Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 404 sampled Steam reviews (373 positive / 31 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Combat24% mention it
- Story & writing14% mention it
- Difficulty & balance6% mention it
- Visuals & art5% mention it
- World & exploration5% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Combat16% mention it
- Story & writing16% mention it
- Controls & UI16% mention it
- Difficulty & balance10% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
72%
18 reviews
5-15h
73%
41 reviews
15-40h
90%
124 reviews
40-100h
98%
171 reviews
100h+
100%
50 reviews
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) | – | 90 | 45 |
| Creator reviews (3 tracked) | – | 91 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 90 | 1550 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 90 | 169 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 87 | 559 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 1597 total reviews in window · weighted 225 up / 19 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (203)
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
“The announcement that From Software does not intend to continue the Dark Souls series has sparked a great wave of questions as how much they want to divert from own blueprint. We do know the answer now: a lot. But this is only a good thing, because Sekiro is a really fresh experience that brings a lot of innovation. In addition, Activision, as a publisher, has provided greater accessibility to newcomers. But despite these changes, the From Software manuscript cannot be overlooked at every turn.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is another great game from FromSoftware that changes the usual formula and creates something new and great on a familiar foundation.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Sekiro has its problems and definitely lacks the dark mood of Dark Souls, but FromSoftware delivers another interesting game with an excellent combat mechanics.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Its boss fights highlight the contrived lengths that FromSoftware has gone to in order to satisfy players’ thirst for difficulty.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice brought a fresh wind to the Dark Souls games, not only with its distinctive gameplay style, but especially with its setting in Japan. It manages to get you out of your chair more than once and literally put you in a "mood" where you want to punch someone hard to relieve your frustration. The title also has hilarious graphics, sound and story and is a definite "must" for all lovers of Dark Souls games and Japan.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sekiro is a fascinating, engaging and downright outstanding game which puts too many people off too early to warrant a must-play tag.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Sekiro redevelops genre on the well known basis, creating something similar but entirely different. This time, it calls for courage instead of fear. It calls for reconfiguring the muscle memory of the "soulsborne" veterans, and some really good and quality gaming time! A great starting point for newcomers, but a new beginning for old players as well, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game you should not miss - if you want quality yet fear no challenge.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sekiro obviously piggybacks on the Souls series, but doesn't stop there. It was a risky move, but From Software proved once again that there's no match for them. The exposition of the game world and its rules are surprisingly easy, but the game quickly kicks you in the teeth with the perfect combat system. An instant classic - once again.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Overall, Sekiro is defined by its riveting, challenging, and ultimately highly rewarding gameplay. Stemming from simplicity but giving a wide variety of different combat options, few games come close to matching the exhilarating rush that Sekiro’s best moments provide. Exploring its atmospherically engrossing levels is a treat, from a visual, musical, and atmospheric standpoint. Even if exploration and character storylines are sometimes hampered by Dragonrot, repeatedly severing the immortality of bosses with brutal “Shinobi Executions” and discovering the ritual secrets of eternal life offers a captivating experience that stands out as one of FromSoftware’s best and most distinctive titles.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“From Software has done a great job with this new entry that takes from what they've learned in the past while developing new approaches. Aside from a couple of missteps, Sekiro is creative, action packed, and a damn good ride.”
read full review ↗ - 93
“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the ultimate challenge from From Software. Ashina is a treat for explorers and players who are seeking memorable fights, and enemies more merciless than ever. And after you complete the decisive test of patience and tenacity, you can add it to your gaming curriculum as one of the most satisfying moments of your adventures. Sekiro is a must-buy and one of the best games of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a fantastic new IP from the team at FromSoftware. It’s an incredibly challenging experience set in a beautiful yet twisted rendition of Sengoku Japan. It’s certainly not a game for everyone though. The learning curve can be steep at times and learning the best approach for a boss can be a long stint of trial and error. But those that are up for the challenge and stick with it are in for a real treat.”
read full review ↗
INDIANTVCZ
GameMAG
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Gaming Professors
Jump Dash Roll
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer
FourFaceButtons
Fun Factor
ani-game.com…and 191 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.