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) | – | 84 | 16 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 74 | 10 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 91 | 5 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 14 reviews sampled · 10 total reviews in window · weighted 5.2 up / 0.2 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (66)
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
“Thumper is a really hard game that stands out compared to other musical projects with unexpected concept and choice of setting. Beautiful and unusual visual design together with extraordinary music draws into the grim world.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Thumper is a fantastic video game, an extravagant rhythm experience that's also a brutal assault on the senses. It's extremely difficult, painfully so at times, yet we feel the need to persevere, retrying tough stages over and over again. Even when that's done the drive for better ranks remains, simply because the game compels us to play on.The level of challenge, though, shouldn't be underestimated - even for strong players short sessions may become necessary in the latter third of the game, in particular. The only real flaw of Thumper, in actual fact, is that it offers so little respite and no 'easy' mode for players. Some may scoff at that, saying it's a game designed to be tough, but the downside is that without that optional concession the game will be inaccessible and impenetrable for some players.That's a pity, as for those up for the challenge it's a wonderful - albeit gruelling - gaming experience.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Pac-Man, Dark Souls, the best Metroids and Marios and Zeldas, the true classics, the cornerstones of the medium that have made an indelible impact on how we play and think about games. Thumper is right up there alongside them. It is an essentially perfect realization of its own unique goals and concerns, and a game we’ll be playing and celebrating for decades, even if it leaves us afraid and confused.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“More than living up to the "rhythm violence" tagline, Thumper leaves a lasting impression. Presenting a distinctive and adaptive score, together with an insane visual style and a difficulty level that rarely shows mercy, Thumper is a very effective showcase for the hardware abilities of the Switch, and a highly engaging experience on its own merits.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Thumper makes an incredible case for the future of virtual reality. With an incredible level of quality paired with a reasonable price of admission, this should absolutely be one of the first titles that anyone interested in making the most out of their new PlayStation VR headset buys. With blistering speed and intensity to go along some easy to learn, difficult to master gameplay mechanics, the future of rhythm games, and, by extension, virtual reality, is bright.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“If you like its aesthetics, its pounding beats, and a stiff challenge, there's really nothing holding me back from recommending it whole-heartedly.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“On the outside, Thumper looks bizarre with its strange design and nightmarish visuals. But don't let that fool you, Thumper has it where it counts.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“In PS VR2 case, Thumper's world acquires a brand new identity, creating the right conditions to "get lost" in a different universe from our own.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Thumper is an absolute blast providing a nightmarish world filled with a desire for speed and brutal music based obstacles to maneuver through.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Great art and a distinct approach to rhythm action makes this a brilliantly horrible twitch experience.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Thumper's unrelenting speed and menacing percussion are overwhelming, seeping into your subconscious in the best way possible.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“If you’re a fan of rhythm action games, Thumper is amongst the most intense, pure, and singular experiences within the genre, and its release for the PSVR should make it utterly essential for anyone that owns Sony’s headset.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
Nintendo Life
Paste Magazine
Cubed3
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
Enternity.gr
Gamerheadquarters
Eurogamer
GameSpot
TheSixthAxis…and 54 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hotfix #2 for Practice Mode UpdateJun 9, 2022
- Hotfix for Practice Mode UpdateJun 8, 2022
- Steam Deck and Controller Compatibility UpdateFeb 15, 2022
- Maintenance Update (Resolution Options)Nov 2, 2021
- Thumper Maintenance Update (Keyboard Remap Hang)May 26, 2020
- Thumper Maintenance Update (VR issues)Feb 15, 2020
- Thumper Maintenance Update (DX9 Graphics Issues)Jan 31, 2020
- Thumper Maintenance Update (ASIO crash)Jan 18, 2020
- Thumper Maintenance UpdateNov 26, 2019
- Thumper (Final??) HotfixOct 3, 2019
- Thumper (Final?) UpdateOct 1, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Thumper Update with More FixesAug 7, 2019
- Thumper Update Out NowJul 1, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Maintenance/Tech Update Coming SoonFeb 12, 2019
- Another Maintenance UpdateAug 21, 2017
- Another Maintenance UpdateAug 21, 2017
- Maintenance UpdateAug 6, 2017
- Maintenance UpdateAug 6, 2017
- Performance and Maintenance UpdateJun 30, 2017
- Performance and Maintenance UpdateJun 30, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Input remapping, game avatars, and more fixesJan 31, 2017
- Input remapping, game avatars, and more fixesJan 31, 2017
- Stability and Usability UpdateJan 10, 2017
- Stability and Usability UpdateJan 10, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Trading Cards and BadgesJan 4, 2017
- VR and Gameplay Usability UpdateDec 24, 2016
- VR and Gameplay Usability UpdateDec 24, 2016
- Thumper Now Supports SteamVR and OculusDec 19, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Pre-Update: DirectX 11 and Minor FixesDec 16, 2016
- Pre-Update: DirectX 11 and Minor FixesDec 16, 2016
- Update: New "PLAY +" ModeNov 10, 2016
- Update: New "PLAY +" ModeNov 10, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Update: Restart from Previous Checkpoint, Thumb Relief, and FixesNov 4, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Update: Quick Restart, Audio Fixes, and moreOct 18, 2016
- Update: Quick Restart, Audio Fixes, and moreOct 18, 2016
…and 3 earlier patch announcements.