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Neversong

Neversong

Atmos Games, Serenity Forge · released May 20, 2020

ActionAdventureCasualIndieRPG

Help little Peet hack-and-slash his way through a beautifully haunting coma. A hand-drawn action-adventure through a dreamy world filled with fleshy monsters, insane grown-ups, and sad children looking for their mommies.

78
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
83%
At launch
85%
Steam all-time
79%
Press
85%
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 (OpenCritic)7924
All-time Steam reviews85%79491
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)85%791
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 1 up / 0.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (41)

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.

  • 90
    trust 80Jul 21, 2020

    Neversong is a highly effective release in so many ways. The standout framework and subsequent story building leave room for interpretation, and the apt aesthetics go well beyond mere window dressing. You don't see one-man studio releases of this high quality very often. Nearly everything falls into place in the best way imaginable.

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    trust 77May 20, 2020

    It has just enough bells and whistles to suck you into its world, but not enough to compel your immersion.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 76Jul 20, 2020

    An almost perfect platformer, Neversong is a deliciously dark experience that shouldn't be missed if you value story and worldbuilding.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 76Jul 25, 2020

    The content that’s here really is a joy to experience, and we’re of course conscious that artificially lengthening the game would no doubt diminish its value, but we can’t deny a certain level of disappointment after completing it in just a few short hours.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 73Jul 14, 2020

    A short and sickly sweet adventure puzzler that drips with originality and creative passion for perfect game design, Neversong is a fantastical nightmare journey that’ll surely leave you wanting more.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 70Aug 10, 2020

    This is a game where the ending sequence saved it. As a platformer it barely stacks up to a lot of the competition; some portions of the art aren't that good; the combat is very wonky, with a "bouncy" feel; and, finally, the story doesn't deliver until the end. Adding some badly designed puzzle sections all pull Neversong down. The ending and the idea the title puts forth is powerful enough - even with some plot holes in retrospection - that is worth checking out if someone is into platformers, and has a few hours to try out something different.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 69Aug 3, 2020

    Neversong is a delightful experience from top to bottom, but it just gets in its own way too many times. From frustrating level design to some hit detection issues in combat, there's just enough of a lack of polish to be noticeable, but the incredible aesthetic, thought-provoking story and top-notch blend of puzzles and platforming create an experience I would definitely recommend for fans of the genre. It just isn't necessarily one you need to jump off the couch to pick up.

    read full review ↗
  • 78
    trust 67Sep 28, 2020

    Neversong is one of those games that feels like an impactful and interactive art piece rather than the kind of title you envelop yourself in for hours and hours at a time. As with many indie projects, you can tell it was crafted with great care and a message that doesn't need a lot of time to register. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a little dark adventure.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 65May 20, 2020

    Less-than-decent gameplay nearly spoils a quality narrative.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 65Aug 7, 2020

    Neversong is a dark and thrilling tale with a child-like twist, exploring human emotion in a world without adults. The dark storyline contrasts starkly to the beautiful score and artwork, the clear influences from Tim Burton and The Legend of Zelda creating an immediate connection and sense of nostalgia.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 64Jul 16, 2020

    Neversong’s art style alone makes me want to recommend it to others to play. Some platforming bits could be better and the game isn’t as deep as some other Metroidvanias but don’t let those things dissuade you. Neversong as a whole is a memorable and unnerving experience that should be played by fans of the genre.

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  • 100
    trust 64May 24, 2020

    I was pleasantly surprised by Neversong. It’s another Kickstarter success story where the developer has made full use of their abilities and talent to create a wonderfully creepy but memorable adventure. The music, the graphics, the gameplay its all just so well polished despite the adventure being short. The game is due to release on Nintendo Switch in the future (as well as other consoles). This adventure moved me and did horror in just the right way. But don’t don’t let that put you off. Neversong is a game not to be missed.

    read full review ↗

…and 29 more tracked reviews.

Patch history