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Paradigm

Paradigm

Jacob Janerka · released Apr 4, 2017

AdventureIndiePC

Paradigm is a surreal adventure game set in the strange and post apocalyptic Eastern European country of Krusz. Play as the handsome mutant, Paradigm, whose past comes back to haunt him in the form of a genetically engineered sloth that vomits candy.

88
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
90%
At launch
94%
Steam all-time
85%
Press
74%
Player sentiment
100%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)856
All-time Steam reviews94%89825
Metacritic user ratings744
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)100%972
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 5 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 2.9 up / 0 down · computed 8h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (8)

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.

  • 100
    trust 75Jun 29, 2017

    Paradigm is a uniquely creative blend of art, music and consistently humorous gameplay. It’s an absurdist adventure like no other, and one that’s earned its place among the classics.

    read full review ↗
  • 95
    trust 65Jun 16, 2017

    A surprisingly deep, emotionally engaging tale for a game that lets you fornicate with a toaster.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Apr 19, 2017

    Funny and fresh from beginning to end, Paradigm is a traditional point-and-click adventure game full of heart and decapitated heads in jars. The Eastern European setting, great voice acting, and confident comedy shine throughout its roughly six hours. Relatively simple puzzles aside, Paradigm offers a fresh and memorable entry in a genre that I'm happy to see alive and well in 2017.

    read full review ↗
  • 82
    trust 59Jan 2, 2018

    Fascinating and surreal adventure with witty dialogues, bizarre scenes, countless innuendoes and imaginative puzzles.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 58Apr 5, 2017

    Paradigm succeeds in being a genuinely funny and entertaining point-and-click adventure game. What it may lack in innovation, it more than makes up for with its consistently engaging story, its distinctive and unique world, and its diverse and eclectic cast of characters. Admittedly, its offbeat sense of humour may not be up to everyone's standards, but if you're the type of person who enjoys cynical and referential gags, as well as a heavy dose of Mighty Boosh-esque surrealism, Paradigm is well worth the price of admission.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 56Apr 22, 2017

    Paradigm is proof that quality isn’t the sole domain of big names and hefty budgets. Although the puzzles are a bit lackluster, the overall experience of the game makes it a must-have for fans of the genre. Players that enjoy absurdity and thrill at the idea geeky humor and internet memes brought to life will love Paradigm in all its weird and wonderful glory.

    read full review ↗
  • 92
    trust 50Apr 25, 2017

    If you’ve enjoyed adventure games before then you will enjoy this… if you haven’t really given adventure games a go, this is a great one to see just how well they can be made. There are quite a lot of laughs and the production quality is high… for the price you really can’t go wrong. Stick a balloon to your head or grab a 90’s metal band wig and get ready to drop some beats… go play Paradigm!

    read full review ↗
  • 82
    trust 40May 2, 2017

    While playing Paradigm, I was having recollections of playing some of my favourite games of yesteryear. The surreal, yet hilarious characters could definitely become memorable pop-culture icons if this was made by a Triple-A development team with their huge marketing budgets. Paradigm does so many of the things that the golden era of point and click adventures did so well and makes it a worthwhile addition to the genre. The puzzles, the humorous storyline and characters, the fully voiced dialogue, the wonderful, somewhat retro visuals all combine to make Paradigm a modern day classic of its own. I sincerely hope that developer Jacob Janerka sees fit to produce a follow up title.

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. New Update and OST!
    May 30, 2017significant · resets scoring window