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) | – | 71 | 13 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 90 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 269 |
| 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 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (44)
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.
- 60
“Backbone is a stylish game, which promising story with some interesting characters takes a disappointing turn by the third chapter. The plot was cut short, which only adds to the general disappointment.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Promising and lovely, Backbone can't live up to its stellar early chapters, but there's still a worthwhile experience contained within.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“We were enjoying the lowlife-detective-gets-in-way-over-his-head storyline, but it takes another turn later on into something decidedly more obscure. The final hour or two throw the whole story for a loop, and to make things worse, it feels as though none of the plot threads are resolved, you're just left hanging, probably with a furrowed brow, while the credits roll. It's a shame, as the music and visuals are excellent throughout, but the presentation just isn't enough on its own, and that's about all it has.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Excellent visuals and a great soundtrack. But in terms of gameplay it doesn't deliver what it promises, while the story, although it starts with all the makings of something at least decent, loses its steam completely from the middle onwards.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Backbone is a result of an engaging story and interesting characters, with incredibly detailed pixel art as a bonus.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Backbone starts as a stylish, atmospheric noir adventure with gorgeous pixel art, but its shallow gameplay and abrupt, baffling story shift derail the experience. Despite strong visuals and mood, the second half collapses so completely that the whole game ends up feeling disappointing.”
read full review ↗ - 64
“Backbone starts off strong with an interesting premise and setting and tops off everything with great visuals. What starts as an intriguing detective story quickly loses its appeal, as it doesn't scratch more than the surface of its potential with a rather unsatisfying ending and a setting that is never explored to the extent that it likely deserves.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Backbone is full of potential for greatness and makes a terrific first impression. With its compelling lead and supporting cast, and a fascinating setting full of tantalising lore and mysteries to solve, I spent most of my experience excited to find out where it was all leading. Unfortunately, much of the detective gameplay and plot start to come apart by the end, leading to an oddly inconclusive and unsatisfying conclusion.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“One small step for noir, one giant misstep from Backbone”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Backbone's sumptuous pixel art and promising narrative threads are undermined by flat gameplay and a non sequitur of a final act.”
read full review ↗ - 90
- 40
“Backbone had the potential to fill a bit of a void for a noir style game, but it comes up short. It opens with a strong prologue, but the story that follows tries to hit too many different themes meaning there's a lack of focus by the time it comes to a conclusion.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
PC Invasion
Push Square
Capsule Computers
KonsoliFIN
Worth Playing
Checkpoint Gaming
Games Freezer
Eurogamer
MonsterVine
TheSixthAxis…and 32 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.