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 (Metacritic) | – | 85 | 7 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 81 | 137 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 0.9 up / 0 down · computed 3h 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.
- 86
“While a few faults hurt the game -- like the difficulty and meager amount of levels -- the main foundation of this title is fabulous.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“An outstanding package complete with everything you could possibly want from a Space Invaders title. The core game experience simply bombards your senses with awesomeness and could not be a greater joy to experience.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“In light of all that though, Space Invaders Extreme is still an exceptionally worthy addition to the franchise, giving you a healthy dose of nostalgia while still throwing enough good new ideas into the mix to keep the game fun in the short amount of time the experience lasts.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Fast-paced shooting action and enjoyable multiplayer help the Space Invaders series celebrate its 30th anniversary in style.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“If you have friends who enjoy having a little bit of fun, it's the DS version you want.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Space Invaders may now be the unfashionable side of 30 but it's still able to mix it up with the best modern gaming has to offer. This is a superlative modernisation of a classic game.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“Fast paced, challenging and totally mental, this is a pumping update of the ancient shooter. [Aug 2008, p.87]”
- 80
“The multiplayer is excellent too, whether playing with someone locally or uploading scores to an online leaderboard.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Space Invaders in a fancy, modern look. Unusual and catchy gameplay, multiplayer and boss fights makes this game perfect for long trips. [Aug 2008]”
- 91
“Like Pac-Man: Championship Edition, this budget-priced handheld shooter stays true to the core gameplay and aesthetic of the arcade innovator it seeks to update.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A certified hit and easily the company’s best effort in contemporizing its classic property. The game’s an absolute steal at 20 bucks on either the Nintendo DS or the PlayStation Portable, but if you want the definitive version of this fantastic classic revisit, the Nintendo DS version is it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The easy-to-learn basics that made the game a hit 30 years ago are still there--just wrapped up in a glitzier and deeper game. [July 2008, p.90]”
Nintendojo
NintendoWorldReport
Worth Playing
GameSpot
The A.V. Club
IGN…and 29 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.5Mar 1, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.5Mar 1, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.4Feb 26, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.4Feb 26, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.3Feb 22, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.3Feb 22, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.2Feb 19, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.2Feb 19, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.1Feb 15, 2018
- Space Invaders Extreme v1.0.1Feb 15, 2018