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) | – | 71 | 84 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 82% | 76 | 651 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 68 | 45 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 83% | 77 | 931 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 13, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 931 total reviews in window · weighted 200.2 up / 52.1 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (66)
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.
- 70
“Harold Halibut is a curious fish, using its retro-futuristic, painstakingly handcrafted world and cast of weird but relatable characters to tell a heartfelt but ambling, puzzle-free story that’s (in the best way) more soap opera than space opera.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Harold Halibut could steal our hearts, but instead she shamelessly steals precious free time.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A wonderful claymation adventure with an exciting plot that's not supposed to be played if you are in a hurry. It's slow and a bit lengthy, but every minute spent in it is worth it in the end.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Ultimately, Harold Halibut’s abundance of charm doesn’t translate to the game being charming, and in the end, while there’s plenty to see here, there’s just nothing to do.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Harold Halibut is an artistic achievement that I've not quite experienced in gaming before. Every game is handcrafted in some way, but Harold Halibut takes that concept and cranks it up to 11. And while its world and story are made up of inorganic materials, Harold Halibut's clay, wood, and paint communicated humanity even more than some games that aim to directly replicate it through photorealism or otherwise. With its occasional dryness and true depictions of life's ordinariness, it steps a little too far in that direction at times. But, if anything, the fact that it isn't perfect makes it even more human.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“In the end, the spectacular presentation, fantastical world, and charming characters were enough to carry me through the game’s overly long and slow start, as well as look past the very limited aspects of its gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Harold Halibut feels like a warm batch of cookies that grandma made on a nice, Sunday afternoon. There's a labor of love that radiates within that made my 10+ hour playthrough more enjoyable than it should've been. Adventure games have fallen out of popularity, but the highs of Halibut are so high at times, that it's almost forgiven how dull the game can feel in most moments.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Harold Halibut deliberately breaks away from the norms of contemporary gaming, positioning itself as an interactive work of art rather than a conventional adventure. It is a game that demands time, patience, and a contemplative mindset, inviting players into a profound journey through the human soul. Rather than celebrating speed or action, it emphasizes quiet reflection and the delicate art of listening, both to others and to oneself. In return, it offers a deeply human experience, imbued with poignant social insights. Engaging with Harold Halibut leaves one feeling quietly transformed, as if becoming a better version of oneself. What truly sets Harold Halibut apart is its obsessive attention to detail and the unwavering artistic integrity of its world. The stop-motion technique is not merely a visual delight but serves essential narrative purposes: every element tells a story. The environment breathes with life independent of the player’s choices, rich with narratives found in every worn object, every piece of furniture, the soft glow of lights, whispered conversations, and the intricate connections among characters. The handcrafted nature of the world adds a final, almost magical touch, the cherry atop a cake savored with both love and reverence. Narratively deliberate yet never dull, the game delves into themes such as identity, alienation, belonging, nostalgia for home, and the uncertainty of the future. Harold himself is a character you come to cherish, awkward, introspective, kind-hearted, embodying that part of all of us who sometimes feels like a fish out of water. Harold is the voice of the unheard, the overwhelmed, the invisible, powerless souls swept up by daily life. Yet, above all, Harold reminds us that we are the protagonists of our own stories, even as we commit ourselves to the community. Harold is the beauty and joy found in the small, fleeting moments that punctuate the flow of life, the courage to seize them. I approached the game with patience and some hesitation, but it took only a few hours to be utterly captivated. An experience of pure, heartfelt emotion.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Harold Halibut is a heartfelt and handcrafted tale of human existence, delivering charming, profound, and deeply funny writing guaranteed to put a smile on your face. What Slow Bros has managed to achieve with its visual style is masterful and, for our money, it's now one of the best looking games on Xbox. The gameplay can feel repetitive at times, and the writing can drag in places, but ultimately we had a great experience seeing it through to the end. If you've got a Game Pass subscription, it's worth checking the game out for its aesthetic alone. Harold Halibut won't be for everybody, but for those that resonate with its story, it's sure to stick with you for a long time.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Harold Halibut is not a game for everyone. The pace is slow, especially at the beginning, and the many trips back and forth between stations often seem very long. On the other hand, if you're a fan of narrative adventures like me, and enjoy discovering highly-developed characters, this is a very nice surprise. Slow Bros. succeeded in transporting me into its unique-looking universe and absorbing me completely.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“We really wanted to love Harold Halibut, and there are some redeeming qualities. Its wonderful aesthetic is unique and detailed, it has a great sci-fi hook, and there are some good moments throughout the story. Unfortunately, these aspects depreciate due to a prolonged runtime, most of which is filled with slow, repetitive treks from one scene to the next. The narrative is left to hold everything together, but it sadly doesn't quite stick the landing thanks to pacing issues and some iffy writing. This is one fish you might want to let get away.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“After a very slow-paced start to Harold Halibut, I am so glad that I kept on playing and got to see all that this wonderfully crafted game has to offer. Apart from a few pacing issues early on and a few repetitive quests from time to time, I did enjoy my time playing Harold Halibut. The voice actors are all incredible and bring a lot to Harold Halibut. Once the story gets going, you won’t want to stop playing until you see the credits rolling at the end.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Patch #2 (1.1.1) - The Italian Language UpdateOct 15, 2024
- Patch #2 (v1.0.6)May 22, 2024
- Patch #1 (1.0.5)May 13, 2024significant · resets scoring window