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) | – | 76 | 46 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 73 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 65% | 64 | 157 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 1.3 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (101)
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.
- 75
“Starlink certainly holds up in terms of gameplay and adventure. Another strong suit is the fact you don't actually have to buy any of the actual accessories since they can all be bought through the shop including the game itself, kind of like DLC. Whether or not you are a Star Fox fan, you should definitely give this game a go.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A fun game which looks and plays really well, but suffers from a repetitive structure and a mediocre story.”
read full review ↗ - 30
“Before you know it, Starlink turns playing with toys into something that feels an awful lot like work.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“With its exclusive use of some substantial Star Fox content, you're getting the best version of Starlink: Battle for Atlas on Nintendo Switch. And with a more accessible and ultimately enjoyable version of No Man's Sky's gameplay mechanics and Mass Effect's original vision, you're getting one of the best dogfighting/space exploration games you can buy outside of Elite: Dangerous. Its gameplay loop does run out of steam after a while thanks to the required grind, but with a surprisingly ungreedy approach to content access and toys-to-life integration, Starlink really could be the spark that reignites the genre's renaissance.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game’s story is lacking in places, is repetitive and lacks more variations of enemies so bear this in mind but remember it’s still fun. Starfox does seem like an afterthought and I would have loved to have seen this game as a pure Starfox game but Ubisoft and Nintendo clearly opted for something else. The planets are gorgeous and well-designed but sometimes do feel barren and unloved by wildlife. There is plenty to do, as the game should give you around 20 to 25hrs worth of playtime. Everything is voiced acted so there is no need to read anything, and there is so much depth to this game just like many other Ubisoft games, so there is plenty to dig into.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Starlink: Battle for Atlas provides a fun space adventure bolstered by awesome toys-to-life, though it notably suffers in some departments.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a surprise hit for Nintendo Switch. Furthermore, embedding Star Fox in was a masterstroke. From a surprisingly good score and audio cues from characters, to stunning vistas and scenery, there are many positives to be had. There will be many who appreciate the large number of tasks to do, but others will be deterred by the repetitiveness of them, although these are largely optional. The main issue is essentially asking what point of sale is the best value for money as no option is cheap. In fact, to enjoy all of Starlink's content can be a costly affair but even jumping in with the Standard edition or Starter pack is still £20 more than other AAA titles. Unfortunately, these barriers to entry can ruin the enjoyment for those who opt for lesser packages.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Starlink: Battle for Atlas can't decide whether to take its toys-to-life concept seriously, or drop it completely. It has a good, if somewhat repetitive, open world experience to offer, but it's held back by mistakes that aren't entirely its own fault.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Starlink: Battle for Atlas can become a good starting point for a new franchise with a toys-to-life concept done the right way. Sadly, its repetitive nature lacks the ingredients to keep you hooked.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Starlink comes in as a solid experience, adding new incentive to collect toys and reach for the stars.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Some of the best content is in fact free, meaning that even if you're done spending money on Starlink, it is worth taking the time to revisit it for this update. If you're hankering for more Star Fox adventures (no pun intended), then take that extra step and call in the team. Ultimately, it serves as an unexpected but welcome send off to a game that sadly ended too soon. For the faithful, attach that giant plastic Arwing to your Joy-Con one last time, and head back into Atlas.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Starlink is a game I expected to groan and roll my eyes at. Instead I found myself enjoying it on multiple levels. The StarFox content makes it a must-own on Switch though. It feels like a chapter in his journey. Nintendo has done well to partner with Ubisoft on their projects, and it is paying off. While the toys are unnecessary this game is heaps better than it has any right to be.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Nintendo Life
Invision Community
Nexus Hub
Cubed3
Push Square
LevelUp
Capsule Computers
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD…and 89 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Denuvo compatibility patchNov 25, 2021