing, then Castaway Paradise makes a reasonable substitute.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A charming and quirky simulation game in the spirit of Animal Crossing. Castaway Paradise is the virtual vacation that will end the summer gaming drought.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
Push Square
Gamerheadquarters
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis
LadiesGamers.com
ThisGenGaming
Xbox Sector
GamePitt
PlayStation LifeStyle
PlayStation Universe…and 2 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update available - Controller supportAug 17, 2017
- Update available - Controller supportAug 17, 2017
- Play version 3.0 Beta now!Jul 11, 2017
- Play version 3.0 Beta now!Jul 11, 2017
- Castaway Paradise Loves Home DesignerJun 25, 2017
- Version 3.0 updateMar 2, 2017
- Version 3.0 updateMar 2, 2017
- Translators wantedNov 30, 2016
- Thanksgiving update!Nov 24, 2016
- Thanksgiving update!Nov 24, 2016
- HALLOWEENOct 21, 2016
- Autumn is here!Sep 22, 2016
- Announcing v3.0Aug 30, 2016
- Announcing v3.0Aug 30, 2016
- FREE HOSPITAL DLCJul 21, 2016
- Father's day!Jun 14, 2016
- MOTHERS DAYMay 6, 2016
- HD update is live!May 4, 2016
- HD update is live!May 4, 2016
- TO DO listApr 13, 2016
- EASTER has arrived!Mar 23, 2016
- St. Patrick's Week!Mar 14, 2016
- UPDATE TIME!Feb 29, 2016
- UPDATE TIME!Feb 29, 2016
- FREE DLC: BOUTIQUE PACKFeb 24, 2016
- UPDATE OF LOVEFeb 9, 2016
- UPDATE OF LOVEFeb 9, 2016
- CARNIVAL is here!Feb 2, 2016
- 2016 Q1-Q2 NEW CONTENTJan 25, 2016
- Winter season update!Jan 12, 2016
- Winter season update!Jan 12, 2016
- Christmas is here!Dec 9, 2015
- Free DLC: Ranger Pack!Dec 1, 2015
- Thanksgiving update!Nov 24, 2015
- Thanksgiving update!Nov 24, 2015
- Introducing BadgesNov 11, 2015
- NEW! Daily Challenges!Oct 9, 2015
- It's Animal Day!Oct 4, 2015
- Autumn is here!Sep 21, 2015significant · resets scoring window
…and 19 earlier patch announcements.