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) | – | 75 | 13 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 38 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 0% | 15 | 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 up / 0.1 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (29)
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
“Rival Megagun successfully blends the tried-and-true shmup formula with a competitive fighter. The single-player is fun though a little short, but the multiplayer mode offers plenty of options for all-out shooter battles with your friends.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Rival Megagun may fall short of the standards set by genre masterworks like Cave's Ketsui, Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden Fighters Jet or Raizing's Battle Garegga. But those are some of the finest pieces of game design of all time, and failing to meet their lofty standards doesn't stop Spacewave's creation being a tremendously fun and rather distinct shmup that really does offer something fresh, and serves as a great demonstration of the Switch's multiplayer prowess in the process.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Seeing as how Versus STGs are incredibly uncommon, Rival Megagun could easily get some recognition just for being part of such a rare niche. Thankfully, Spacewave Software went above and beyond to create a fantastic shooter. It has gotten the basics down pat, and delivers an exceptionally realized meta. Players are rewarded for thinking three moves ahead, reading their opponents, and finding the right opportunity to strike. For competitive gamers looking for something new, this is highly recommended.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The online leaderboards and collectable cards add some long-term play, too. However, the lack of players online, the random unlocks, and the pedestrian shoot-‘em-up stages leave a lot to be desired. Some may find good value here, but I can't wholeheartedly recommend Rival Megagun to a general Switch audience.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Anyone looking for a fun time with friends or a new breed of arcade shooter should pick up Rival Megagun and any fan of game music should definitely listen to Dominic Ninmark’s soundtrack. Stellar work all around. ”
read full review ↗ - 60
“A Mediocre vertical shooter with an unimpressive twist.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Rival Megagun isn't a perfect package, but it offers a unique gameplay experience that nobody else is trying to create right now. Shoot 'em ups are blood-pumping adrenaline adventures, and adapting that into a competitive game is a feat that Rival Megagun does impressively well. While some gameplay balance issues and a bland story mode tarnish the final product, Rival Megagun is still an engaging title worth checking out if you and a loved one need a new way to settle your arguments.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Rival Megagun may seem like other retro-themed shoot'em ups but its additional gameshow component makes sure to put that reading behind. While unusua,l this additional element works very well as an extra layer following the typical shooting sections and if the game's single player experience feels rather limited, the multiplayer component is very competent and enjoyable. If Rival Megagun's online community starts growing, the game will only gain from it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“By mixing the shooter genre will the old versus fighting mechanics, Rival Megagun delivers an interesting experience that might seem curious players looking for an brand new old-school experience. With its tiny roster falling short, Rival Megagun will still deliver fun duels, thanks to its fury jauge that will make each fight different and interesting. Too bad its short solo mode and terrible character design weighs down the game, which still delivers beautiful 2D sprites and background.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Rival Megagun is absolutely one of the best shoot'em up in recent generations specially if you play it co-op, because it's the way that you see all potential of this game. Although Rival Megagun is not your game if you are looking for a deep story and narrating or best graphics, but it brings you a lot of fun and joy when playing it solo or co-op with friends. Rival Megagun is a game that worth your time to try.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Rival Megagun takes the old and mostly forgotten "Versus Shoot'em Up" genre, adds a lot of unique ideas to it, and the end result is a game that is not only accessible for newcomers, but also challenging for veterans at the same time. It's not flawless, but none of those flaws can decrease the amount of fun you can have by playing it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A classic shump that brings some unique twist to the old arcadey games that we played on the arcades 20 years ago, but falls a bit short while doing it, specially if you are playing alone.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis
FNintendo
Gameblog
Gamefa
Pardis Game
IGN…and 17 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Massive Rival Megagun c1.1.1 patch!Jun 16, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Rival Megagun c1.0.13 patch notesJan 10, 2019
- Rival Megagun c1.0.12 patch notesDec 12, 2018
- Rival Megagun c1.0.11 patch notesDec 7, 2018significant · resets scoring window