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) | – | 79 | 27 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 80 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 6 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 17 reviews sampled · 14 total reviews in window · weighted 9.1 up / 1 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (47)
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.
- 100
“The exploration and xenobiology mechanics, while rather simplistic, complement the game’s story and general atmosphere well, making for a pretty relaxing experience. It’s not the type of game I could see recommending to everyone, but for those that are into more experimental indies, it’s definitely worth a look.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The game offers a refreshing focus on its sense of place rather than ease of play.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“In Other Waters plays like a visual novel with more depth and better graphics, which makes it a perfect game for players to relax in provided they don't mind coming up with how the game's creatures look by themselves.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A very pleasant surprise indeed, In Other Waters is a bit of a minimalist masterpiece that you'll often want to dip into for a more contemplative experience than the majority of the Switch's library. It has found a perfect home on the handheld, the form factor of which massively works in the favour of the game's mood and atmosphere to create an exceptional and unique experience. What you're getting here is a story that you're an integral part of, and it's one of the coolest, cleverest games we've played in a long time. An absolutely first-class effort.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“As much as I’m willing to sacrifice depth in gameplay for a satisfying story, I should never feel frustrated as much as I did while playing this.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“One casualty of doing video capture for every game I play is that titles that are much better suited to touchscreen play take a beating in terms of my opinion early on...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Looks can be deceiving, and while In Other Waters does look too simple for its own good, it's a title overflowing with depth. Between a well written script, intensely atmospheric sound design that begs for headphone use, and methodically slow pacing, it's hard not to think of Ellery Vas' expedition through the depths of Gliese 677Cc long after all is said and done. Moody and sombre, In Other Waters is a must read… and must play.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“In Other Waters is beautiful, but somewhat clunky and boring.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Other than that, I came away from In Other Waters so pleased with the experience. While the action of playing the game is threadbare, the tone being set between the repetitive motions of exploration, your doctoral companion's calm demeanor, a serene and mysterious accompaniment, and the satisfaction of each new discovery makes for a divine experience. If you're looking for an interactive balm for your spare time or something to sate a sense of discovery without needing action-packed stimulation, sink into these waters and let them wash over you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I absolutely loved my time with In Other Waters. I’m itching to dive back in and fully complete Ellery’s taxonomy logs, and I can’t wait to grab the companion book for more worldbuilding and lore. Despite a few mechanical flaws, I highly recommend In Other Waters for anyone looking to immerse themselves in an alien world for a few hours.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The narrative is by far the most engaging and wonderful I’ve had the pleasure to experience this year so far.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Hypnotic art, otherworldly audio and captivating writing meet in an undersea exploration game that wants you to take your time.”
read full review ↗
cublikefoot
Slant Magazine
Jump Dash Roll
Nintendo Life
Gamer Escape
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
PC Invasion
NintendoWorldReport
Checkpoint Gaming
FingerGuns
Eurogamer…and 35 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Language Update: Japanese & Simplified ChineseNov 25, 2020
- Version 1.0.4 Patch NotesApr 21, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Version 1.0.3 Patch NotesApr 8, 2020significant · resets scoring window