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 | 12 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 68 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 80% | 74 | 196 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 88 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 7 reviews sampled · 6 total reviews in window · weighted 3.4 up / 0.2 down · computed 17m ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (31)
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
“If Super Smash Bros. and Marvel Vs. Capcom made sweet love, Blade Strangers would be their beautiful baby. Fighting game veterans might find the gameplay a little too user-friendly and ultimately shallow. Still, it's hard not to get addicted to the elegant combo system, and playing as all your favorite indie legends.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There's no denying it - this is the most accessible 2D fighter we've played in years. If you're new to the often impenetrable world of twitch-style brawlers, this serves as an ideal way to learn the craft and feel powerful without too much work. Not every one of its crossover fighters gels as well as the others, but it's still an empowering experience for beginners and intermediate fight fans. However, if you're looking for a purposefully nuanced combat system with a bit more bite, you're probably best sticking with BlazBlue's mechanical purity.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Eschewing the Byzantine systems of many modern anime fighters, Blade Strangers invites fans weaned on early 90s arcade fighters back into the fold.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“In all, as a part-time fighting game fan, I’ll say that I’m both surprised by and very satisfied with this initial entry into the genre by Studio Saizensen. Feeling more polished and comparable than you’d expect with more established series it seems to have struck a nice balance between accessibility and leaving room for more technical fighters to explore. While it doesn’t have a massive roster the characters are varied and there should be match for pretty well everyone here whether you prefer more traditional or a little off-center. Only time will tell if this can break into the big leagues and gain acceptance from the greater fighting community but if you’re looking for something that feels fresh and plays well it’s a solid package.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Decent. That's the only thing that comes to mind when thinking about Blade Strangers. Besides the novelty of being able to choose amongst indie game characters from Studio Sanzensen and Nicalis, there's nothing special about this fighter, other than the fact that it's built in such a way that it makes it a perfect entry for genre greenhorns.”
read full review ↗ - 80
- 70
“Blade Strangers may not look like the most obvious crossover when it features characters from series that few would ever imagine starring in the same game but life is full of surprises and this fighting experience not only brings a varied cast, it also has some very simple gameplay and control mechanics that make the game accessible to nearly everyone, while also thinking that its 3D rendering could use some improvement.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Blade Strangers is a less-than-unique fighting game with excellent graphics. Unfortunately great visuals alone don’t make a fun game. If you have an affinity toward the characters and don’t mind a paint-by-the-numbers fighting game, then definitely pick this one up.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“While Blade Strangers is a perfectly competent fighting game it will struggle to find an audience. Too simple for fighting fans, too niche for kids and not enough story for fans of the source material, it simply fails to meet the mark.”
read full review ↗ - 58
“Blade Strangers isn't an outright terrible game; it just doesn't feel like the concept ever got off the ground. While characters retain their charm, story suffers from a lack of originality. There is also a distinct lack of depth, as combos are fairly straightforward, with some moves using repeated inputs adding unneeded mistakes. Add in lackluster and in some cases awful sprites and it's an experience that really comes down to if you like the characters enough to see them in a new setting. If this is enough, then you might like this, otherwise it's a paint by numbers fighting game that doesn't do anything well enough to stand out beyond the fact notable characters are present.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Nicalis kicks off its original game universe with Blade Strangers. A 2D fighting game with great animation and a solid fighting game that can knuckle up with the greats of the genre. With characters from their own franchises and some indie darlings we love, there's a fighter for everyone here.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's not going to keep you entertained for as long as a Street Fighter or BlazBlue game, but those familiar with its characters will have fun pitting the likes of Shovel Knight against Issac. Those unfamiliar with its characters will just enjoy it for the fact that there are no barriers to enjoying its gameplay. Blade Strangers is simple, and all the better for it.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
VGChartz
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
ZTGD
FNintendo
Nintendo Times
TechRaptor
Just Push Start
Geeks Under Grace
GameSpew…and 19 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Blade Strangers FREE Character update + Graphical improvements + Re-balanceAug 28, 2019significant · resets scoring window