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) | – | 56 | 32 |
| Creator reviews (3 tracked) | – | 58 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 59% | 59 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 68% | 66 | 24 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 68 reviews sampled · 61 total reviews in window · weighted 29.8 up / 14.1 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (94)
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.
- 50
“Sonic Forces could've been much better if developers paid more attention to the levels structure, physics of the characters and controls. Perhaps in the future Sonic Team will make the necessary updates to the mechanics with patches, but right now the game is raw and unfinished.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Ultimately, Sonic Forces is a game that may not be for you. Despite the poor gameplay, kids should enjoy it. In addition, the game has light themes and tells the story through animated scenes that are reminiscent of the Sonic Boom cartoon. The appeal here is strong, not to mention the creation of personalized heroes by the player. If you have kids around, get involved.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“For most people Sonic Forces is a game best avoided, especially when Sonic Mania is around to give a taste of what the franchise should be aiming for.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“To answer our initial question, Sonic Forces hasn't managed to convince us that it is a must-play title in the series, but has at least alleviated some of our initial fears. A relatively short five-hour or so campaign, a lack of difficulty that ramps up unexpectedly on the final boss, and the non-coherent blend of 3D sequences, 2D sections and cutscenes make Sonic Forces a mixed experience, with positive moments undone by weaker areas.It isn't poor as many feared, and for children it could well be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. For the ‘hardcore' (and likely slightly older) generation of Sonic fans, though, perhaps it's best to accept that - for better or worse - Sonic isn't what it used to be. Stick with Sonic Mania for classic Sonic fun, and let Forces attract a new, younger audience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It’s inconsistent, varying wildly from 9/10 moments to 3/10 moments, and it’s frustrating to see. If you love Sonic games, want an entertaining story and a ton of fan-service and can see through a few mis-steps, pick this up. Otherwise, you may be somewhat disappointed”
read full review ↗ - 69
“Sonic Forces is one of the most charming and addictive entries in the series to date. With plenty of colorful energy, a great new character creation feature, and catchy soundtrack, it ultimately won me over in the end, despite its flaws.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Sonic Forces is far from perfect, with frustrating controls, brevity, poor level design, and a lack of challenge. The visuals, soundtrack, and the occasional moment of flair leave the game with some redeemable qualities, but it ultimately disappoints even the most forgiving Sonic sympathiser. The bad outweighs the good, and the positives are not enough to warrant a recommendation to purchase unless you are an absolute die-hard Sonic fan. At least it is a step up from Sonic Boom, but a considerable buzzkill compared to the sublime and excellent Sonic Mania.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Sonic Forces is a disappointing step back for the franchise. Uninteresting level design and subpar gameplay on all three playable characters make for a game that can be frustrating to get through. The nonsense story is poorly written and makes more tonal shifts than Mariah Carey with an ice cube down her back. The game is perfectly fine for the younger audience it's targeting, and we're sure they'll enjoy it for what it is, but in the wake of Sonic Mania's tremendous success, the problems 3D Sonic has always faced are becoming much harder to ignore.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The short campaign, uneven level design, and imperfect controls all put a hamper on the overall experience. While Sonic Forces may be far from the perfect Sonic game, there's still an enjoyable adventure worth experiencing especially for platformer fans and those who've enjoyed Sonic Team's recent efforts.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“We get the impression that Sonic Team wanted Forces to be the Best Sonic Game Ever, with a Greatest Hits package of everything good in the series, but they didn't have the time, money or talent to accomplish this.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Sonic Team promised us. They promised us they would deliver with Forces, they said they're taking Sonic back and will remind us of what makes him so great. I was so ready to get on board. Ugh, I was so ready. Damn you, Sonic Team.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Though not without its moments, Forces is a depressing return to form for Sonic the Hedgehog after the joys of Mania.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.