steam-lens

← all reports

Papers, Please

analyzed 2026-10-04 · sample of 530 English reviews across the whole review history

Across 530 sampled reviews, the aspects players raise most are gameplay, story, and player choice. Story draws 53 positive mentions against 2 negative, and player choice 43 positive against 1 negative; one reviewer writes "The story is, in my opinion, a 10/10", another that "the decisions you make are vital". Addictiveness appears in 35 reviews, all positive, with players describing "the simple, and yet addicting game" and being "completely engrossed for a couple of days". Atmosphere, art style, music, world, realism, writing, and content amount are each mentioned positively without a single negative. Opinion splits on difficulty and relaxation. Difficulty's 33 mentions divide into 15 positive and 8 negative, with "Intense, but not horribly so." on one side and "it's challenging but still allows you to rest" on the other. Relaxation is the clearest fault line: 9 negative against 6 positive, including "stamping papers had never been so stressful". Pacing and game length also draw criticism, while price value, replayability, characters, and emotional impact lean strongly positive. Recurring points beyond the calibrated vocabulary include the gradual learning curve, the sense of an authentic dystopian setting, and the pull of multiple endings.

numbers checked against this report's stored data · quotes copied verbatim from reviews · plain text is the language model's own wording

Aspects

share of sample, axis to 20% · ± is the sampling uncertainty around each share

  • positive
  • mixed / neutral
  • negative
  • gameplay

    59 positive · 9 negative · 9 mixed · 5 neutral

    • What seems like a basic game turns out to have much more depth.
      positive · May 31, 2014 · review 10303306
    • What more to say tho than its fun to deny folks entry to a country!
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10978447
    • It's entertaining to investigate passports and other documents and try to find frauds and then decide if the person can enter Arstozka or not.
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10984972
  • story

    53 positive · 2 negative · 3 mixed · 0 neutral

    • The story is, in my opinion, a 10/10, the gaming experience is again a 10/10.
      positive · Mar 31, 2022 · review 113127021
    • It has a great plot, the gameplay is simple yet sometimes rageworthy, the decisions you make are vital and it is all round a masterpiece.
      positive · Jul 31, 2014 · review 11495976
    • It is such a fun and simple story line.
      positive · Jul 31, 2022 · review 119850760
  • player choice

    43 positive · 1 negative · 1 mixed · 0 neutral

    • There are several outcomes to the game that create frustration in us if we fall into the other side of our vest or even the law.
      positive · Mar 31, 2022 · review 113127021
    • It has a great plot, the gameplay is simple yet sometimes rageworthy, the decisions you make are vital and it is all round a masterpiece.
      positive · Jul 31, 2014 · review 11495976
    • A very unique and well thought out game that really makes you think about the moral consequences of simply doing the job assigned to you.
      positive · Jun 30, 2022 · review 117954487
  • addictiveness

    35 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • A game that is unbelievably addictive and fun.
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10977260
    • Clever, simple, terribly difficult, addicting.
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10978009
    • Oddly addictive, well worth the time spent
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10979123
  • difficulty

    15 positive · 8 negative · 4 mixed · 6 neutral

    • Clever, simple, terribly difficult, addicting.
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10978009
    • Intense, but not horribly so.
      positive · Feb 28, 2022 · review 111259513
    • Definitely something to use to destress and relax because it's challenging but still allows you to rest and just focus on the game.
      positive · Jul 31, 2022 · review 119850760
  • price value

    26 positive · 1 negative · 3 mixed · 1 neutral

    • Oddly addictive, well worth the time spent
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10979123
    • It's definitely worth the 4.49€ i have paid for it.
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10986137
    • An interesting and unique experience for a fair price, I'd recommend Papers, Please to anybody interested in trying something new.
      positive · Nov 30, 2014 · review 13172898
  • replayability

