Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 299 sampled Steam reviews (282 positive / 17 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing31% mention it
- Music & audio9% mention it
- Visuals & art5% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing41% mention it
- Visuals & art18% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
88%
24 reviews
5-15h
94%
179 reviews
15-40h
96%
81 reviews
40-100h
100%
10 reviews
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) | – | 80 | 15 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 88 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 97% | 93 | 34 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 98 reviews sampled · 79 total reviews in window · weighted 78.7 up / 2.4 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (47)
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.
- 90
- 90
“Life is Strange: Before the Storm is proof that good prequels don't just extend the atmosphere of what fans loved about its predecessor, but complement one another.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Before the Storm is a good pit-stop between the first and second part of Life is Strange. The game itself is pleasant but not memorable. Chloe and Rachel’s relationship is portrayed very convincingly but there is too few new things and the whole thing relies too much on the first game.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“If you’re looking for more Life is Strange, Deck Nine has delivered a fantastic and consistent prequel that is a must-play for fans.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Life is Strange: Before the Storm succeeds where prequels often fail, Chloe Price proves she can carry a story on her own, and the relationship with Rachel Amber is handled with more sensitivity and depth than anyone had a right to expect.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Deck Nine have finished off Life is Strange in sterling fashion. Saying farewell to Arcadia Bay with Before the Storm is sad, but the best farewells usually are.”
read full review ↗ - 89
“In spite of its faults, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a fantastic follow-up to an already great game. It improves upon the formula of the original title while offering a fascinating look into two of the series' most captivating characters. Beautiful, charming, and devastating, Before the Storm is a must-play for fans of the series and a phenomenal way to tide players over until the release of Life is Strange 2.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a game that makes you think about every single aspect of your life thanks to a very strong plot. Because the developers have a relatively predictable story, this game being a prequel, some points were flawed, but it's still an overall enjoyable experience. Despite some graphical and gameplay shortcomings, this prequel is able to honour the Life is Strange name.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Intelligent and enriching, this is a preview worth playing.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Before the Storm is an impactful prequel that accomplishes something very different than the original Life is Strange.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Fortunately, there is no room for worrying; all fans of the previous season can now play “Before the Storm” with piece of mind. Having a true understanding of the first season’s pros and cons has helped its creators to produce a game carrying high standards and satisfy its players. Therefore, playing “Life Is Strange: Before the Storm” is highly recommended to all of the fans of adventure games!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Life Is Strange: Before the Storm isn't a story that needed telling, and it was a risk for Deck 9 to try and add to a beloved series, but they've pulled it off. It answers the question of who Rachel Amber was and what she really meant to Chloe, showing something that feels more grounded like a TV teen dramas and speaks to the struggle to find your place in the world.”
read full review ↗
3DNews
Gadgets 360
GRYOnline.pl
Nexus Hub
gamefinity
PC Invasion
Worth Playing
The Game is a Lie
Eurogamer
GameSpot
Bazimag
TheSixthAxis…and 35 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes - 15 September 2017Sep 15, 2017
- Patch Notes - 15 September 2017Sep 15, 2017
- Should you have technical difficulties.Sep 1, 2017significant · resets scoring window