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) | – | 79 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 91% | 86 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 83 | 13 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 91% | 85 | 25 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 71 reviews sampled · 70 total reviews in window · weighted 52.1 up / 5.3 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (14)
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.
- 80
“A faint attempt to bring this strategy saga to Xbox One and PC users before the release of Halo Wars 2. It’s quite limited on strategic options (especially on PC), but it’s still quite amusing and makes the time fly. In addition, it’s a fantastic way to remember a mythic studio as Ensemble.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, Halo Wars is still a successful strategy after years, now even better. It's not perfect, but the remaster doesn't lack better graphics, it still offers quality campaigning, multiplayer works and collaboration as well.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is a great way to revisit or to play for the first time one of the greatest RTS games designed specifically for a home console. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“[Halo Wars] may not be as strong as some other legitimate classics of the genre, or even the franchise it is associated with. However, what it is, undoubtedly, is an underrated game that deserves more attention.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The graphics look crisper even though they aren’t a substantial upgrade over the original. The controls have seen the biggest improvement and it plays even better on Xbox One. While I wish the gameplay was more complex, the title is still a solid entry in the real-time strategy genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you don't like the typical RTS games, you should give Halo Wars: Definitive Edition a try. It is simple, fun and addictive.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“If you already owned Halo Wars on the Xbox 360 and you own an Xbox One, there is nothing much to justify for buying the Ultimate Edition of Halo Wars 2 if you’re not into the multiplayer side. The improvements weren’t major, it’s technically the same game from the Xbox 360. It was a nice experience gameplay wise, but the story and character development were just disappointing.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“To this day Halo Wars remains the most accessible RTS game to have ever been released on a console, and while it may lack the depth of some of its PC brethren, as an introduction to the genre it is still at the top of its class.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Halo Wars: Definitive Edition acts as a good remaster of what has shown itself to be a game that stands the test of time fairly well. Still inhibited by restrictions implemented due to its Xbox 360 origins, it still manages to be fairly enjoyable and look pretty decent while doing it. While technically in early access until release alongside Halo Wars 2, the game desperately needs these limitations removing to allow it to stand on its own as both a decent Xbox One and PC release.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game is still fun and intense, just like it was in the past, and It’s equipped with a good graphic restyling. A perfect way to wait for the release of Halo Wars 2.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“With an improved matchmaking system on offer, Halo Wars: Definitive Edition provides a truly exceptional title that shows just how well an RTS title can work on console, bringing all the quality of the Halo franchise to the table in a strategic and interesting way, and adding a new level of immersion to the series for newcomers and veterans alike.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is the return of one of the best games of the last generation. It learned to win a loyal community and shows us that the RTS genre on consoles is possible. It also works on Play Anywhere.”
read full review ↗
SomosXbox
SECTOR.sk
Atomix
GameSpew
Digiato
Sirus Gaming
TrueAchievements
Wccftech
Everyeye.it
TheXboxHub
Generación Xbox…and 2 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Release - June 5thJun 5, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Release - June 5thJun 5, 2017
- Patch Release May 11thMay 10, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Release May 11thMay 10, 2017
- Minor Game Patch - April 26Apr 26, 2017
- Minor Game Patch - April 26Apr 26, 2017
- Hotfix (April 24th)Apr 25, 2017
- Hotfix (April 24th)Apr 25, 2017
- Thank You and a Hot FixApr 21, 2017
- Thank You and a Hot FixApr 21, 2017