    30 positive · 1 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • A classic game over the years, even if I've re-watched YouTubers play it still feels like it's the first I've seen it.
      positive · Dec 31, 2022 · review 129805794
    • [i] Papers Please has undeniable replay value with hours of content for those who are willing to endure the work load of document checking.
      positive · Jan 31, 2023 · review 131971553
    • Intriguing narratives sprinkled with colorful characters, increasing demands, and great replayability.
      positive · Feb 28, 2023 · review 133827858
  • atmosphere

    21 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • On the one hand, it creates the old atmosphere, as it is very difficult to find a game with this kind of graphics these days.
      positive · Mar 31, 2022 · review 113127021
    • The "8-bit" style graphics and minimalist audio allow the gameplay to shine, yet still manages to set the mood.
      positive · Aug 31, 2014 · review 11939091
    • Great atmosphere, great story, lots of choices, lots of things happening to keep it interesting, plenty of replayability, .
      positive · Dec 31, 2014 · review 13740030
  • art style

    18 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • The "8-bit" style graphics and minimalist audio allow the gameplay to shine, yet still manages to set the mood.
      positive · Aug 31, 2014 · review 11939091
    • Game is very cool and i like the art style it has an amazing story
      positive · Jan 31, 2024 · review 157286120
    • Dont let the simple graphic fool you.
      positive · May 31, 2015 · review 16101846
  • characters

    16 positive · 1 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • The crossing, bosses or even colleagues character everyone has a personality, one of my favorite characters from the game is old Jorji.
      positive · Mar 31, 2022 · review 113127021
    • Jorji made this game.
      positive · Jul 31, 2014 · review 11498626
    • Nice game Jorji my favourite character
      positive · Aug 31, 2022 · review 121531363
see more
  • relaxation

    6 positive · 9 negative · 1 mixed · 0 neutral

    • stamping papers had never been so stressful.
      negative · Dec 31, 2023 · review 154924244
    • , made Papers, Please more stressful than fun to play.
      negative · Apr 30, 2015 · review 15625928
    • It really highlights the political issues that comes with the job of an immigration checkpoint, and how stressful it can be.
      negative · Mar 31, 2026 · review 222205627
  • emotional impact

    13 positive · 0 negative · 1 mixed · 0 neutral

    • Papers, please is really exiting, distressing and addictive.
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10984972
    • I wish I could forget this game, so that I could play it again for the first time
      positive · Apr 30, 2022 · review 114735844
    • It's a game that gets under your skin, in a good way.
      positive · Aug 31, 2014 · review 11936381
  • graphics

    6 positive · 3 negative · 0 mixed · 2 neutral

    • The graphics in the game are simple and clean to true to your creation. On the one hand, it creates the old atmosphere, as it is very difficult to find a game with this kind of graphics these days.
      positive · Mar 31, 2022 · review 113127021
    • I would say this is a great game, the visuals are good, the gameplay is addictive, and the music is good as well.
      positive · Jul 31, 2022 · review 119847777
    • Great pixel graphics and amazing storyline.
      positive · Mar 31, 2023 · review 135835942
  • music

    11 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • its ♥♥♥♥♥♥ awesome and the soundtrack is also ♥♥♥♥♥♥ awesome
      positive · Jun 30, 2022 · review 117952668
    • I would say this is a great game, the visuals are good, the gameplay is addictive, and the music is good as well.
      positive · Jul 31, 2022 · review 119847777
    • The art, the music, the humor, all of it fits perfectly.
      positive · Dec 31, 2015 · review 20163823
  • world

    11 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • It's got all the 80s Russian-esque border security you'll ever need.
      positive · Sep 30, 2014 · review 12305901
    • Although this is not a game I finished one sitting because of how tedious and repetitive it can be if you play it for long periods of time I was intrigued by the memorable characters and the world around me that the game took place in.
      positive · Jan 31, 2023 · review 131971553
    • The world-building is great, it's fun trying to remember to get everything right, and it has some challenge that isn't too easy and isn't too hard.
      positive · Mar 31, 2023 · review 135833680
  • learning curve

