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) | – | 56 | 33 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 30 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 69% | 66 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 78% | 72 | 10 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 29 reviews sampled · 18 total reviews in window · weighted 14.2 up / 4.1 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (63)
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.
- 40
“It's not necessarily that the developers floundered the game. It can be seen that the developers are avid fans of not only this game genre. Wherever you look, you may notice many Easter Eggs on games or movies. In particular, the very story around Daymare 1998 is a testament to the creators' dedication to completing the ideal title for fans of survival horror games from the late 1990s. Not only for this reason, the game takes a recommendation for 4 points. But I'd rather not recommend the game at all, just because the developers throw false positive reviews on metacritic. They don't necessarily have to be ashamed of, so they don't have to dig around madly right away.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Daymare 1998 is a hilarious horror game, which manages to captivate especially with its storytelling divided between the three main protagonists. The story and the horror atmosphere manage to captivate, and together with the hilarious sound effects and soundtrack make for a really good combination of fun with the need to think, even with the more challenging puzzles. It is thus a good horror game, although unfortunately it has some graphical imperfections that bring it down for today, and rather clunky inventory management.”
read full review ↗ - 30
- 75
“Our verdict on Daymare: 1998 begins with recognition of the commitment, care, and ambition that permeate every aspect of the game, from its layered narrative and oppressive atmosphere to environmental design, technical execution, and sound. Together, these elements create an intensely immersive experience rooted in the imagery of 1990s horror. What stands out most is its approach to fear, not as a sudden, shock, but as a slow, insidious process, built through uncertainty, silence, and environments that communicate more than words ever could. Players are plunged into genuine vulnerability, where dread arises from the smallest details and the constant awareness that danger could be anywhere. This mastery of atmosphere is one of the game’s greatest strenghts, proving that the most effective horror whispers, encourages inference, and compels players to both explore and anticipate what lies ahead. The experience rewards those who appreciate horror that blends tension with discovery. Its pacing alternates reflective calm, observing and interpreting the environment, with escalating moments of dread, where lighting, music, and sound merge to suggest that something is about to happen. This rhythm keeps the game dynamic, immersive, and never monotonous, striking a rare balance between narrative, atmosphere, and gameplay. Equally impressive is the obsessive care given to art direction and technical polish. The game does more than replicate an era or aesthetic, it interprets and revitalizes it. Every location feels purposeful, every object carries narrative weight, and the world as a whole is coherent, believable, and compelling, rewarding careful observation. Authenticity is another strength. Daymare: 1998 never pretends to be larger than it is, nor does it compromise its vision for mass appeal. Its craftsmanship is evident in meticulously constructed environments, puzzles seamlessly integrated into the narrative, and lighting that guides emotion as much as the player. In conclusion, Daymare: 1998 is a surprisingly immersive, compelling survival horror crafted with evident love for the genre. While not flawless, it evokes more emotion than many larger productions by focusing on essentials: atmosphere, tension, environmental storytelling, cohesive artistic design, and evocative sound. It is a must-play for those seeking authentic, meditative horror, narratively layered, technically solid, and designed to reward patience, curiosity, and careful attention.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“For all the pustulous boils and decrepit flesh, Invader Studios put out something I subconsciously feel they hoped honors a well-beloved series. Wishing can only get you so far though.”
read full review ↗ - 20
“The broad and generic story is the least offensive aspect of Daymare: 1998. The rotten gameplay and ugly presentation that support this roof of mediocrity won't shelter even the most desperate horror fan. There is nothing classic about the gameplay or story; it is every bit as derivative as most of the soulless schlock that modern studios excrete from their focus group testing. There is no attempt at having any guts at trying to make something that is a throw-back, and the best Daymare: 1998 can offer are a few Easter Eggs and obvious nods to the games that inspired it.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Daymare: 1998 is a low budget release with an ambition that outpaces its production values, but it's still a good attempt. There are stumbling blocks, hit detection, boss fights, animations, but the lighting is good, the soundtrack is great, and the exploration is satisfying.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Daymare 1998 is clearly an homage to survival horror games from the original PlayStation era. It hits some notes while missing plenty more.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“It is very clear what the game is trying to imitate and at the same time it is looking for ways to come up with an even more hardcore version of the classic recipe.”
read full review ↗ - 63
“Overall Daymare 1998 isn’t a bad zombie title, but it isn’t a great one either. Sitting somewhere in the middle, there are both classic and newer elements that blend together nicely but when added with the visual issues and the more mechanical ones like zombies not dying, there’s a bit of work to be done in order to make this the amazing title that it should be.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Daymare: 1998 is a well-honed zombie experience that lacks originality but scratches the itch of those interested in the modern zombie game.”
read full review ↗ - 30
“As it is now, whilst it’s not unplayable, it’s not far off. It’s trying too hard with its story scenario hopping all over the shop, coupled with an inventory management system that just doesn’t work in this kind of game.”
read full review ↗
INDIANTVCZ
Gaming Professors
FourFaceButtons
Indie Games Devel
VGChartz
Cubed3
Push Square
ZTGD
Enternity.gr
Chalgyr's Game Room
Worth Playing
FingerGuns…and 51 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle - Steam Demo patchMay 17, 2023
- New game mode in latest update!Jun 19, 2020
- H.A.D.E.S Dead End is here in a Free content update!Nov 22, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 2.0 is out!Oct 24, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Trading cards, badges and more!Oct 11, 2019
- The first patch for Daymare: 1998 is here!Sep 26, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Daymare: 1998 - Join us at 8.00 pm!Jun 28, 2019