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Griftlands

Griftlands

Klei Entertainment · released May 31, 2021

IndiePCPlayStation 4Xbox OneNintendo Switch

Griftlands is a deck-building roguelite where you negotiate, fight, steal or otherwise persuade others to get your way. Every decision is important, be it the jobs you take, the friends you make, or the cards you collect.

Steam page ↗Metacritic 84 · users 7.4 ↗
87
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence
86%
At launch
94%
Steam all-time
84%
Press
72%
Player sentiment
88%
Recent sentiment

PC 87 · PlayStation 73 · Xbox 71

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)–8415
All-time Steam reviews94%881000
Metacritic user ratings–7714
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)88%8211
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 31 reviews sampled · 28 total reviews in window · weighted 23.6 up / 3.1 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (9)

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
    EurogamerEurogamer
    trust 66Jul 7, 2021

    “Griftlands is the new champion in the deck-building roguelike games arena, thanks to its original gameplay mechanics and deep/entertaining narrative nature.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 64Jun 22, 2021

    “Shortcomings aside, Griftlands is another slice of low-key brilliance from developers Klei. Is there a genre they can't do? The balance of narrative and deck-building made for a much more engaging experience than I often have with card-based titles, even if it feels like more could be done to connect those systems and bolster the storytelling. Still, I'm going to remember my adventures with Sal and the little moments of friendship and betrayal throughout each run. I like playing as a grifter; it ain't much but it's a living.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    IGNIGN
    trust 61Jun 13, 2021

    “This ingenious blend of RPG mechanics, visual novel-style storytelling, and deck-building roguelike gameplay is a beautiful recipe for a kind of game I never knew I wanted. Even though I’ve already spent the past week getting through each of Griftlands’ campaigns multiple times, I’m still looking forward to my next run, and the run after that. Campaigns are short and challenging, making them highly replayable and memorable adventures that reward your time. It’s kinda absurd that such an eclectic group of mechanics work together in such harmony, but once you’re bitten by their charms it’s quite hard to put Griftlands down.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    Screen RantScreen Rant
    trust 61Jun 11, 2021

    “Griftlands does what it sets out to do, offering a wholly compelling and unique take on its genre influences. It's yet another excellent entry into roguelike deckbuilding experiences and is immediately memorable thanks to its reliance on world-building and character depth. Even better, the story of Griftlands is a fun jaunt through a sci-fi world that is buoyed by an even more exciting card game. Those who loved Hades, Slay the Spire, or similar games will find just as much to love in Griftlands.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    The Indie Game WebsiteThe Indie Game Website
    trust 60Jul 9, 2021

    “I really like how the deck-building mechanics reflect the dispositions of the different characters. You can see this in both combat and negotiation; Sal is pretty strong all around, which makes them a good choice for your first couple of runs. Rook flips a coin every now and then during negotiation that can produce a powerful boost. Smith builds up a stockpile of empty bottles while in combat which they sometimes hurl at their opponents. The result is a wonderful sense of ludonarrative consonance.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    CD-ActionCD-Action
    trust 56Sep 1, 2021

    “Griftlands’ middling, insubstantial story and dull dialogues draw attention away from the game’s undeniable strengths: excellent negotiation mechanics and a pretty good combat system. [09/2021, p.42] ”

  • 86
    The Games MachineThe Games Machine
    trust 51Jun 7, 2021

    “Griftlands is an atypical deckbuilding roguelite with an addictive gameplay formula and a top notch narrative. I can see myself playing this game for a very long time while trying to master everyone of its aspects.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Edge Magazine
    trust 49Jul 16, 2021

    “Absorbing. [Issue#361, p.112]”

  • –
    ACGACG
    trust 61CreatorJul 14, 2019
    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. August 30th Update
    Aug 30, 2021
  2. July 7th Update
    Jul 7, 2021
  3. June 29th Update
    Jun 29, 2021
  4. June 24th Update
    Jun 24, 2021
  5. June 15th Hotfix
    Jun 15, 2021
  6. Experimental Update
    Jun 12, 2021
  7. Launch Hotfix
    Jun 3, 2021
  8. Griftlands Leaves Early Access!
    Jun 1, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  9. Hotfix
    Apr 13, 2021
  10. April Hotfix!
    Apr 7, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  11. March Hotfix!
    Mar 18, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  12. Griftlands: Update and New Roadmap
    Mar 4, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  13. Hotfix 452585
    Feb 20, 2021
  14. Griftlands: Update Available Now!
    Feb 18, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  15. Griftlands: Flourish and Mettle Update Available Now!
    Dec 10, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  16. Griftlands: Introducing Smith!
    Nov 5, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  17. Griftlands: 'Mods' Update Now Available!
    Sep 17, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  18. Hotfix 427310
    Aug 21, 2020
  19. Griftlands: 'Perks' Update Now Available!
    Aug 20, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  20. Griftlands: 'Dailies' Update Available Now!
    Jul 23, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  21. Hotfix 418616 + Cloud Saves
    Jun 26, 2020
  22. "Promoted" Update Available Now!
    Jun 25, 2020
  23. Experimental Build 417050
    Jun 18, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  24. Hotfix 416547
    Jun 16, 2020
  25. [Experimental Branch] - 416527
    Jun 16, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  26. Griftlands Update
    Oct 29, 2018