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) | – | 51 | 131 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 29% | 37 | 230 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 46 | 31 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 37% | 43 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 5 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 0.5 up / 0.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (75)
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.
- 50
“Ascendance brings us back to Nosgoth without reinventing it, but rather by expanding on its legacy, with strengths and limitations that make it as intriguing as it is inaccessible. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance exists in a constant tension between what the series was in its heyday, what it offers now, and what fans expect. It has interesting ideas, memorable moments, and a soundtrack that borders on exceptional, but it also suffers from limitations that affect its overall impact. It’s not the return I was hoping for, nor is it a viable entry point.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a chaotic mishmash of varying aesthetics and styles, a decent side-scroller wrapped up in a storyline that leaves a bad taste in my mouth and feels out of place within the series’ legacy. The enjoyable soundtrack and the final (?) return of Kain and Raziel aren’t enough for me to recommend this game.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Is this a worthy addition to the Soul Reaver cannon? The retro action platformer design is a strange choice for a game world that inherently screams Metroidvania and the tacked on backstory is one I’m not sure we needed as much as we did a continuation. Don’t get me wrong, as a massive fan of the Soul Reaver franchise I feel like Nosgoth is one of the most underutilised game settings and, as with most fans, I’ve always wanted more games set in this universe. The Soul Reaver games has some of the best writing, music and voice acting in gaming and who wouldn’t want more on that level. And as much as I would love to continue immersing myself in Nosgoths fantastic world, I’m not sure this was the best way in which to have done it.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“All things considered, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a repetitive and derivative game in which the few interesting plot and gameplay elements are borrowed from titles that handled them infinitely better. We can’t recommend this title to longtime fans of the series precisely because of the various narrative retcons, but we can suggest it to die-hard fans of platformers or the very first Castlevania games. We had high hopes for this return, and while Ascendance really isn’t what we expected, we still hope to revisit the gloomy realms of Nosgoth sooner or later.”
read full review ↗ - 35
“Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a painful example of how not to revive a legendary series. Phenomenal music, strong voice acting, and a few nostalgic flashes cannot save it from clumsy controls, repetitive 2D platforming, shallow combat, technical issues, and a story that feels painfully disconnected from what once made Nosgoth so special.”
read full review ↗ - 57
“Repetition, controls that feel a little sloppier than they should, and quite a few bugs prevent this title from ascending terribly high”
read full review ↗ - 30
“Oh, joy. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is the miraculous return no one asked for, adding a heroine nobody wanted, and turning a beloved, dark saga into an uninspired, rough-around-the-edges side-scrolling platformer that few if any will enjoy. As for the story and writing, if past titles were Shakespearean poetry in video game form, this resembles a confused school play project. Vae victis? More like vae playeris - woe to the player forced to endure this mess.”
read full review ↗ - 66
“Legacy of Kain: Ascendance fulfills its role as a return to the franchise. There is a legitimate attempt here to expand the universe, explore new perspectives, and make the experience more accessible. Still, its limitations are evident.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Even setting aside the technical limitations and the artistic confusion, it is the narrative shortcomings that deliver the most painful disappointment. While I can appreciate the intention and the effort, this is definitely not the right direction to breathe new life into the saga.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a welcome but uneven return that leans heavily on its strengths in writing, voice acting, and atmosphere. The Shakespearean dialogue and multi-character narrative are engaging even for newcomers, but the experience is clearly aimed at long-time fans. While the combat can feel satisfying when its rhythm clicks, it is held back by a lack of polish, repetitive encounters, and underwhelming bosses. Paired with basic level design that never truly evolves, the game’s standout elements end up being its moody pixel art presentation and excellent metal soundtrack, which together do much of the heavy lifting in keeping the experience compelling.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is the worst thing to happen to the IP since Square Enix. A project that’s half a rudimentary platformer and half a painfully faithful adaptation of a terrible graphic novel was, of course, exactly what I was wishing for the IP in 2026.”
read full review ↗ - 35
“What little fun Legacy of Kain: Ascendance does offer, is quickly replaced by the feeling of boredom. With a distinct lack of replayability, forgettable boss fights, and poor level design, fans of the series will indeed wonder what has happened to the series, and its usual pedigree of strong character development through storytelling. Sadly, what Ascendance does well, is overshadowed by its painfully short runtime, and mediocre enemy designs.”
read full review ↗
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Life is Xbox…and 63 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.