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 | 5 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 63% | 62 | 249 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
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
“While it might not offer that much in terms of player agency, Burly Men at Sea more than makes up for it with buckets of charm, wit and affable Scandinavian storytelling. Its playtime sessions are usually short, but with each playthrough recorded like a tome on your virtual shelf, there's plenty of new characters and encounters to be discovered as you plot many a memory on your very own map.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Burly Men At Sea isn’t something that’s going to light the eShop on fire or likely excite people, it’s selling an experience far more than anything else. That said I could see it being a hit with the right audience, and yet another casual-friendly option on the system to help widen the console’s appeal. If you’re looking for a change of pace and something that you can simply enjoy exploring all of the variations in story with it’s not a bad pick up.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Burly Men at Sea is a very quaint and surprisingly enjoyable twist on the point-and-click genre, with lovely visuals, an impressive-and-quirky soundtrack, and more replayability than first thought. However, saying that, the whole experience can be breezed through in an hour or two, and it lacks enough real meat to be it a truly satisfying dish, especially given this is the highest priced version on the market right now. In the end, it is undoubtedly a pleasant experience, but one that will be forgotten quite quickly upon completion, unless extremely motivated to spend more money on the digital or physical storybooks offered post-game via a web-link. It is definitely worth trying, but just be mindful of the price and check your expectations before diving in.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The game seems to be going for a “the journey is the reward” theme, but watching the same two endings again and again quickly grows tedious and diminishes what came before it. Finding an untrodden path isn't exciting anymore when you know exactly where it leads. The story, however charmingly presented, lost its grip on me once I became aware each new situation I found myself in would have no payoff.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Three bearded sailors embark on a looping, folklore‑inspired journey where each short adventure branches into different whimsical encounters, encouraging repeated playthroughs to uncover new variations. The experience relies on minimalist interaction, storybook‑style presentation and gentle pacing, creating a calm and charming narrative experiment rather than a traditional challenge‑driven game.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I feel like I’m misleading readers by using the word ‘game’ or ‘play’, because really, this is closer to a visual novel or a comic book in motion. I created bonds with those on the screen, I laughed, I gasped in shock and I missed the sense of the game when I wasn’t within the world. Burly Men at Sea is very much a folktale exploration of the world and relationships that surround us.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Burly Men at Sea is a beautifully realized dive into Scandinavian Folklore. The stories Brain&Brain tell are unique and interesting, but they get stale after a handful of playthroughs.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Burly Men at Sea is a minimalistic adventure game that is heavy on charm and whimsy. My only real complaint is that I wish that it was a bit deeper and less repetitive. The mobile version’s pricetag and portability make it the one to grab.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Filled with quirkiness, wonder, and exploration, Burly Men at Sea is certainly a niche game targeted more towards children and adults who want to be kids again. Not everyone will find it a pleasant journey, but I suspect more will be surprised by its charm than not, even if it does not last.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Burly Men at Sea is a great little indie title, it offers unique gameplay elements which offer a lot of replayability. If you're looking for a game which you can play in short 20-30min bursts then this game would be perfect for you. It isn't hard, but it is fun to figure out how to activate the next branch in the story.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Burly Men at Sea will definitely charm you though. And although it can get repetitive if you try to get all the endings for the game, the stories are all well written and it's exciting to see what happens next.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“With some lovely audio touches where sound effects are created by human voice, to the drifting, melodic soundtrack, the lovely block colour, simple visuals and a memorable, adorable set of storylines, Burly Men at Sea is a short, sweet adventure that I won't be forgetting in a hurry.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
KonsoliFIN
Nintendo Insider
TechRaptor
Without the Sarcasm
RPG Fan
GamePitt
PSX Extreme
Telegraph…and 5 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Burly Men at Sea 1.4.5Oct 8, 2024
- Version 1.3 Released!Sep 21, 2017
- Version 1.3 Released!Sep 21, 2017
- Achievements! Italian! SALE?!Feb 13, 2017
- Achievements! Italian! SALE?!Feb 13, 2017