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) | – | 65 | 13 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 31 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 90 reviews sampled · 78 total reviews in window · weighted 54 up / 5.9 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (41)
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.
- 75
“Given the theme and morbid action of the game it’s absolutely not something for everyone. With its pixel art looks it never gets terribly graphic but playing a game in the role of a mass murderer won’t be for everyone. The fact that every time you hit a party you can’t count on any specific element being in the same place or present at all is a terrific touch that guarantees there’s no consistent path to success, you’ll just need to improvise sometimes. I’ll give Party Hard credit, it’s a unique and challenging spin on a puzzle game that delivers some fun if you’re on board with its style… and have a fair amount of patience.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Speaking more positively, I was pleased to see 26 achievements, co-op play, six unlockable characters and seven unlockable DLC stages, so the game has a pretty good amount of content and replay value. For those looking for a challenging and different take on both stealth and strategy games, Party Hard is absolutely worth a look. For those without patience or those wanting more of an action title, you might want to decline this party invite.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“The overall presentation is well done too. It has the trappings of a fun, ridiculous game, but in the end, the game play is far too difficult and far too unforgiving for most people.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Your entertainment will come from planning deadly attacks in outlandish scenarios and environments. There's enjoyment to be had with Party Hard's dozen or so levels, despite the game's lack of imagination in its later stages.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Has a high replay factor and a high fun factor, but it's short length is a little disappointing. It's a fun ride while it lasts and the promise of frequent free future content is a definite bonus.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Party Hard will let the player turn into a cold-blooded killer but that does not mean there is no fun to be had - quite the contrary, as the game's unique gameplay mechanics, along with its very wide amount of content and lengthy lifespan, bring a fun and criminally delightful experience to the Nintendo Switch, with only its steep difficulty curve and AI issues being to blame for some frustrating moments.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Party Hard is a controversial stealth slasher game that aesthetically shadows much of Hotline Miami. It finds some of its own identity in places, and tries hard not to take itself very seriously. You’ll get the gist of gameplay in the first couple of levels, and then it starts to feel like a monotonous grind.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“The idea of becoming a party-hating Jason Voorhees is one that could work. Unfortunately though, far too much of Party Hard is spent waiting for something to happen, instead of letting players be the one who trigger the action.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Party Hard is an arcade game with a great gameplay loop, a lot of challenging levels, and some really fun mechanics to work with. The levels are intensely difficult throughout because you’re always aiming for a clean sweep to succeed. The joy that comes from success is the sign of a level well-played, one where you either planned everything perfectly or were just quick on your feet. It’s that feeling that defines Party Hard, the feeling of succeeding and wanting to try again and do even better. This is sure to hook you if you are in the mood for something a little different, and a little reticent of the days that we all used to spend chasing high scores.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Party Hard may suffer from repetition at times, but the more I play it, the more it grows on me.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Unless you're reading this from prison, you've most likely never partied as hard as this. In fact, you've probably never seen partygoers party this hard either, as it doesn't matter how many people die or how many times the cops show up; they won't stop dancing, the DJ will still lay down the mad beats, and the servers will continue to serve drinks, even if they are the last ones alive.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Party Hard is a fun, addictive, and cleverly outlandish game that perfectly balances mindless murder and strategic assassination. If you won't mind the violence and the skip-worthy story, it's more than worth a play-through (or twelve).”
read full review ↗
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
GameSpot
GameGrin
FNintendo
Nintendo Times
We Got This Covered
Nintendo Insider
TechRaptor
ActionTrip
Geeks Under Grace…and 29 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Darius's Changelog: Getting rid of issuesSep 22, 2017
- Darius's Changelog: Getting rid of issuesSep 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Darius's Changelog: Bug fixesJul 17, 2017
- Darius's Changelog: Bug fixesJul 17, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Darius's Changelog: Language updateJul 10, 2017
- Darius's Changelog: Language updateJul 10, 2017
- Darius's Changelog: Updated main menuJun 9, 2017
- Darius's Changelog: Updated main menuJun 9, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Huge Workshop Update: new levels, surveillance cams and more!Jun 2, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Huge Workshop Update: new levels, surveillance cams and more!Jun 2, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Community-driven character is now live!Dec 23, 2016
- Community-driven character is now live!Dec 23, 2016
- New character and improvements!Nov 15, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- New character and improvements!Nov 15, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- New improvements and fixesNov 12, 2016
- New improvements and fixesNov 12, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Day One Patch (High Crimes DLC)Nov 11, 2016
- Day One Patch (High Crimes DLC)Nov 11, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Party Harder Update: local co-op inboundNov 7, 2016
- Party Harder Update: local co-op inboundNov 7, 2016
- Dark Castle DLC Mac/Linux/Steam OS UpdateSep 21, 2016
- Dark Castle DLC Mac/Linux/Steam OS UpdateSep 21, 2016
- The Dark Castle DLC - hot fixesSep 17, 2016
- The Dark Castle DLC - hot fixesSep 17, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Party Hard update is live: new FREE DLCSep 16, 2016
- Party Hard update is live: new FREE DLCSep 16, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Announcing a major update for Party Hard!Sep 12, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Announcing a major update for Party Hard!Sep 12, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Huge performance update is liveNov 20, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- Huge performance update is liveNov 20, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- After Party update adds 7 parties, for FREEOct 15, 2015
…and 5 earlier patch announcements.