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) | – | 69 | 3 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 83 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 70 | 3 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 86 | 6 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 16 reviews sampled · 13 total reviews in window · weighted 4.1 up / 0.4 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (18)
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.
- 75
“Scanner Sombre is a fascinating experiment that's beautiful, smart and a little too insubstantial.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Sadly, Scanner Sombre never really attains the heights of Dear Esther and Gone Home, two games that Introversion site as inspirations. If you have an interest in that genre, it's still very much worth exploring the cavernous depths of Scanner Sombre, but more than its fellows, this is a striking idea that searches for a game and a story to make the most of it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A beautiful but short-lived expedition that left me wanting more of its best ideas.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“While a unique and wonderful experience, the extremely short length of the game, and little replay value make it hard to recommend to everyone. But as the game has a free demo available on Steam, anyone even remotely interested should try it as soon as they have a free few minutes.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“Scanner Sombre depends on the unknown to propel you forward as an all-encompassing blackness surrounds the player every step of the way. This is your canvas.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“An eye-catching pointillism with a unique discovery mechanism with which you won't discover so much in the end. Even so, you will get a special experience and some printscreens from this cave. ”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Highly experimental, Introversion's Prison Architect follow-up has you mapping out a dark cave with a handheld LIDAR scanner. It's an inspired premise, but doesn't go much of anywhere.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Scanner Sombre is a gimmick game, and I honestly say that without any ill intent. Its gimmick is beautiful and engaging and kind of amazing. To its credit, Scanner Sombre is seemingly aware of the limitations of this because it's brief enough to not wear out its welcome. However, the kaleidoscopic interior decorating is a means to an end, and that end just isn't as thrilling as what's in the mind's eye.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Let’s not kid ourselves, Scanner Sombre is a one-trick pony. It’s a great, memorable trick though, as one could expect from Introversion Software. It’s a shame that the game is so short (ca. 2 hours) and linear and that the story is almost nonexistent. [07/2017, p.67] ”
- 70
“By the end of the game, you’ll wonder where the last 90 minutes evaporated so quickly, but you won’t wish you had them back. Scanner Sombre is an excellently unique adventure, that builds layer upon layer or intrigue and trepidation as you inch towards the surface. About halfway through, Introversion telegraphs the ending, and if there’s any real fault to this palate cleanser it’s that you wind up able to guess how the game will conclude before you actually get there, a cardinal sin for a one-time-through story.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“It’s a shame, really. Scanner Sombre felt more like a glorified tech demo than a proper game. With its short length and mostly shallow gameplay, it’s a bit difficult to justify the $12 price tag. However, it boasts a very well done gimmick as well as a memorable atmosphere. If you’re looking for a short, but sweet exploration game, then this is for you. If you’re looking for something a bit meatier, however, you should probably give this a pass.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Half horror and half mystery, Scanner Sombre is a short and great first-person adventure game for those who want to try something weird”
read full review ↗
Eurogamer
TheSixthAxis
PC Gamer
PC Aficionado
Entertainment Buddha
PCWorld
Destructoid
CD-Action
GameSpace
Darkstation
Game Informer…and 6 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- SteamDeck compatible buildJul 30, 2026
- Minor UpdateSep 18, 2024