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) | – | 75 | 38 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 89 | 58 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 98% | 93 | 111 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Apr 23, 2026) · 52 reviews sampled · 111 total reviews in window · weighted 16.9 up / 0.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (19)
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
“Replayable as heck thanks to its multiple endings alongside an extra playable character, you'll have a ball with the spear-stabbing action and downward thrusting going on in this clear ode to NES Castlevania 1 to 3, complete with a rockin' Ricoh 2A03-esque synth soundtrack.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“If you’re looking for retro feels steeped in familiar old-school frustrations, but with some new twists, this may be for you”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A brutal, authentic NES-style throwback, Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is an expertly crafted homage to a bygone era, but one that completely bounced off me. This is a great game… just not for me.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It's safe to say that Castlevania has redefined the action sidescroller genre before it became a "metroidvania RPG" and for me personally it's always a breath of fresh air to go back to the roots. This game is a great example of a love-letter for a classic game, that manages to have it’s own ideas and identity.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If we had any real criticism, it’s that the jump can be a little stiff, sometimes locking you into a vertical leap if you’re not precise with your direction at the moment of ascent. It’s not a big deal, git gud, right?, but it does stick out a teensy bit during the last few levels, where you need to be spot-on.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege proves you don’t need a million-dollar budget to make a fun, challenging, and downright gorgeous game. Its 2D sprite presentation is clean, well animated, and reminds me of the early-nineties Super NES games. Despite its short playtime, it’s fun to replay, has multiple difficulty modes, and tons of achievements to keep you replaying for hours.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“In more ways than one, it's not for the faint of heart, but those seeking a retro-style challenge in 8-bit packaging will very likely enjoy the ride. While not all of its design choices land flush, the overall journey makes for a fun afternoon. A co-op mode made me wonder whom I might subject to this punishing experience, but once through was enough for me to hit my cursing quota for the year.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is a fantastic homage to NES-style 2D platformers, bringing retro gameplay to today’s gamers. They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, right? Fans of Castlevania will immediately recognize enemies and their attack patterns, platforming, levels, and items.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is more than just a love letter to the NES games of yesteryear. It is a tight action platformer that stands on its own two feet. Between the gorgeous pixel art, the banging chiptune soundtrack, and a move set that truly rewards mastery. Saint Slayer is a gritty and rewarding experience that captures retro nostalgia while also creating a potential new lane for Lillymo. If you love old-school side-scrolling adventures, do not let this game pass you by.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Every now and then I get the bug to play some retro games while playing something new and that’s where Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege fills the gap! Given the options of difficulty, found modifiers, codes, and currency that carries over, Saint Slayer does a good job of trying to cater to any gamer. At the asking price, I don’t see how you could have buyer’s remorse with this one.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“While Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege has incentive to replay in order to find treasures and unlocks (such as additional animal companions), the game itself is very brazen and straightforward from the drop. If you don’t jive with the excessive blood and gore with the combined difficulty levels, then it’s not going to get better at all. If you like what you see and enjoy the pseudo-historical setting juxtaposed with some allusions to time travel and possible sci-fi elements (no spoilers), then you’re going to have a good time and will want to revisit to learn as much as you can.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege was a delightful experience, despite the frequent frustrations that I encountered. Once I accepted that the game was intentionally designed with this classic, old-school approach, I shifted my expectations and met the game where it's at. If you take the time to get familiar with the game's pacing and Rudiger's moveset, you'll find that Saint Slayer is far from impossible. By the time that I beat the game, I was really enjoying the satisfaction of overcoming a difficult stage or boss, and even found that I wasn't swearing nearly as much. Lillymo Games delivered a genuine classic with Saint Slayer, and I hope that they revisit this franchise in the future.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Saint Slayer Steam Machine Improvement/FixJul 25, 2026
- July 15th 2026 Saint Slayer UpdateJul 15, 2026
- Minor Patch 06-04-2026Jun 4, 2026
- Minor Patch 05-17-2026May 17, 2026
- Saint Slayer Minor Update/ Hotfix 05-15-2026May 15, 2026
- Saint Slayer Update 05-10-2026May 10, 2026
- May 1st Update SummaryMay 1, 2026
- Saint Slayer Update 04-26-2026Apr 26, 2026
- Saint Slayer Update 04-23-2026Apr 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Minor Update 04-21-2026Apr 21, 2026
- Minor Fixes and AdjustmentsApr 20, 2026