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 | 18 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 82% | 76 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 77% | 72 | 830 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Dec 18, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 830 total reviews in window · weighted 175.1 up / 51.5 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (13)
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.
- 70
“As the name implies, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, is all about survival. Set in a compelling environment that rewards exploration and tenacity, its gameplay loop will keep crafters and builders quite busy. However, with no notable narrative, it really requires a consistent co-op team to fully flourish.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Smalland Survive the Wilds have done astonishingly well for a survival and adventure game with its mixed style between comical and realism.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“While its shrunk down world invites exploration and can inspire some wonder, it’s also a bit clunky and hard not to get stuck comparing to some contemporaries”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I have played a lot of the current survival games including Grounded and I got to say that Smalland: Survive the Wilds ranks really high on the list about it. The amount of polish was surprising to see from such a small team and the number of systems and size of the map are just proof that they have wizards over at developer Merge Games. Smalland even simulates the 4 seasons and the storms that come with them and these are some visually impressive parts of the game. I loved every rainstorm, just the peacefulness of it…at least while I was in my base. If you enjoyed Grounded or are just a fan of a good survival game, I highly recommend Smalland: Survive the Wilds”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Smalland: Survive the Wilds is a fun survival game with some inventive ideas, though it may suffer from being released a bit early. If you are a fan of the genre, it may be worth picking up, especially with friends!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Although Smalland is technically a little underdeveloped game and it should be fixed, as well as adding a full-fledged story and tasks, but at the same time it is a great relaxing experience in the environment of insects. Above all, it brings a beautiful feeling of discovering a small world in which you can find artifacts of the big one.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Smalland: Survive the Wilds" is a successful open-world multiplayer survival adventure game with a playful and beautiful world. "Smalland: Survive the Wilds is particularly fun with friends and offers a dynamic world that provides plenty of variety. However, the game's biggest weakness is base building. This was difficult to master on the console, as the controls are not quite as user-friendly.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“For a change if pace and a great blend of styles and gameplay; this is a visually appealing and diverse game that will grow on you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“After a long time waiting for its release, Smalland: Survive the Wilds proves to be much more than that Grounded with fairies that many of us thought it would be in its beginnings. A survival adventure that guarantees fun for groups of friends and lone wolves alike.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Smalland stands out for presenting a setting in a rich and diverse universe, being excellent for creation and survival games. Greater touches and refinements can further improve the experience over time, but it's perhaps a game that's better suited for those who aren't looking for a very robust combat system.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Even with it being a game that normally doesn't draw me in Smalland manages to activate something other games like it couldn't, getting me to have fun solo in a survival crafting game. Smalland's sense of detail and scale to the world had me always wanting to see what was around the corner. That being said, if you are looking for something that will test your combat skills or is a game that is deeper than just survive and craft, then Smalland might not be something that holds your attention for long. However, if you're looking for a low intensive game that will allow you to turn off the world and explore, then Smalland is a perfect game to get lost in.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“Survive the Wilds is an open-world survival game that puts us in the shoes of an insect-sized creature struggling with a wild world teeming with dangers, managing to instil a certain sense of discomfort when fighting with ants, cockroaches and various beetles. Basic resources are fairly common, but to get the most valuable ones you have to grind a little and fight, with an overall difficulty above average. The tiny character is charismatic, and the same can be said for the NPCs, and the story holds some surprises, to be discovered little by little as you progress through the game, alone or in company.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
eXputer
Nindie Spotlight
ZTGD
GameGrin
SECTOR.sk
Skewed & Reviewed
IGN
PSX Brasil
PlayStation Universe
The Games Machine…and 1 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Small Hotfix Now Available!Apr 15, 2026
- Something Stirs: The Wyrdweaver UpdateApr 2, 2026
- Small Hotfix LiveDec 23, 2025
- The Yuletide Arrives in Smalland!Dec 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Now Live – Localization and Save FixesNov 11, 2025
- Hotfix Now Live: Stability and Gameplay FixesOct 29, 2025
- Hotfix: QoL Updates, HUD Improvements & MoreSep 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix: Underlands & Audio ImprovementsSep 2, 2025
- Hotfix: Overland Lighting & Creature FixesAug 26, 2025
- Descend Into the Depths – The Underlands Update is Here!Aug 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Smalland Hotfix – July 11 Patch NotesJul 11, 2025
- Customization and Combat Update Now AvailableJun 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Crossplay Has Arrived in Smalland!May 23, 2025
- Hotfix Now Live – April 29Apr 30, 2025
- Hotfix Patch V 1.6.2Feb 7, 2025
- Hotfix Patch V 1.6.1Jan 30, 2025
- The World Rebalance UpdateJan 23, 2025
- Patch noteNov 27, 2024
- Quality of Life update out now!Nov 22, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch V 1.4.4Oct 9, 2024
- Hotfix Patch V 1.4.3 is live!Oct 8, 2024
- The Campsite Update is OUT NOW!Oct 3, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes 15: The Treetops UpdateJul 25, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Public Test Branch Minor Update!Jul 11, 2024
- Patch Notes 14: The Treetop Update!Jun 27, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix - 18/06/2024Jun 18, 2024
- Hotfix - 28/05/2024May 28, 2024
- Patch Notes #13: The Taming UpdateMay 27, 2024
- Hotfix 10: Crafting-Time toggle world optionApr 26, 2024
- Hotfix #9 and Update regarding Crafting SystemsApr 24, 2024
- Patch Notes #12: The Crafting UpdateApr 22, 2024
- Smalland: Survive the Wilds - Out Now in v1.0Feb 15, 2024
- The Smalland Post 1.0 RoadmapFeb 15, 2024
- Introducing Content Update #4: The Tyrant's PerchFeb 2, 2024significant · resets scoring window
…and 19 earlier patch announcements.