    6 positive · 2 negative · 0 mixed · 1 neutral

    • A few hours in your are scanning 5-6 different bits of paperwork but the ramp is so gradual you dont even see the difficulty increase.
      positive · Jun 30, 2015 · review 16814408
    • This game is ridiculously easy to get into, but it gets some nice difficulty as you progress.
      positive · Jul 31, 2016 · review 24639976
    • Pros: Intriguing gameplay with many levels of complexity and a smooth learning curve.
      positive · Aug 31, 2017 · review 34639366
  • pacing

    3 positive · 5 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • boring after like 2 hours
      negative · May 31, 2022 · review 116310127
    • - Repetitive at times
      negative · Jan 31, 2023 · review 131971553
    • This is good, but I have to be in the right state of mind to enjoy the game, otherwise it becomes tedious.
      negative · Dec 31, 2014 · review 13745221
  • realism

    7 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • Not so much of a game as it is a distopia simulator but still something great to play.
      positive · Jun 30, 2014 · review 10979271
    • Very amazing authentic feel of poverty
      positive · Jul 31, 2023 · review 143164427
    • Great and unique game showing the realistic world of the worker on the borders in the 80ths , I totaly recomend this game to everyone who has not tried it ,!
      positive · Dec 31, 2015 · review 20162202
  • content amount

    6 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • [i] Papers Please has undeniable replay value with hours of content for those who are willing to endure the work load of document checking.
      positive · Jan 31, 2023 · review 131971553
    • I really liked this game, it's really interesting and has a lot o replay ability, and even when you've finished the game with every possible ending, you can always play free mode.
      positive · Jun 30, 2015 · review 16815457
    • So are also all the different medals you can get by intercacting with all the different characters!
      positive · Mar 31, 2026 · review 222206967
  • game length

    1 positive · 3 negative · 0 mixed · 2 neutral

    • Papers Please isn't the longest or largest game, a single play through wont last more than a couple hours, but it is an entertaining game none the less.
      negative · Jun 30, 2016 · review 23968197
    • A neat little concept that gets a little long in the end, a shorter campaign would be nicer, although you can start a "new" one on anyday you choose, but in one run you have seen most of the important things, …
      negative · Jul 31, 2019 · review 54395174
    • Not really much more to add, the game is not very long, but it is very unique.
      negative · Dec 31, 2020 · review 83676083
  • writing

    6 positive · 0 negative · 0 mixed · 0 neutral

    • The plot elicited thought-provoking content, which are often so my type of games.
      positive · Mar 31, 2023 · review 135835942
    • The art, the music, the humor, all of it fits perfectly.
      positive · Dec 31, 2015 · review 20163823
    • If your ever bored or want some calm gaming entertainment this is for you with a nice bit of comedy.
      positive · Jan 31, 2017 · review 29606903

