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) | – | 85 | 27 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 79 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 80 | 12 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 88% | 82 | 11 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 32 reviews sampled · 29 total reviews in window · weighted 20.6 up / 2.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (97)
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
“Axiom Verge's design stands out, particularly when it fiendishly deviates from the expected. ”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Regardless of which side you fall on, Axiom Verge is a fantastic example of how to do a Metroidvania right, and we couldn't be more pleased with it.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“Nostalgia is similarly addictive, but Verge's confidence sees it through the challenge of invoking Metroid better than just about anyone who's tried before it. It copies more than aesthetic and ambiguous notions about variety, and the specificity is what matters. It's not a perfect match, and the absence of a powerful lead leaves an indelible mark on the experience. ”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Put another way, it's a game that needs to be left unattended, so that you can return to it with fresh eyes and discover the surprises that seem to sprout while you're away.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Challenging, creative, and endlessly endearing, Axiom Verge: Multiverse Edition is the best take on the Metroidvania genre in years.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“As suggested by other outlets prior to release, Axiom Verge is PlayStation's very own Metroid. That may sound a teensy bit degrading, but there's no denying that this and Nintendo's own space-faring adventure have more than a few things in common. Still, if being compared to one of the most beloved game series of all time isn't a compliment, then we don't know what is. If you've never seen the appeal of these types of games, then chances are this won't change your mind. Devoted fans of the genre, however, will no doubt adore Tom Happ's opus.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Precise controls, challenging enemies, fun bosses and clever level design make Axiom Verge a great and solid game. This isn’t about being retro, it’s about challenging the players in memorable ways. We want more of this.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Regardless of small blemishes, Axiom Verge is one of the best Metroid-esque games I've played outside of Samus' orbit. It's the rare game that seems to understand exactly what made that series so spectacular, using that understanding to craft original power-ups and concepts that make this more than just a hollow Metroid rip-off.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A homage to retro classics is one thing but having gameplay that's both challenging and fun makes Axiom Verge special. If you grew up in that era, you'd be a fool to miss out on this and if you're new to the genre, I can't think of a better entry.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“If you are looking for something to dip in and out of during the busy Fall period, then look no further.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Axiom Verge delivers one of the better experiences in the oversaturated Metroidvania genre, but if you've played a NES/SNES Metroid title, then you've played Axiom Verge. The game's plenty fun, but it fails to carve out a distinct”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Axiom Verge has come to the Nintendo Switch, and while the game has been out on several platforms over the last few years, it holds up just as well now as it did when it released then. It's retro sensibilities have allowed it to age flawlessly, making it just as compelling to play now as it was upon initial release. If for some reason you have not had a chance to play this Metroid-style game yet, and you have a Switch, you really should pick it up if you are a fan of action / adventure games.”
read full review ↗
Slant Magazine
Nintendo Life
Paste Magazine
The A.V. Club
Cubed3
Push Square
LevelUp
NintendoWorldReport
GameWatcher
ZTGD
PCMag
Chalgyr's Game Room…and 85 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 1.59.0.0Aug 11, 2025
- Version 1.58, 11/4/2022Nov 4, 2022
- Version 1.56, 8/15/2022Aug 15, 2022
- Version 1.55, 6/28/2022Jun 28, 2022
- Version 1.54, 2/2/2022Feb 4, 2022
- Version 1.53, 10/11/2021Oct 11, 2021
- Version 1.52, 8/27/2021Aug 27, 2021
- Version 1.51, 8/24/2021Aug 25, 2021
- Version 1.50, 8/24/2021Aug 24, 2021
- Version 1.49Aug 24, 2021
- Version 1.48, 8/17/2021Aug 18, 2021
- Randomizer DLC Beta Patch 1.64Apr 16, 2021
- Randomizer Beta Patch Notes 1.63Mar 29, 2021
- New Update, v1.08May 21, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- New Update, v1.08May 21, 2015