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) | – | 65 | 10 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 84% | 78 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 66% | 64 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 1.6 up / 0.8 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (22)
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.
- 75
“Dead or School provides a surprisingly long side-scrolling action campaign that's sure to please fans of Castlevania-style games, especially those who've grown tired of countless retro-graphic homages. The action is tight, the story is fun, and the rewards are big.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“For some, the technical jank may be enough to put them off engaging with Dead or School fully. That'd be a real shame, though; allow yourself to get wrapped up in the narrative, the mechanics, the piles of loot, the beautifully designed stages and the game's wonderful sense of style, and there's something truly special to enjoy here; an honest-to-goodness hidden gem if ever there was one.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“On several levels this game seems to be incredibly set for success...”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Fortunately, many enemies respawn and save points refill your health and ammo, in addition to functioning as waypoints. Fanservice images pop up from time to time, but they aren't overly egregious and shouldn't dissuade you from a purchase. If you can look past its numerous imperfections, Dead or School is a satisfying and compelling albeit janky action-platformer that may be worth getting a hall pass for.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“While light on the platforming, Dead Or School is an indie gem that leans on hack n slash combat and loot to pull you in and keep you.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Dead or School on the Nintendo Switch is more ambitious than it suggests. This RPG with hack and slash elements has a very interesting story line and a combat that is fun and engaging. It does less well when it comes to its technical performance, which is where its limitations stand out the most, but this a work that is certain to appeal to RPG fans.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Does this paradoxical, naive-yet-suggestive Metroidvania stick the landing as a potential best indie of early 2020?”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Dead or School is a pretty good game with a strange and artisanal design, but quite deducive after all.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Dead or School is a surprisingly fun, polished hack-and-slash side-scroller with ridiculous fanservice that might turn some people off and a spotty script that struggles to make up for the repetitiveness of the combat.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“If you can make it past some of the surface issues with the visuals and the combat being repetitive, there is a pretty interesting story to be told here.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Dead or School is a fun romp for those seeking tight game play. However, don’t expect to be immersed. It’s marred by horrible localization, preventing any investment. The mystery that appears is decent though. Worth keeping in mind that Dead or School will start slow. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do enough for me to comfortably recommend purchasing it at full price”
read full review ↗ - 55
“I think the main question here is: who is Dead or School for? It’s definitely not suited for fans of story-driven experiences because its writing is so bad it almost looks intentional. It’s definitely not suited for otakus because there are way better options on the Switch eShop as of now. It’s not suited for metroidvania enthusiasts because, frankly, the console already has options like Ori and the Blind Forest and Hollow Knight.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
CFG Games
FNintendo
SwitchRPG
Gameblog
GBAtemp
Gaming Fyx
NookGaming
WayTooManyGames…and 10 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- ver 7.02 releasedJun 15, 2019
- ver7.01 releasedJun 5, 2019
- ver 7.00 releaseJun 2, 2019
- ver6.08 releasedApr 19, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- ver 6.07 releaseApr 12, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- ver 6.06 releasedApr 9, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- ver 6.05 releaseApr 6, 2019
- ver 6.04 releasedApr 5, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- ver 5.03 releasedFeb 20, 2019
- ver 5.02 releasedFeb 5, 2019
- ver 5.01 releasedJan 30, 2019
- ver 5.00 released!!Jan 29, 2019
- ver 4.06 releaseDec 5, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- ver 4.05 releasedDec 3, 2018
- ver 4.04 releasedDec 1, 2018
- ver 4.03 releasedDec 1, 2018
- ver 4.02 releaseDec 1, 2018
- ver 4.01 releasedNov 29, 2018
- ver 4.00 released!!Nov 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- ver 3.02 releasedOct 18, 2018
- ver 3.01 releasedOct 15, 2018
- ver 3.00 releasedOct 14, 2018
- ver 2.03 releasedSep 8, 2018
- ver 2.02 releasedSep 7, 2018
- ver 2.01 releasedSep 5, 2018
- ver 2.00 released!!!Sep 3, 2018
- ver 1.26 releasedAug 12, 2018
- ver 1.24 releasedAug 12, 2018
- ver 1.23 releasedJul 21, 2018
- ver 1.22 releasedJul 21, 2018
- ver 1.21 releasedJul 20, 2018
- ver 1.20 releasedJul 19, 2018
- ver 1.19 releasedJul 18, 2018
- ver 1.18 releasedJul 18, 2018
- ver 2.00 update informationJul 16, 2018
- ver 1.17 releasedJul 15, 2018
- ver 1.16 releasedJul 15, 2018
- ver 1.15 releasedJul 15, 2018
- ver 1.14 releasedJul 14, 2018
…and 3 earlier patch announcements.