Review timeline

monthly peak 1,790 reviews · all languages

review volume 500 1,000 1,500 0 positive review share 100% 50% 0% 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Aug 2013 · 426 reviews (425 up · 1 down) · 100% positive Sep 2013 · 163 reviews (163 up · 0 down) · 100% positive Oct 2013 · 204 reviews (204 up · 0 down) · 100% positive Nov 2013 · 387 reviews (382 up · 5 down) · 99% positive Dec 2013 · 1,146 reviews (1,124 up · 22 down) · 98% positive Jan 2014 · 514 reviews (500 up · 14 down) · 97% positive Feb 2014 · 377 reviews (369 up · 8 down) · 98% positive Mar 2014 · 420 reviews (406 up · 14 down) · 97% positive Apr 2014 · 183 reviews (177 up · 6 down) · 97% positive May 2014 · 147 reviews (143 up · 4 down) · 97% positive Jun 2014 · 1,367 reviews (1,324 up · 43 down) · 97% positive Jul 2014 · 414 reviews (398 up · 16 down) · 96% positive Aug 2014 · 574 reviews (561 up · 13 down) · 98% positive Sep 2014 · 206 reviews (194 up · 12 down) · 94% positive Oct 2014 · 150 reviews (139 up · 11 down) · 93% positive Nov 2014 · 182 reviews (177 up · 5 down) · 97% positive Dec 2014 · 670 reviews (640 up · 30 down) · 96% positive Jan 2015 · 302 reviews (284 up · 18 down) · 94% positive Feb 2015 · 147 reviews (137 up · 10 down) · 93% positive Mar 2015 · 127 reviews (122 up · 5 down) · 96% positive Apr 2015 · 132 reviews (128 up · 4 down) · 97% positive May 2015 · 134 reviews (129 up · 5 down) · 96% positive Jun 2015 · 390 reviews (375 up · 15 down) · 96% positive Jul 2015 · 145 reviews (135 up · 10 down) · 93% positive Aug 2015 · 139 reviews (132 up · 7 down) · 95% positive Sep 2015 · 118 reviews (112 up · 6 down) · 95% positive Oct 2015 · 119 reviews (116 up · 3 down) · 97% positive Nov 2015 · 158 reviews (149 up · 9 down) · 94% positive Dec 2015 · 381 reviews (364 up · 17 down) · 96% positive Jan 2016 · 745 reviews (708 up · 37 down) · 95% positive Feb 2016 · 329 reviews (314 up · 15 down) · 95% positive Mar 2016 · 179 reviews (173 up · 6 down) · 97% positive Apr 2016 · 147 reviews (139 up · 8 down) · 95% positive May 2016 · 158 reviews (154 up · 4 down) · 97% positive Jun 2016 · 250 reviews (235 up · 15 down) · 94% positive Jul 2016 · 295 reviews (275 up · 20 down) · 93% positive Aug 2016 · 234 reviews (223 up · 11 down) · 95% positive Sep 2016 · 234 reviews (224 up · 10 down) · 96% positive Oct 2016 · 166 reviews (160 up · 6 down) · 96% positive Nov 2016 · 808 reviews (800 up · 8 down) · 99% positive Dec 2016 · 471 reviews (442 up · 29 down) · 94% positive Jan 2017 · 365 reviews (342 up · 23 down) · 94% positive Feb 2017 · 337 reviews (321 up · 16 down) · 95% positive Mar 2017 · 202 reviews (191 up · 11 down) · 95% positive Apr 2017 · 171 reviews (160 up · 11 down) · 94% positive May 2017 · 177 reviews (163 up · 14 down) · 92% positive Jun 2017 · 342 reviews (327 up · 15 down) · 96% positive Jul 2017 · 367 reviews (347 up · 20 down) · 95% positive Aug 2017 · 209 reviews (199 up · 10 down) · 95% positive Sep 2017 · 162 reviews (153 up · 9 down) · 94% positive Oct 2017 · 148 reviews (141 up · 7 down) · 95% positive Nov 