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 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 92 | 783 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 4 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 91.2, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 1,578 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 10 reviews sampled · 10 total reviews in window · weighted 6.8 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (24)
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.
- 85
“While there are a few nags in the overall package, MushihimeSama is a fantastic shooter, and one I’m glad I won’t have to write the name of any longer.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“There’s a reason why Mushihimesama is regarded as one of Cave’s best shoot-em-ups, it’s weird and colourful, it’s incredibly refined, and the many gameplay modes ensure that both newbies and veterans will be kept busy for quite some time.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“While there are certainly more modern takes on bullet hell shmups from the past it’s always interesting to see an OG classic come to the system and show people how it's done...”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Mushihimesama on Nintendo Switch is not just a superb and accessible version of a brilliant shoot 'em up, but an essential part of every Nintendo Switch owner's library.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“In short, a title only surpassed by its sequel, Futari, but, at the heights in which these titles compete, the advantage is already a matter of infinitesimal calculation. Because for the player who has finished this game in its Ultra mode, video games as such (at least in their single-player aspect) already have very little to offer. In short, the closest thing to perfection in electronic entertainment: in this case, the recommendation comes out surplus.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There's no denying that Mushihimesama has had an interesting release history, most of which seems to exclude the West. It's always great to see hidden genre gems emerge on the eShop, but this one is a little more rough than diamond. That might sound more dismissive than I intend; Mushihimesama is a fine shoot-'em-up, but the content on offer does feel limited. Unless you're into playing every obscure arcade shooter, it's likely you'll find more to love from other Switch library offerings. Still, blasting a bounty of neat-looking bugs provides a fun enough time while it lasts.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Game studio Cave brings its addictive, hardcore shooter classic to PC with a wealth of features, options, and gameplay modes.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Overall, Mushihimesama is a great title for both new players and veteran players alike. There's plenty of difficulty and challenge for the veterans, especially with Ultra mode, yet it's easy enough to get new players into with the combination of novice mode and infinite continues available. While the goal may be to complete the game without using a continue, you still get the full stage experience even if you can't manage it. The game is smooth, and even though the plotline is a little absent, it probably isn't what you're interested in anyway. Fans of the bullet hell genre will definitely want to add this title to their library. For newer players it's also a great introduction to the genre without putting them off too much. While the genre itself is a little niche, there's a reason Cave is a household name amongst those who enjoy bullet hells of all types, and they certainly don't disappoint here.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A beautiful, charming, humbling, and difficult experience that's a good fit for shoot 'em up fans, but perhaps strange and unwelcoming to newcomers.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Mushihimesama is an incredibly fun shooter with tight controls, a lot of challenge, great audiovisual style and astonishing bullet patterns. If there's one thing to complain about, it's the relatively high price tag.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Mushihimesama may be on the short size with only five levels, but packs in a range of difficulty modes to make up for it. It is a fun game, which makes players feel over-powered while attempting to dodge beautiful and well-designed bullet patterns.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“People can and do split hairs about which Cave shoot-em-ups rank where, but I think there are two things that are generally agreed upon. First, even the worst of the classic line-up is excellent by the standards of the genre. It’s hard to go wrong with any of them, and Mushihimesama certainly won’t let you down in that regard. Second, Mushihimesama is one of the most beginner-friendly titles among a roster that often leans hard into the veteran player’s needs. It’s not surprising this latest initiative would lead with this particular game. It can be seen as a suitable gateway into the rest of this cherished developer’s works, and this Switch version does it every bit of justice it deserves.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
LevelUp
NintendoWorldReport
PCMag
Chalgyr's Game Room
The Escapist
Niche Gamer
Gamers FTW…and 12 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Mushihimesama V1.1.9.2 update releasedNov 25, 2016
- Mushihimesama V1.1.9.2 update releasedNov 25, 2016
- Mushihimesamsa V1.1.9.0 Fix for Crash on StartupNov 18, 2016
- Mushihimesamsa V1.1.9.0 Fix for Crash on StartupNov 18, 2016
- Mushihimesama V1.1.6.1 Update - Support For Vertical Aspect RatiosDec 16, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- V1.1.3.0 Better music for V1.5, better Leaderboard and more/ Ｖ１．５に高音質の音源、ランキングの改善などNov 25, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- v1.1.2.8 FULL AUTO/SHOTロールバック、VシンクIniオプション追加など / Rollback of the FULL AUTO/SHOT change, Additional Vsync option in ini and moreNov 12, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- v1.1.2.7 フレームレート改善、クラウド無効セーブなど / Better Framerate, Save with Cloud disabled and moreNov 11, 2015significant · resets scoring window