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 (Metacritic) | – | – | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 76% | 71 | 13 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 89% | 82 | 5 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 8, 2026) · 5 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 1.8 up / 0.2 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (7)
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
“ZPF is proof that games for 16-bit consoles have their own unique charm that never gets old and never goes out of style. From a technical standpoint, it pushes the capabilities of the home Mega Drive to the limit and can easily hold its own against its role models, namely, Thunder Force and Lords of Thunder. However, the pursuit of flashy pixel art and diverse environments also makes the game feel less focused and polished than its top-tier competitors.”
read full review ↗ - 69
“While I appreciate its attempt to create a new shooter with a thoroughly old-school look, feel, and attitude, there’s no question there are many titles out there that do it better”
read full review ↗ - 68
“ZPF is a fun little game that people with retro-nostalgia will find things to enjoy in terms of its presentation. However, despite of the modernisation of some of the parts of the game the mechanics don’t reveal a lot of depth.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Fun Sega Genesis/Mega Drive shoot 'em up now making he jump to Switch”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Old-school shooter fans are in for a treat with this clear tribute to our beloved Mega Drive.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“ZPF is a great addition to the shmup gernre, albeit it is quite brutal. This will test your metal and force you to get better. The shop is an interesting addition and will level the challenge as you unlock new perks. If you’re a fan of the genre, ZPF is an absolute blast and must play. If you have yet to dabble in the genre, I still recommend it, but get ready to die. A lot.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“As an enjoyable yet standard 16-bit shoot 'em up, ZPF is a merely passable shooter albeit with some fleeting moments of fun here and there. 🪐”
read full review ↗
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Video ChumsPatch history
- ZPF Patch Update AlertJun 8, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- ZPF Demo Now Live for Steam Next Fest + Development Update! 🚀Feb 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window