2017 · 639 reviews (629 up · 10 down) · 98% positive Dec 2017 · 249 reviews (238 up · 11 down) · 96% positive Jan 2018 · 803 reviews (755 up · 48 down) · 94% positive Feb 2018 · 414 reviews (396 up · 18 down) · 96% positive Mar 2018 · 383 reviews (361 up · 22 down) · 94% positive Apr 2018 · 199 reviews (193 up · 6 down) · 97% positive May 2018 · 200 reviews (191 up · 9 down) · 96% positive Jun 2018 · 253 reviews (237 up · 16 down) · 94% positive Jul 2018 · 346 reviews (328 up · 18 down) · 95% positive Aug 2018 · 212 reviews (197 up · 15 down) · 93% positive Sep 2018 · 166 reviews (157 up · 9 down) · 95% positive Oct 2018 · 117 reviews (110 up · 7 down) · 94% positive Nov 2018 · 573 reviews (566 up · 7 down) · 99% positive Dec 2018 · 230 reviews (219 up · 11 down) · 95% positive Jan 2019 · 233 reviews (217 up · 16 down) · 93% positive Feb 2019 · 161 reviews (153 up · 8 down) · 95% positive Mar 2019 · 159 reviews (154 up · 5 down) · 97% positive Apr 2019 · 132 reviews (126 up · 6 down) · 95% positive May 2019 · 186 reviews (171 up · 15 down) · 92% positive Jun 2019 · 1,289 reviews (1,274 up · 15 down) · 99% positive Jul 2019 · 1,790 reviews (1,755 up · 35 down) · 98% positive Aug 2019 · 151 reviews (140 up · 11 down) · 93% positive Sep 2019 · 134 reviews (131 up · 3 down) · 98% positive Oct 2019 · 146 reviews (138 up · 8 down) · 95% positive Nov 2019 · 536 reviews (528 up · 8 down) · 99% positive Dec 2019 · 752 reviews (743 up · 9 down) · 99% positive Jan 2020 · 614 reviews (599 up · 15 down) · 98% positive Feb 2020 · 455 reviews (441 up · 14 down) · 97% positive Mar 2020 · 567 reviews (556 up · 11 down) · 98% positive Apr 2020 · 525 reviews (512 up · 13 down) · 98% positive May 2020 · 543 reviews (535 up · 8 down) · 99% positive Jun 2020 · 1,003 reviews (976 up · 27 down) · 97% positive Jul 2020 · 844 reviews (829 up · 15 down) · 98% positive Aug 2020 · 764 reviews (748 up · 16 down) · 98% positive Sep 2020 · 509 reviews (499 up · 10 down) · 98% positive Oct 2020 · 542 reviews (528 up · 14 down) · 97% positive Nov 2020 · 657 reviews (648 up · 9 down) · 99% positive Dec 2020 · 728 reviews (716 up · 12 down) · 98% positive Jan 2021 · 778 reviews (759 up · 19 down) · 98% positive Feb 2021 · 637 reviews (627 up · 10 down) · 98% positive Mar 2021 · 654 reviews (635 up · 19 down) · 97% positive Apr 2021 · 589 reviews (572 up · 17 down) · 97% positive May 2021 · 1,191 reviews (1,179 up · 12 down) · 99% positive Jun 2021 · 776 reviews (761 up · 15 down) · 98% positive Jul 2021 · 965 reviews (941 up · 24 down) · 98% positive Aug 2021 · 1,266 reviews (1,229 up · 37 down) · 97% positive Sep 2021 · 541 reviews (536 up · 5 down) · 99% positive Oct 2021 · 452 reviews (439 up · 13 down) · 97% positive Nov 2021 · 577 reviews (559 up · 18 down) · 97% positive Dec 2021 · 765 reviews (752 up · 13 down) · 98% positive Jan 2022 · 817 reviews (806 up · 11 down) · 99% positive Feb 2022 · 534 reviews (519 up · 15 down) · 97% positive Mar 2022 · 559 reviews (547 up · 12 down) · 98% positive Apr 2022 · 694 reviews (674 up · 20 down) · 97% positive