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) | – | 74 | 11 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 65 | 9 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 89 | 321 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 3, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 321 total reviews in window · weighted 220.5 up / 13.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (30)
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.
- 85
“Descenders ended up being a really fun, challenging game. Even if you're not great at sports games, or you have young children that might not understand the goal, this is one that the whole family can enjoy”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Descenders is an addictive freeriding roguelite with plenty of content to keep players busy as they get to grips with its unique take on extreme biking action. It may be a little rough around the edges in places and this Switch port has certainly seen a graphical downgrade, but the core riding controls well, the framerate is solid and the procedurally-generated nature of courses keeps things feeling fresh. With a meaty campaign featuring eight diverse biomes, a decent multiplayer component and those all-important online leaderboards, this one's a surprisingly robust package that comes highly recommended.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“On a general level I'm a huge fan of procedurally-generated content...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Descenders is a solid experience if you’re looking for a time waster that you’ll return to over and over. While constant screen tearing issues hamper its presentation quite a bit, the game has solid controls, as well as simple though endlessly entertaining mechanics. While the controls aren’t the tightest we’ve seen, they do everything adequately and contribute to the fun. Add in the wide range of biomes to race through, including some more wacky ones towards the end of the game, and it makes for one fun package. And that’s to say nothing of the fun little gimmicks, like the first-person mode and the trials-style courses. Descenders has everything you could possibly want in a downhill cycling roguelite.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Descenders joins the reawakening of the skateboarding and cycling genres by offering a unique take on a specific form of cycling we haven't seen in a long time. While the gameplay is thrilling and does its best to stay interesting, mechanics that are at odds with each other mean you will be forced to choose between having that exciting arcade experience or maintaining the roguelite run through the sometimes intense difficulty. Whether taken seriously or just for fun, Descenders isn't consistent, and considering this specific port has some rough edges graphically, you may just want to focus on using it for its multiplayer.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Descenders reiterated one of my motto’s in life, don’t knock it till you try it. I have no inclination in real life to be the next Evel Knievel or do any mountain biking, but I really enjoyed pressing the right buttons to make my little biker gal do tricks and swerve around the tracks like she was born to ride.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Descenders is a game that once you get to grips with can be a lot of fun, unfortunately, it probably has one too many flaws for it to be considered great.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Despite an old-gen aesthetic and some minor issues, Descenders is a good downhill arcade racer with pretty good SSX and Tony Hawk's vibes.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The downhill mountain biking simulation seems to have found, with Descenders, a truly faithful and quite convincing video game production. We enjoy discovering all the regions offered and accomplishing the bonus objectives, while progressing in the career of our rider. The Die & Retry side specific to the software is frankly interesting and we liked this feeling of learning all along. It will suit much more by its gameplay than by its graphics and its musical track, but that was more than enough for us to enjoy it.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Overall Descenders is an engaging game that can bring you fun times. The uniqueness of each course makes the game even more exciting and the multiplayer is so much fun. Although the the punishment system is questionable and the game doesn't look very good visually, Descenders is a decent game that totally worth your 25$.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Descenders is an essential experience of arcade racing, inspired by the great 90s classics, which relies on a crazy sense of speed and adrenalinic gameplay. It may be a little bit rough in terms of visuals, but it's hectic and fun.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It’s rare for a roguelite to be a relaxing, refreshing experience, but Descenders manages through its short levels and reflex-based gameplay. Between its high top speed and breakbeat soundtrack, it manages to find a useful niche for those after a quick pick-up-and-play.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
Checkpoint Gaming
FingerGuns
Eurogamer
JVFrance
Gamefa
IGN
Screen Rant…and 18 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Descenders Next: Ring of Fire UpdateAug 14, 2026
- The Community Gear Update is LIVE!Aug 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- CAREER MODE IS LIVE IN DESCENDERS NEXT!Feb 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- The Big Air Compound UPDATE!Dec 1, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Descenders Next Demo Update / Play With Devs!Feb 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Descenders: The RageSquid Riot Tour UpdateDec 12, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- A Free Update and DESCENDERS NEXT!Aug 6, 2024
- THE MISCHIEF TOUR UPDATE IS HERE!!Jun 23, 2022
- The GRAND TOUR UPDATE IS HERE!Oct 28, 2021
- The CUSTOMIZATION UPDATE is coming Feb 25th!Feb 18, 2021
- New Lexico Update!Oct 28, 2020
- Bike Park Update & FREE WEEKEND!Feb 27, 2020
- The MODDING update is here!Oct 10, 2019
- Career lobby update!Jul 12, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Welcome to 1.0 - MULTIPLAYER IS HEREMay 7, 2019
- Trick or Treat Update now live!Oct 29, 2018
- New update Monday!Oct 26, 2018
- Trick or Treat Update Coming October 29Oct 23, 2018
- Minor Replay Mode update!Oct 5, 2018
- The Replay Mode update is here!Sep 18, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- SURPRISE! The Replay Update is coming next weekSep 13, 2018
- The Ring of Fire update is now live - 10% off!Aug 7, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- The Ring of Fire Update: Coming August 7thJul 31, 2018
- Surprise! Next Descenders Update is This Week!Jun 18, 2018
- Next Big Update Very Soon: Brings Team Objectives, Daily Challenge and MoreJun 7, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- The Rogue-Bike Update is here!May 15, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- The Rogue-Bike Update: Coming May 15thMay 3, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Sound effects hotfix and #SCRAPE gearMar 28, 2018
- Sound effects hotfix and #SCRAPE gearMar 28, 2018
- Newsfeed/performance updateMar 23, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Newsfeed/performance updateMar 23, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Freeride Update HotfixMar 5, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Freeride Update HotfixMar 5, 2018
- Freeride Update!Mar 2, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Freeride Update!Mar 2, 2018
- Early Access week 2 update!Feb 23, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Early Access week 2 update!Feb 23, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Valentine's Day updateFeb 14, 2018
…and 1 earlier patch announcements.