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) | – | 82 | 9 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 91 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 88 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 6 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 16 reviews sampled · 17 total reviews in window · weighted 14.7 up / 0 down · computed 8h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (28)
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.
- 80
“There's no doubt about it - The End Is Nigh delivers excellent platforming. It's a manageable challenge from start to finish, and a game that becomes more and more enjoyable as you slowly adapt to its seemingly unforgiving design. At the same time you'll never feel completely unstoppable like you would in other notable platform titles. It keeps you on your toes from start to finish and has a balance few other games associated with this genre manage to achieve.Where The End Is Nigh falls short is the fact it doesn't expand a great deal on the initial foundations laid by Super Meat Boy many years ago. What we have here is a spiritual successor, but with the open-ended adventure elements not having as notable an impact on the game as you may expect. The main character and settings in this aren't quite as likable as Meat Boy and his own game world, either. In saying this, if you are a fan of the source material and happen to enjoy well-crafted and tough platform games, check this one out.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The End is Nigh is another excellent platformer from Edmund McMillen, it’s everything Super Meat Boy was but even better paced and well designed. It’s worth playing though it will be challenging and frustrating for most players, but it’s the right type of challenge.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“All said The End is Nigh isn’t quite as revelatory as Super Meat Boy but then again it also isn’t somewhat single-handedly carving out a new genre. Due to the difficulty it is a bit of an acquired taste but with work and patience the fact is that the game is still very accessible and beatable. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort the amount of hidden and unlocked content in Nigh is truly impressive and while most of it amounts to more challenges of the same nature with some details altered it can still be a lot of fun for the right audience. If you’re a glutton for punishment The End is Nigh is a fitting and satisfying feast.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Anyone who enjoyed Super Meat Boy is likely to have a good time with The End is Nigh.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The End is Nigh ultra precise platform challenges will make you throw you controller at the wall with frustration. Still, you will return to its charismatic, intelligent and well designed world in a masochistic loop that reminds us of its elder brother: Super Meat Boy.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“I enjoy figuring out how to get through any given stage, but making it happen is where the challenge is. It's a great feeling when you come to a stage and say “how in the world…” and then beat it a few minutes (and several dozen deaths) later. Personally, I love this game to death even if it does feel like beating my head against the wall sometimes.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A worthwhile, if familiar, successor to Super Meat Boy.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The End is Nigh is something for those who appreciate the challenge of a steep difficulty level, one that is hard but fair and which brings the player through a refined level design that makes the player rethink how to approach the game. A real piece of playable satisfaction that is certain to gain the hearts of those who enjoy this kind of challenge.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Edmund McMillen's newest platformer is one of the most difficult and frustrating you'll play -- but also one of the most enjoyable.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The End is Nigh is infuriatingly difficult, and to that end doesn’t necessarily lend itself to lengthy play sessions, but the handily-segmented gameplay promotes a pick-up-and-play style that’s perfect for the Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The End is Nigh is as brilliant in exploration as Super Meat Boy was as a plateformer. More and more challenging through the entire game, it offers a great feeling of accomplishment once finished properly.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The End Is Nigh is a simple but brilliant platformer. It doesn’t want to be your friend and it doesn’t care if it offends you. However, its tough love will certainly draw out your platforming potential if given a little perseverance. Everything looks and plays great regardless of your screen preference and with so many secrets to uncover it’s also excellent value for money. Just bear in mind that The End Is Nigh is probably not one for the kiddies…”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Kinglink Reviews
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
LevelUp
NintendoWorldReport
Eurogamer
FNintendo
GameSkinny
Flickering Myth
Gameblog
Nintendo Insider…and 16 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- The End is Nigh STEAM WORKSHOP Update!Oct 24, 2019
- Mac Version + Steam Trading Cards available now!Aug 15, 2017
- Mac Version + Steam Trading Cards available now!Aug 15, 2017