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) | – | 52 | 11 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 15 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 78% | 73 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 65% | 64 | 4 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 11 reviews sampled · 9 total reviews in window · weighted 4.6 up / 2.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (37)
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.
- 20
“This series reboot fails to replicate the cleanness of the original games’ racing mechanics.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“At [a low price], Carmageddon: Max Damage is one of the cheaper console games on the market, but that alone doesn't warrant a recommendation. The poor presentation, long load times, and clunky driving don't do it any favours either. This is one game you can safely avoid.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“The main attraction to Carmageddon: Max Damage is the variety in running over pedestrians while also ramming into opponents' cars. While there are five more game modes that are just different variations of the formula, the graphical limitations hold the game back from what it could've been. Carmageddon: Max Damage is a perfect throwback to fans of the series wishing to take another nostalgic hit, but there is nothing here to draw newcomers into the franchise. It feels more like a glorified side story of a larger Grand Theft Auto title, which makes it difficult to justify a purchase, coupled with the roughness of the gameplay and the animations.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Boring is not an adjective you expect to use when talking about an arcade racer, but somehow Carmageddon: Max Damage manages to be so tedious that you'll struggle to keep yourself interested enough to see out all of its events. The disappointing car handling, aimless AI, and basic visuals all come together to make a real clunker, which even with its few interesting aspects, doesn't come close to being classed as roadworthy.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Carmageddon: Max Damage is fun when it accomplishes what it sets out to do, but the disappointing online and limited modes really drag it down. If it had launched a little cheaper it would be an easy recommendation for fans of the original games. As it stands though, it needs a little more polish to be worth checking out.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Carmageddon was an alright title, yet nothing that stands out in the current generation of gaming.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It’s really fun and challenging, but unfortunately, due to the crazy loading times -- and the fact I know the graphics could be better -- I have to give it the score it deserves, rather than the score I want to give it.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Carmageddon’s revival gets off to a sloppy start, though it gradually gets better with perseverance. Drawbacks such as the fickle handling and the so-so presentation become easier to overlook, but those first few hours can be a major slog. Swapping out AI racers for real life opponents will no doubt help to alleviate some of its issues, but even then, Max Damage doesn’t manage to propel this much-loved franchise back past the growing pool of troubled combat racers.”
read full review ↗ - 30
“Another failed attempt to revive a franchise whose time seems long since passed, especially given how frustrating and unrewarding this reboot is to play.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Overall, Carmageddon Max Damage definitely has unique appeal. I can’t say I’ve ever really played another game like it. It’s mercilessly violent but not for any malicious reasons; this is crude humour at its height in the video game space. The physics provide for some truly fun moments and you’ll find yourself reaching for that “record clip” button more than once. The game isn’t anything special in terms of graphical fidelity but the clean presentation is more than welcome. The game’s formula feels a bit dated but can still be great fun when played in short playtimes”
read full review ↗ - 30
“Carmageddon: Max Damage could have been fun, but low production values, terrible controls, spastic AI and a general lack of care make it an easy pass.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Carmageddon: Max Damage remains so tightly attached to the 90s that what sounded like a good idea, and what should have been a stupidly fun game, sadly does not manage to equate to anything but being a boring and rough racing game.”
read full review ↗
Slant Magazine
Gadgets 360
Cubed3
Push Square
ZTGD
Gamerheadquarters
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis
Metro GameCentral
ThisGenGaming
We Got This Covered
DarkZero…and 25 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update 23/11/2016 - v1.0.0.9864Nov 23, 2016
- Update 23/11/2016 - v1.0.0.9864Nov 23, 2016
- Update 3/11/2016 - v1.0.0.9857Nov 3, 2016
- Update 3/11/2016 - v1.0.0.9857Nov 3, 2016