May 2022 · 583 reviews (568 up · 15 down) · 97% positive Jun 2022 · 710 reviews (698 up · 12 down) · 98% positive Jul 2022 · 832 reviews (810 up · 22 down) · 97% positive Aug 2022 · 667 reviews (654 up · 13 down) · 98% positive Sep 2022 · 531 reviews (517 up · 14 down) · 97% positive Oct 2022 · 463 reviews (456 up · 7 down) · 98% positive Nov 2022 · 590 reviews (572 up · 18 down) · 97% positive Dec 2022 · 852 reviews (831 up · 21 down) · 98% positive Jan 2023 · 1,055 reviews (1,038 up · 17 down) · 98% positive Feb 2023 · 1,415 reviews (1,372 up · 43 down) · 97% positive Mar 2023 · 843 reviews (823 up · 20 down) · 98% positive Apr 2023 · 730 reviews (710 up · 20 down) · 97% positive May 2023 · 566 reviews (556 up · 10 down) · 98% positive Jun 2023 · 579 reviews (565 up · 14 down) · 98% positive Jul 2023 · 724 reviews (712 up · 12 down) · 98% positive Aug 2023 · 1,733 reviews (1,683 up · 50 down) · 97% positive Sep 2023 · 744 reviews (729 up · 15 down) · 98% positive Oct 2023 · 641 reviews (629 up · 12 down) · 98% positive Nov 2023 · 608 reviews (593 up · 15 down) · 98% positive Dec 2023 · 699 reviews (683 up · 16 down) · 98% positive Jan 2024 · 805 reviews (786 up · 19 down) · 98% positive Feb 2024 · 545 reviews (533 up · 12 down) · 98% positive Mar 2024 · 664 reviews (652 up · 12 down) · 98% positive Apr 2024 · 630 reviews (618 up · 12 down) · 98% positive May 2024 · 612 reviews (599 up · 13 down) · 98% positive Jun 2024 · 600 reviews (586 up · 14 down) · 98% positive Jul 2024 · 912 reviews (896 up · 16 down) · 98% positive Aug 2024 · 562 reviews (554 up · 8 down) · 99% positive Sep 2024 · 411 reviews (397 up · 14 down) · 97% positive Oct 2024 · 431 reviews (418 up · 13 down) · 97% positive Nov 2024 · 558 reviews (549 up · 9 down) · 98% positive Dec 2024 · 683 reviews (659 up · 24 down) · 96% positive Jan 2025 · 666 reviews (651 up · 15 down) · 98% positive Feb 2025 · 435 reviews (425 up · 10 down) · 98% positive Mar 2025 · 506 reviews (489 up · 17 down) · 97% positive Apr 2025 · 394 reviews (388 up · 6 down) · 98% positive May 2025 · 448 reviews (437 up · 11 down) · 98% positive Jun 2025 · 522 reviews (511 up · 11 down) · 98% positive Jul 2025 · 696 reviews (678 up · 18 down) · 97% positive Aug 2025 · 498 reviews (488 up · 10 down) · 98% positive Sep 2025 · 343 reviews (331 up · 12 down) · 97% positive Oct 2025 · 329 reviews (323 up · 6 down) · 98% positive Nov 2025 · 844 reviews (812 up · 32 down) · 96% positive Dec 2025 · 533 reviews (515 up · 18 down) · 97% positive Jan 2026 · 616 reviews (603 up · 13 down) · 98% positive Feb 2026 · 401 reviews (392 up · 9 down) · 98% positive Mar 2026 · 379 reviews (368 up · 11 down) · 97% positive Apr 2026 · 339 reviews (336 up · 3 down) · 99% positive May 2026 · 365 reviews (357 up · 8 down) · 98% positive Jun 2026 · 386 reviews (368 up · 18 down) · 95% positive Jul 2026 · 630 reviews (612 up · 18 down) · 97% positive Aug 2026 · 539 reviews (517 up · 22 down) · 96% positive Sep 2026 · 337 reviews (327 up · 10 down) · 97% positive Oct 2026 · 43 reviews (41 up · 2 down) · 95% positive

