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) | – | 80 | 7 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 343 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 74 | 2 |
| 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 0.1 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (35)
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.
- 60
“Push through its uneven beginning and you'll be rewarded with clever level layouts that stretch a solid mechanical framework to its limits. Getting to that point may be more frustrating than you'd like, though, thanks to its sharp difficulty curve.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Difficulty is hard to review, and most of Kalimba's issues stem from poor balancing. Running into devious sections only to find the follow-ups to be almost rudimentary is jarring. Fortunately, the core mechanic is very enjoyable. While Kalimba could have spent more time under the microscope, the interesting mechanic and beautiful visuals should be enough to convince even the most dismissive PC gamer that there's much more to explore here, and, for that, Kalimba should be applauded.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It's a surprisingly fresh experience that can be incredibly rewarding and despite it being seemingly impossible at times, players who love a sizable - but fair - challenge will find a lot to love within Kalimba.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Kalimba is a solid puzzle platformer that is trickier than expected.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The beauty of Kalimba is in its high replay value, even more so than the gratification of solving its platforming puzzles.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While there are some problems with release day DLC and graphical display issues, Press Play has created something truly unique in this indie game and it is well worth the price!”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Press Play brings us a clever puzzle platformer with Kalimba but it may be more frustrating than it needs to be.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While it could have used a handful of additional levels, Kalimba's challenging gameplay, humorous story and colorful visuals help it stand out from the crowd. ”
read full review ↗ - 81
“Kalimba is a beautiful, cheerful platformer that finds a neat middle ground between reflex-oriented running and taxing puzzle solving.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Kalimba is a quiet, unclaimed yet remarkable title that offers an interesting experience. Perhaps the existence of problems such as shortness or lack of proper story will make us unable to enjoy the game so much, but for platform enthusiasts, Kalimba will be a satisfying title.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I only wish Kalimba were a bit longer, because its inventive puzzles, charming art style, and tight controls equal a winning combination for this quaint puzzle-platformer.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“Kalimba is a must-play for anyone who grew up playing games like Super Mario World and Kirby. This spiritual game effectively captures the spirit of the difficult traversing of a platformer mixed with a brilliant swapping puzzle mechanic that works without fail.”
read full review ↗
Cubed3
Pure Xbox
Worth Playing
GameSpot
GameGrin
GameSkinny
We Got This Covered
PC Gamer
Pardis Game
EGM
Geeks Under Grace…and 23 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.