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) | – | 89 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 85 | 2 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 89 | 42 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.6, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 19,500 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) · 120 reviews sampled · 113 total reviews in window · weighted 97.4 up / 6.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (57)
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.
- 94
“With a solid gameplay foundation the Psychonauts story, character creation, and level design shines through brilliantly. The way in which the game designers made Psychonauts feel like a playable, adult cartoon is quite impressive and will floor anyone that enjoys the animation style that "Ren & Stimpy" helped to establish.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The puzzle element is intriguing the way it has been implemented into the game and the general all out wackiness of the characters and story surely sets it apart from its peers.”
read full review ↗ - 94
“Psychonauts stays in your mind with its great gameplay, memorable visual style and storyline, as well as its persistently hilarous dialogue. It's easily the best platformer on the Xbox.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“There are not really enough good things to say about Psychonauts and most of them have already been said at this point. It's still an amazing platformer that married gameplay and storytelling better than any other title like it. It's a fantastic adventure that everyone should at some point play. With Psychonauts 2 on the distant horizon, though, there's never been a better time to get reacquainted with Tim Schafer's old masterpiece.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The best platform game ever to grace the Xbox. The combination of solid gameplay and a clever and intelligently written story make this a game that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.”
read full review ↗ - 98
“Without a doubt, it's the best platformer developed in the past few years, and quite possibly the best 3D platformer yet produced. It's got art, music, a storyline, incredible levels, a real sense of direction and a great sense of humor.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Call us crazy, but we're willing to bet the farm that the world of Psychonauts is the most inventive, creative, and downright vision that's ever graced a videogame. [May 2005, p.76]”
- 90
“Innovation takes on many guises; this isn't this generation's "Super Mario 64" in terms of reinvention, but given its comprehensiveness and attention to detail, you might liken its impact on us to that of Yoshi's Island. Except, you know, this is funnier.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“Psychonauts doesn't reinvent the platformer, but it still delivers an experience that feels wholly original in every aspect of its execution.”
read full review ↗ - 93
“Double Fine built a really fun title on traditional platformer elements and blended several game genres in a nonviolent way. Psychonauts is not only the pilot title of this studio, but a game to which Tim, with a reputation for not doing sequels, is highly likely to do the second part.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Quirky, zany, downright hilarious... call it what you will, but Psychonauts is mind-blowingly good.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Simply put, Psychonauts is without a doubt, the best 3D platform game ever, yes I did say best 3D platform game ever, not one of the best, not second best, but best ever.”
read full review ↗
Cubed3
Worth Playing
Eurogamer
GameSpot
SECTOR.sk…and 45 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.