monthly share rated positive · 50% reference · months with <5 reviews faded

the timeline as a table
Reviews per month, all languages; months with no reviews are left out.
month reviews up down positive note
Aug 2013 426 425 1 100%
Sep 2013 163 163 0 100%
Oct 2013 204 204 0 100%
Nov 2013 387 382 5 99%
Dec 2013 1,146 1,124 22 98%
Jan 2014 514 500 14 97%
Feb 2014 377 369 8 98%
Mar 2014 420 406 14 97%
Apr 2014 183 177 6 97%
May 2014 147 143 4 97%
Jun 2014 1,367 1,324 43 97%
Jul 2014 414 398 16 96%
Aug 2014 574 561 13 98%
Sep 2014 206 194 12 94%
Oct 2014 150 139 11 93%
Nov 2014 182 177 5 97%
Dec 2014 670 640 30 96%
Jan 2015 302 284 18 94%
Feb 2015 147 137 10 93%
Mar 2015 127 122 5 96%
Apr 2015 132 128 4 97%
May 2015 134 129 5 96%
Jun 2015 390 375 15 96%
Jul 2015 145 135 10 93%
Aug 2015 139 132 7 95%
Sep 2015 118 112 6 95%
Oct 2015 119 116 3 97%
Nov 2015 158 149 9 94%
Dec 2015 381 364 17 96%
Jan 2016 745 708 37 95%
Feb 2016 329 314 15 95%
Mar 2016 179 173 6 97%
Apr 2016 147 139 8 95%
May 2016 158 154 4 97%
Jun 2016 250 235 15 94%
Jul 2016 295 275 20 93%
Aug 2016 234 223 11 95%
Sep 2016 234 224 10 96%
Oct 2016 166 160 6 96%
Nov 2016 808 800 8 99%
Dec 2016 471 442 29 94%
Jan 2017 365 342 23 94%
Feb 2017 337 321 16 95%
Mar 2017 202 191 11 95%
Apr 2017 171 160 11 94%
May 2017 177 163 14 92%
Jun 2017 342 327 15 96%
Jul 2017 367 347 20 95%
Aug 2017 209 199 10 95%
Sep 2017 162 153 9 94%
Oct 2017 148 141 7 95%
Nov 2017 639 629 10 98%
Dec 2017 249 238 11 96%
Jan 2018 803 755 48 94%
Feb 2018 414 396 18 96%
Mar 2018 383 361 22 94%
Apr 2018 199 193 6 97%
May 2018 200 191 9 96%
Jun 2018 253 237 16 94%
Jul 2018 346 328 18 95%
Aug 2018 212 197 15 93%
Sep 2018 166 157 9 95%
Oct 2018 117 110 7 94%
Nov 2018 573 566 7 99%
Dec 2018 230 219 11 95%
Jan 2019 233 217 16 93%
Feb 2019 161 153 8 95%
Mar 2019 159 154 5 97%
Apr 2019 132 126 6 95%
May 2019 186 171 15 92%
Jun 2019 1,289 1,274 15 99%
Jul 2019 1,790 1,755 35 98%
Aug 2019 151 140 11 93%
Sep 2019 134 131 3 98%
Oct 2019 146 138 8 95%
Nov 2019 536 528 8 99%
Dec 2019 752 743 9 99%
Jan 2020 614 599 15 98%
Feb 2020 455 441 14 97%
Mar 2020 567 556 11 98%
Apr 2020 525 512 13 98%
May 2020 543 535 8 99%
Jun 2020 1,003 976 27 97%
Jul 2020 844 829 15 98%
Aug 2020 764 748 16 98%
Sep 2020 509 499 10 98%
Oct 2020 542 528 14 97%
Nov 2020 657 648 9 99%
Dec 2020 728 716 12 98%
Jan 2021 778 759 19 98%
Feb 2021 637 627 10 98%
Mar 2021 654 635 19 97%
Apr 2021 589 572 17 97%
May 2021 1,191 1,179 12 99%
Jun 2021 776 761 15 98%
Jul 2021 965 941 24 98%
Aug 2021 1,266 1,229 37 97%
Sep 2021 541 536 5 99%
Oct 2021 452 439 13 97%
Nov 2021 577 559 18 97%
Dec 2021 765 752 13 98%
Jan 2022 817 806 11 99%
Feb 2022 534 519 15 97%
Mar 2022 559 547 12 98%
Apr 2022 694 674 20 97%
May 2022 583 568 15 97%
Jun 2022 710 698 12 98%
Jul 2022 832 810 22 97%
Aug 2022 667 654 13 98%
Sep 2022 531 517 14 97%
Oct 2022 463 456 7 98%
Nov 2022 590 572 18 97%
Dec 2022 852 831 21 98%
Jan 2023 1,055 1,038 17 98%
Feb 2023 1,415 1,372 43 97%
Mar 2023 843 823 20 98%
Apr 2023 730 710 20 97%
May 2023 566 556 10 98%
Jun 2023 579 565 14 98%
Jul 2023 724 712 12 98%
Aug 2023 1,733 1,683 50 97%
Sep 2023 744 729 15 98%
Oct 2023 641 629 12 98%
Nov 2023 608 593 15 98%
Dec 2023 699 683 16 98%
Jan 2024 805 786 19 98%
Feb 2024 545 533 12 98%
Mar 2024 664 652 12 98%
Apr 2024 630 618 12 98%
May 2024 612 599 13 98%
Jun 2024 600 586 14 98%
Jul 2024 912 896 16 98%
Aug 2024 562 554 8 99%
Sep 2024 411 397 14 97%
Oct 2024 431 418 13 97%
Nov 2024 558 549 9 98%
Dec 2024 683 659 24 96%
Jan 2025 666 651 15 98%
Feb 2025 435 425 10 98%
Mar 2025 506 489 17 97%
Apr 2025 394 388 6 98%
May 2025 448 437 11 98%
Jun 2025 522 511 11 98%
Jul 2025 696 678 18 97%
Aug 2025 498 488 10 98%
Sep 2025 343 331 12 97%
Oct 2025 329 323 6 98%
Nov 2025 844 812 32 96%
Dec 2025 533 515 18 97%
Jan 2026 616 603 13 98%
Feb 2026 401 392 9 98%
Mar 2026 379 368 11 97%
Apr 2026 339 336 3 99%
May 2026 365 357 8 98%
Jun 2026 386 368 18 95%
Jul 2026 630 612 18 97%
Aug 2026 539 517 22 96%
Sep 2026 337 327 10 97%
Oct 2026 43 41 2 95%

