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 | 88% | 82 | 993 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 87 | 106 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 23, 2026) · 93 reviews sampled · 106 total reviews in window · weighted 48.7 up / 4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (3)
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
“It may be simple, but the core gameplay loop of Scale the Depths manages to be so satisfying that it keeps you coming back for more. A watered-down Dave the Diver, the repetitive act of fishing and upgrading is seriously rewarding, as long as you don't mind slicing open some fish along the way.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Scale the Depths understands the incremental game space and applies its core ideas to fishing efficiently. The loop made up of fishing, cleaning, feeding, and upgrading moves fast, generates a constant sense of progression, and leads to fun reveals and end of the biome big hunts. Unlocking new cosmetics feels unnecessary. The game looks good, with plenty of pixelated fish and some very nice deep-sea monsters. But the soundtrack doesn’t add much, and the storytelling is limited. Scale the Depths is a pleasant way to spend time, with some decent surprises, but once it becomes repetitive, there’s nothing to keep gamers engaged.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“Scale the Depths is an easy-to-like incremental game that mixes satisfying fishing with fish-cleaning mini-games, making its early hours surprisingly addictive. While the steady stream of upgrades and new catches keeps you hooked at first, repetition and progression resets prevent the game from reaching deeper waters.”
read full review ↗
GameSpew
SoftpediaPatch history
- What’s Next for Scale the Depths? 1.1 Is Coming!Aug 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Scale the Depths - V1.0.4 UpdateJun 26, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Steam Cloud Update (MacOS)Jun 8, 2026
- Scale the Depths - V1.0.3 PatchJun 8, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Scale the Depths - V1.0.2.1 PatchJun 2, 2026
- Scale the Depths - V1.0.2 PatchMay 31, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Scale the Depths - 1.0.1 HotfixMay 29, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Scale the Depths - Major Demo Update (Version 2.0.0)Feb 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update (Version 1.4.0) 🎄Dec 23, 2025
- Demo Update (Version 1.3.0)🎣Jul 12, 2025