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 (Metacritic) | – | 84 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 93 | 284 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.7, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 571 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) · 2 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 1.4 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (7)
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.
- 70
“Like Sudoku with pretty pictures, Paint it Back turns logic puzzles into works of art.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Hands-down the best introduction to Picross puzzle solving you can get on the App Store right now, and even old hands should find something to entertain them. A superb puzzle game by anyone's standards.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Help! Repaint missing works of art such as “Surfing Elephants,” “Deer Taking the Alligator Ferry,” and “On the Day of the Apocalypse, Treat Yourself to a Popsicle.” This whimsical puzzler is a gem for all ages.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Paint It Back looks great, has fun and clever puzzles, and just plain feels good to play. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Paint it Back is a solid Picross game with a truckload of content, which should please fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ultimately, Paint It Back is a traditional, brain-teasing puzzler that most people can enjoy. It’s simple enough that even children can figure it out on the lowest levels, but can be varied and expanded upon to the point where you need a genius to solve it. ”
read full review ↗ - 80Oct 24, 2013
“Paint It Back is a finely crafted logic puzzle game that is well worth $2.99 for the full game, and you’ll end up appreciating every single square you fill in.”
read full review ↗
Arcade SushiPatch history
- PiB macOS X 64-bit Update in betaSep 29, 2019