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) | – | 66 | 8 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 76 | 61 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (21)
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.
- 85
“Overall, Golem Gates, is a unique take on the card-playing genre and welcome addition to the Switch library. Nonetheless, it has some minor flaws, even if it remains functionally intact. Either Way, Golem Gates is a must try for anyone looking for a strategy game on Switch and/or a fun multiplayer option! I can definitely see this game being something I come back to during airport gameplay sessions, or even just when I have a bunch of time to kill.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Overall, fans of RTS games may get some fun out of Golem Gates, but it's hard to get around the fact that this mash-up of tactical RTS gameplay with the random nature of the deck-building element of the game leads to a watered-down tactical experience. If you're happy enough to enjoy it for what it is you'll get a decent amount of fun out of the various modes on offer, but anyone looking for a serious RTS or deck-building experience would be best sticking to either genre exclusively, rather than taking a chance on this well-meaning but misguided mishmash.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Though Golem Gates has ambition it simply has some issues and its performance overall isn't helping anything...”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Although the controls aren't exactly ideal, Golem Gates is a thoughtfully crafted title that blends RTS gameplay with some solid deck building.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“As a mesh of genres, Golem Gates succeeds more often than not. I love the CCG genre and found it to be a pretty interesting mix with the RTS one that Golem Gates builds its foundation upon. Expanding on my collection and editing my deck was entertaining and the core gameplay is quite interesting as well. I do wish there was a bit more variety in the types of missions and the multiplayer really does not do much of anything for me, but on the whole Golem Gates is a solid offering.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Add to that the performance issues on Switch and the console release becomes an even harder sell. Were it not for a truly delightful core gameplay loop, Golem Gates would be an easy pass. As it is, there is a compelling experience to be found, but it's buried deep.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Golem Gates brings a fresh take on a cross-genre of RTS and card games, but the console version has some real technical issues.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Golem Gates is a great strategy title that blends CCG and RTS elements into an enjoyable combat-heavy form, while offering a world and soundscape that I immediately fell in love with. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Golem Gates lands on the Nintendo Switch as a proposal that merges Real Time Strategy elements with card-based strategy games and it does a very good job at it, even if it can become too easy after the player is fully invested into the game. Golem Gates also features an involving degree of strategic complexity, a carefully crafted art style and online functionalities that are more than welcome in this effort that is certain to please fans of RTS and card-based strategy games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you are willing to go the distance and sink some time into a very unique experience, there truly is nothing else like Golem Gates out there- for better or for worse. One thing is for sure though, if you take the dive on this title, you’ll be invited to partake in an extensive package that will either excite or exhaust you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Golem Gates is an innovative CCG/RTS mash-up that includes several game modes and benefits from great graphics and sound design.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Golem Gates takes two of my all-time favorite game styles, RTS and CCG and mixes them together in a unique and fun way.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
Chalgyr's Game Room
NintendoWorldReport
SECTOR.sk
TheSixthAxis
FNintendo
SwitchRPG
GameSkinny
Skewed & Reviewed…and 9 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update Notes 7/1/2019Jul 1, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 5/30/2019May 30, 2019
- Update Notes 11/16/2018Nov 16, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 5/26/2018May 26, 2018
- Content Update 5/1/2018May 2, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 4/13/2018Apr 14, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 3/31/2018Apr 1, 2018
- Update Notes 3/31/2018Apr 1, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Release Version Update NotesMar 28, 2018
- Release Version Update NotesMar 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 3/7/2018Mar 7, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 3/7/2018Mar 7, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Content Update 2/28/2018Feb 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Content Update 2/28/2018Feb 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 2/9/2018Feb 10, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 2/9/2018Feb 10, 2018
- Content Update 1/31/2018Jan 31, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Content Update 1/31/2018Jan 31, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 12/22/2017Dec 23, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 12/22/2017Dec 23, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 12/13/2017Dec 14, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 12/13/2017Dec 14, 2017significant · resets scoring window