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) | – | 83 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 87 | 617 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 77 | 3 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 9 reviews sampled · 8 total reviews in window · weighted 4.6 up / 0.9 down · computed 11h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (10)
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.
- 60
“Although it has its issues, Jet Lancer is still a fun enough arcade shooter. The core gameplay is solid, the graphics and music are nice, and the addition of accessibility options was good to see as well. However, the severe lack of mission variety does bring down the experience, along with the lackluster story tacked on top of it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While Jet Lancer does become slightly repetitive in places, the tight controls, enjoyable action and massive, massive explosions all combine to create a shooter which is well worth a look, especially if you're a fan of this particular genre.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“With so many high-quality shooters of all types and styles it takes some effort to put something new on the table, particularly something that stands apart from the rest with its own style...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Jet Lancer is a souped up arcade shooter made for quick bursts of adrenaline-pumping aerial action. For those raised on Saturday morning cartoons and after-school arcade sessions, Jet Lancer is a childhood pipe dream come to life.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Lots of shoot-'em-ups provide the exhilaration of narrowly dodging a flurry of projectiles then tagging the enemy. Multi-wave bosses with clever, varied patterns are almost cliche at this point. But this is the first time in recent memory I've seen those elements married to elevate the experience to something that might be both my favorite indie so far this year and in a rare club of games I'll keep playing for some time to come.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Jet Lancer is a testament to the fact that sometimes a game doesn’t need to be innovative, it just needs to be fun”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Jet Lancer is a great aerial combat game, giving you a real sense of freedom as you fly through the skies battling enemies that come at your from all directions. The story is nothing to write home about, and the timed missions can be a touch annoying, but Jet Lancer is a fun shoot 'em up overall.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Oozing retro arcade cool, yet still feeling modern and unique, Armor Games Studios have absolutely delivered with Jet Lancer.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“When it comes to action-packed arcade shooting gameplay, few indies rise to the level of quality that Jet Lancer presents.”
read full review ↗ - –
“Bobbing and weaving through hails of gunfire, frantically trying to intercept bombs, taking down any enemies you can wherever you can all the while: Jet Lancer is at its best in these moments. For as tough as it can be sometimes (though thankfully it does include a nice suite of difficulty and accessibility modifiers you can activate at any time), when it all comes together, it’s sublime.”
read full review ↗
cublikefoot
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
PC Invasion
NintendoWorldReport
Checkpoint Gaming
TheSixthAxis
God is a Geek
Video Chums
EntertainiumPatch history
- Trading Cards Now Available!Sep 25, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Jet Lancer Arcade Mode is Available nowAug 21, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes 1.0.26May 15, 2020
- Jet Lancer Launch UpdateDec 10, 2019