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 | 14 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 81% | 75 | 138 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 0.2 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (27)
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
“Double Kick Heroes is a very bright and unusual project with well-developed characters, strong plot and excellent soundtrack, which suffers from minor flaws and sometimes from very high difficulty.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There's plenty to commend Double Kick Heroes for; it's an ambitious game, with great-looking pixel graphics, plenty of songs and modes, an enjoyable story and a general vigour to it that underpins its heavy metal aesthetic very appealingly. Unfortunately, we feel like it tries to do a little too much and ends up being rather confusing and slapdash in execution. We found the central rhythm-action gameplay to be the worst part, and that's not a great thing in any game. The disappointing soundtrack only compounded this problem, but we do appreciate that it's going to be a matter of taste in this regard. This leads us to a bit of a conundrum; Double Kick Heroes clearly has an enormous amount of love poured into it, but it's not enough for an unqualified recommendation when we just didn't quite have enough fun with it. A sequel could refine its more confused elements into something wonderful, but for the time being, you may get a (Double) kick out of this effort.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“As a big fan of metal, rhythm games, and zombies this is a title that has been firmly on my radar since I first played it at PAX East 2 years ago...”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Prepare those thumbs and get some headphones, as before you know it you’ll be tapping your feet and banging your head to the beat in no time.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A unique rhythm based shoot-em-up game with a killer heavy metal soundtrack, detailed pixel characters and environments with tons of personality.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It has a thumping and varied soundtrack, an eye-catching visual style, and a impressive range of play modes.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Double Kick Heroes is a good game, even a great game if you're a metalhead. The artwork portrays a varied post-apocalyptic wasteland as you race across the world battling all sorts of enemies with the power of metal. The soundtrack holds its own and is worth a listen even outside the game. If you like metal or zombies in any way you will thoroughly enjoy this game and the unique combination of the two.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“GREAT - With over 30 tracks to rock out to and plenty of ways to play, Double Kick Heroes is a rocking good time making full use of the Switch’s unique motion controls perfect for you and all your metal loving friends. Be sure to keep those Joy-Cons strapped to your wrists!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“In a nutshell, Double Kick Heroes is a violent enjoyable ride of ingenuity worth putting the pedal to the metal for! Besides the rushed odd in an argh way yarn jammed with an overabundance of profanities, everything else is about the game is essentially a smash hit! No one-hit wonder doesn’t define the Double Kick Heroes.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It looks and sounds great but this post-apocalyptic rhythm action game lacks that little extra kick to make it a genuine classic.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Double Kick Heroes is an awesome rhythm title led by a tough-as-nails gameplay loop and some awesome music. The story mode is a little disappointing and the challenge can sometimes be a bit too much, but if you’re a fan of metal then this is definitely one to check out. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Double Kick Heroes is a neat callback to rhythm games of the past, both in terms of gameplay, and also musical genre.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
FingerGuns
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis
Nintendo Times
LadiesGamers.com
Metro GameCentral
Nintendo Insider
Geeks Under Grace…and 15 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Post release patch IIAug 21, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Minor patchesAug 14, 2020
- METAL FEST UPDATEAug 5, 2020
- Language updateApr 22, 2020
- We’re still Paving the Road to HellDec 12, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Weekly Update #16 - Let's Talk About Act 4 & Release DatesAug 20, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- HyperParasite Update #15 - Guarding the Desert, Gamescom 2019 & Official WikiAug 9, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- 🤘DOUBLE KICK HEROES IS GOING ROGUE🤘Jul 8, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Weekly Update #10 - New characters, bosses and 25% off!Jun 28, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- VIDEOGAME OST PACK IS LIVE!Feb 21, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Some news from HELL!Feb 8, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- METALVANIA UPDATE!Nov 21, 2018
- The hell train is back in the EVIL SNOW update!Sep 27, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- SCORING UPDATE with VolkorX + Antheus + TemneinAug 1, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Free demo live now + Scoring update next weekJul 24, 2018
- HELLGATE Update is Live!!May 31, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update #28: New fixes and difficulty tweaksApr 26, 2018
- UPDATE NOW OR REST IN PIECESMar 12, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- UPDATE NOW OR REST IN PIECESMar 12, 2018