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) | – | 76 | 62 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 79% | 73 | 68 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 73% | 69 | 111 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 1, 2026) · 111 reviews sampled · 68 total reviews in window · weighted 36.7 up / 13.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (31)
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.
- 60
“As a full tome, Ariana and the Elder Codex has quite a lot of potential, but among its genre and the RPG landscape as a whole, it doesn’t stand out too starkly on the shelf. While it has some charming visuals, lore, and some good voice acting, its gameplay and story are only ever serviceably engaging, and predictable twists and excessive endgame lore dumping dull the adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ariana and the Elder Codex may not completely redefine the action RPG genre, but it doesn’t need to. What it offers is a polished, heartfelt, and genuinely engaging adventure filled with strong combat, beautiful art direction, and characters worth caring about. For Nintendo Switch players looking for a fantasy RPG that feels focused and thoughtfully made, this is an easy game to recommend. By the end of the journey, I wasn’t just satisfied with what the game accomplished. I honestly wished there was more of it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ariana and the Elder Codex is a truly fascinating game despite its hiccups. Its one of those games that has some really good gameplay if you want something a bit more active, hectic or even just plain chaotic. The fact that its stories are a bit more independent also makes it a great game for quick bursts to shorter gaming sessions. So if you’re interested in something that’ll keep you busy without having to dedicate extensively long hours, this might just be the game that scratches that itch, that is if $39.99 or £26.99 sounds reasonable enough for a game that you’d finish in around 10 hours give or take.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Ariana and the Elder Codex is noticeably small in scope, running just over a dozen or so hours long. While the combat and platforming are competent enough to keep you playing, they can’t quite distract from the technical hurdles and the fact that you’re fighting the same handful of enemies on repeat.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ariana and the Elder Codex is a charming budget action platformer with fast, enjoyable combat, a pleasant soundtrack, strong voice acting, and a cozy approach to metroidvania-style exploration. Its world and story have clear potential, but the shallow progression, repetitive enemies, predictable bosses, and lack of deeper variety make it much easier to recommend as a discounted handheld-friendly comfort game than a full-priced genre standout.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ariana and the Elder Codex is a competent Metroidvania game that brings a series of interesting ideas that, unfortunately, aren't always used to their full potential.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“Ultimately, Ariana and the Elder Codex is an appealing, visually enchanting game that finds its strongest moments in the small stories contained within the codices. It is an adventure worth experiencing once, though not necessarily repeating. While it offers nothing particularly revolutionary, it is a solid Metroidvania featuring a pleasant narrative and multiple difficulty settings that make it highly accessible. Those willing to overlook formulaic elements, an occasionally frustrating combat system, and predictable plot twists will discover a heartwarming, lovingly crafted game that charmingly celebrates the magic of literature.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Ariana and the Elder Codex is a decent metroidvania and one fans of the genre who are desperate for another game to play might enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 64
“Ariana and the Elder Codex does well in the most important ways: it’s fun, interesting, and memorable. It’s the kind of game that makes you think of simpler times when adventures could still mean a lot. This is a journey that action RPG fans, side-scrolling game fans, and people who just like well-made games should definitely take.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“A poor attempt at a Vanillaware style game, Ariana and the Elder Codex is not the dark academia tale I wanted. Instead its a sad and shallow mix of frustrating combat, dull narrative vignettes, and tiresome level design, that left me wishing I had borrowed it from the library and could take it back. Do not judge this book by its cover.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Ariana and the Elder Codex is an ok game and I have had a good time playing but it is a niche title, it is not a game I would see myself going back to once its over, it has little replay-ability and once you have played through it once you will have seen everything it has to offer.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Ariana and the Elder Codex doesn’t do anything absurdly new, but it understands what makes this kind of game work and sticks to it. The combat and build variety carry the experience, even when the story becomes predictable and the enemy design feels thin. It’s a solid and well-made action-platformer that’s easy to enjoy, as long as you know what you’re getting into.”
read full review ↗
RPGamer
ani-game.com
Invision Community
JsemGamer
Pizza Fria
neXGam
ZTGD
GamesCreed
FingerGuns
Game Hype UK
Game8…and 19 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Version 1.0.2May 1, 2026significant · resets scoring window