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) | – | 81 | 11 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 90 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 71 | 6 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 91 | 8 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 22 reviews sampled · 18 total reviews in window · weighted 9.1 up / 0.4 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (55)
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.
- 88
“Once you play either [Nidhogg or Samurai Gunn] for two minutes, you're going to want as wide a library as possible of games in a similar style, and you can believe that's the sincerest compliment my brain contains.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“It was a long time coming, but NIDHOGG doesn't fail to impress, even after four years of waiting.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Nidhogg is a strange, unholy pastiche of lo-fi aesthetics and surprisingly deep, albeit minimal play; taking cues from decades of arcade-style 1v1 fighting games and modern indie darlings.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The new levels feel rich and generous, and will absolutely reinvigorate the game for anyone who played it to death at indie gaming events.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you have friends nearby, this is some of the most fun you can have stabbing them through the heart.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“You might want to stay away if you plan to play alone, but with its extremely responsive controls, lightning-fast pace, and easy-to-learn combat, Nidhogg is one of the most enjoyable and competitive local multiplayer games on the market.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A superb multiplayer game with some of the best virtual sword-fighting ever seen, giving you the best reason to crowd round a PC since a kitten did something cute on YouTube.”
read full review ↗ - 93
“A brilliant marriage of mechanics, level design and music that will be played and talked about for years to come.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“Nidhogg is a very good game because it takes you back to the 1980s. With the basic control system, you can easily get used to teh playstyle. Daedelus has created the perfect musical score for the game. So, take your friend and play Nidhogg for hours or enjoy it by yourself.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“On top of this the local multiplayer is cracking but the online component doesn't come across nearly as well. Poor net code means bouts can often suffer fits of lag that can massively affect the outcome of a game, and a lack of options means this is pretty barebones. Still, despite the small niggles this is one game that is more than worth your time.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The art of swordplay meets the art of dynamic gameplay. An offer for two that shines mostly through local multiplayer. [Issue #239]”
- 70
“Nidhogg 2 most certainly builds upon the charm that was found in its prequel, however, due to the game's simplicity and unending repetition this charm gets lost in as little as a half-hour.”
read full review ↗
Paste Magazine
VGChartz
The Escapist
Eurogamer
GameSpot
GameGrin
Metro GameCentral
PC Gamer
Game Debate
NoobFeed…and 43 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Localization Update Beta testingApr 10, 2025
- windows patchJul 20, 2021
- Menu Screen Crash Hotfix 9/18/17Sep 19, 2017
- Menu Screen Crash Hotfix 9/18/17Sep 19, 2017
- Netplay + Matchmaking updateMay 22, 2017
- Netplay + Matchmaking updateMay 22, 2017
- Patch Notes 852225Nov 10, 2015
- UpdateNov 5, 2015
- UpdateNov 5, 2015
- Multiplayer Update Now LiveJul 28, 2015
- Multiplayer Update Now LiveJul 28, 2015