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) | – | 72 | 26 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 80% | 74 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 7 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 3.9 up / 1 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (49)
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.
- 70
“Lost Ember provides players with an open world to explore through the viewpoint of various animals. And although it can be effective, its high price and downgraded graphics mean the Nintendo Switch may not be the best way to play it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In addition, certain restrictions, such as the level of flight of birds or the inability to explore the towers of a forgotten civilization, cause a slight disappointment. Otherwise, the game from Mooneye is a beautiful meditative adventure in which you can enjoy a unique environment, feel the power of nature and learn the tragic story of two heroes connected by one important secret.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Lost Ember doesn't particularly excel in the field of fun and engaging gameplay, but its amazing story and enchanting world immediately draw you in. You'll want to know more, uncover new memories and piece the plot together to be rewarded with a heart-stopping finale that won't leave your eyes dry. The theme of reaching the afterlife is conceived in a simple but fascinating way against the backdrop of an almost fairytale-like world. The reincarnation mechanics add to the title's interest, it's just a shame about the controls and occasional glitches.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Lost Ember attempts to be an artistic experience, yet struggles to be an enjoyable game. The story is uninteresting and predictable, the gameplay is boring and sometimes frustrating, and the huge performance issues on Switch makes this game close to unplayable at times. While there is clearly potential here, Lost Ember fails to deliver on nearly every front. There are plenty of other artsy games on Switch to pick up over this one.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's very apparent that Lost Ember is a labour of love; one that forgoes any sort of depth and complexity in gameplay for the sake of beautiful presentation and an interesting story.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Games that dare to be different are always a bit of a risk...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Great graphics, a compelling experience, and overall heart, paint the general picture of this adventure game. While some aspects of the story go unexplored and the animal-shifting aspect largely goes under-utilized, these are not enough to distract from a positive experience. Gamers need to know going in that Lost Ember is a very casual-friendly experience, but one that is still well done. The only thing holding it back is a lack of truly diving into the mechanics presented, or truly investigating the story themes brought forth.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Lost Ember departs from typical video game fighting and puzzle-solving to tell a heartfelt story through the eyes of its animal protagonist. Thanks to its stunning art direction and obvious love for its subject matter, it offers a genuine emotional payoff despite having some elements that still feel undercooked.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Despite a slow start and some minor bugs, Lost Ember is a beautifully designed game that offers great story and fun gameplay. Last Ember is 7 hours long game, but thanks to diversity in collectables, it has great repeat value too.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Unless you're curious about the narrative, we'd beware of the dog in this case. ”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Lost Ember may have a predictable story but its emotional impact is still there and traveling a unique world as plenty of different animals sets it apart from others in the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“If you're prepared for some eyeroll moments as you reset the game because your wombat got stuck in a boulder, you'll be rewarded with the spectacle of battering through walls as a buffalo, or soaring through rainbows as a hawk. At such moments of wonder, that initial escapist promise of soul-wandering through the animal kingdom feels tantalisingly close. But, in the end, the game's limitations break the necessary immersion, and bring you back down to earth with a thud.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
GameMAG
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
PC Invasion
Zoomg
Push Square
Capsule Computers
NintendoWorldReport…and 37 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Fixed custom keyboard controlsOct 21, 2022
- Small patch notes for Patch 1.2.0.14762Oct 11, 2022
- New Game Mode! - Patch 1.1.0.12935Jun 30, 2020
- A bunch of new fixes - Patch 1.0.2.12353Feb 28, 2020
- First patch of the year - Patch 1.0.1.12244Jan 23, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- And another one - Patch 1.0.0.12054Nov 28, 2019
- Collisions and Cameras - Patch 1.0.0.12033Nov 26, 2019
- A couple of fixesNov 24, 2019
- Status UpdateSep 11, 2019