How this report was made
Population
all Steam reviews of the game (every language, purchase type, and verdict), walked newest-first per window; only English-language reviews are analyzed
Sample
530 English reviews, time-proportional draw over 159 windows (newest-first within each), taken from an all-language walk and kept English-only — where English is a minority the sample runs smaller than the draw, and every margin of error is computed at 530
Aspect yield
217 of 530 analyzed reviews carry at least one aspect (40.9%); every share on this page divides by all 530
Interval regime
calm: standard margins of error for a share of a sample (Wilson interval), no widening needed
Fetch paths
159 time windows fetched directly (windowed)
Language mix
1,000 fetched: english 531 · spanish 104 · russian 69 · 20 more
Steam-marked windows
none flagged by Steam (Valve's off-topic flagging began March 2019)
Marked share
0.0% of sample inside marked windows, under the 2% floor
Narrative
passed the grounding gate after one corrective retry
Evidence floor
aspects and emergent themes appear only with 5+ supporting reviews; smaller counts sit at the classifier's false-positive floor
Instrument readings
measured once on the study corpus for this model and prompt: frozen calibration, not properties of this run
· aspect tagging vs. human labels
0.801 [0.752–0.844] (F1 against a human-labeled test set; 1.0 is best)
· quotes filed under the wrong aspect
11.6% [6.6–19.6] of quotes, measured by hand on a sample; lower is better — measured on the prior model (2026-08-05); re-measurement pending
· independent model vs. production labels
0.791 [0.772–0.810] (F1 of the production labeler against an independent judge model) — measured on the prior model (2026-07-25); re-measurement pending
Versions
deepseek-flash · prompt classify-v1 · ontology v2
Run
serve-20261004T174945Z-5dc4e823 · code 798e06c

full methodology in the milestone write-ups