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) | – | 80 | 21 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 73 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 75% | 70 | 337 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 37% | 43 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 0.6 up / 1.1 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (34)
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.
- 80
“Panzer Paladin's uncomplicated gameplay won't be for everyone and there are some very minor niggles that hold it back from true greatness. Even so, it has heart, and that goes a long, long way. If you're into retro throwback games then you should really give this a try; Panzer Paladin is an unpretentious, exuberant action game from start to finish, and a must for genre fans.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“As it stands, Panzer Paladin is a good tribute that comes with rockin’ music and a lovely dose of 2D action. It needs a bit more work to rise above the many 2D clones, but it still warrants a playthrough or two if you’re curious about this year’s “neo-retro” offerings on PC and the Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“While I have a great deal of nostalgia for the 8-bit era since I played a ton of games back in those days, going back can be a bit rough...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, though, Panzer Paladin is a charming, satisfying platformer that I enjoyed immensely. It even manages to do the impossible: make at least one aspect of Zelda II enjoyable.”
read full review ↗ - 91
“Simply said, Panzer Paladin is just super cool.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Panzer Paladin's heavily old-school-flavored action is a blast from the past from beginning to end.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Panzer Paladin is a solid retro-inspired platformer that's all about piloting a giant mech and tearing through your foes.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Panzer Paladin is the kind of game I dreamed of as a kid. A flashy and colourful platformer with nearly a hundred weapons, over a dozen levels, cool anime art, and even the ability to draw my own weapons? It's a tall order, yet Panzer Paladin manages to deliver. Its sharp combat and even sharper visuals kept me glued to my screen for hours, but there were times where I struggled to engage with the best parts of the weapon system. Managing durability and an overflowing arsenal ended up being far more of a challenge than any of the platforming or enemies within the game.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“If Panzer Paladin was an episode of Voltron, I would re-watch it every week. Since it’s not, I’ll just settle for keeping this additive retro-inspired title on a regular gaming cycle. Panzer Paladin has won me over with its soundtrack, its sci-fi demons design, and general retro quirkiness. It’s the sort of game that makes me want to be a paladin every single time!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Retro games had some elements that are outdated by today’s standards, but offers a rigorous training those well-versed in side-scrolling platformers. An excellent game overall that has unfortunate side effects of some outdated retro mechanics, but definitely worth every dollar.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The ability to create weapons and the way you use them to fight in this retro platformer is fantastic. The aesthetic for Panzer Paladin is also awesome, but the first half of the game's level design and slow platforming leaves room for improvement.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Panzer Paladin is a faithful recreation of 2D NES platformer games that offers one of the best retro experiences in years.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Kakuchopurei
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
Forever Classic Games
GameSpot
Easy Allies
TheSixthAxis
LadiesGamers.com
Niche Gamer
TechRaptor
Geeks Under Grace…and 22 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes v.1.0.0.8169Jan 22, 2021
- Challenge Core: Content Update!Nov 23, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- First patch: Important fixes! (v1.0.0.6805)Aug 3, 2020