If you’ve heard that one of the most-played games on Steam is also one of its lowest-rated, you might be surprised. Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond (SVWB), a free card game, currently holds a 72% negative review score. Let’s explore why this game has faced such backlash and how it managed a temporary comeback.
On August 28, SVWB experienced an impressive spike, attracting over 92,000 players at its peak in the early morning. However, this number quickly halved just five hours later, as shown by Steamcharts. Despite this fluctuation, the game’s player count was significantly higher than its July average of 29,000 and the recent 30-day average of 17,700. On that day, SVWB was ranked as the 13th most-played game on Steam, although it has since dropped to 16th place, with expectations that it will continue to decline.
Achieving such a high ranking with such a poor review score is remarkable. While SVWB maintains a 72% negative overall rating, a staggering 86% of the reviews from the last 30 days are negative. The review graph shows that it has never dipped below 55% negative ratings, indicating a long-standing dissatisfaction among players. This trend peaked after a special in-game event ended on August 18 and following its launch on June 14.
The initial review bombing can be attributed to complaints regarding SVWB’s pricey and perceived unfair monetization system. Original players of Shadowverse felt increasingly frustrated as they faced significant challenges in card collection as free-to-play users. Many voiced their displeasure as paying players, or ‘whales,’ could quickly gain an advantage in building competitive decks, leading to a wave of negative reviews.
The second wave of negative feedback can be traced back to an in-game event called Battle Fest, held between August 15 and 17. This event resembled a popularity contest where players scored points for their favored factions through matches and card pack purchases.
As the event unfolded, 100 players from each faction scored bonus points based on their wins in the second stage. Ultimately, the least popular faction, Runecraft, emerged victorious, capitalizing on the strength of its deck, which allowed it to clinch a surprising number of wins.
This outcome frustrated the player base, who were already disappointed that their more popular factions failed to secure a victory. To make matters worse, Cygames decided to offer the cosmetics tied to the losing factions in an expensive bundle just a day after the event concluded. This led players to feel deceived, sparking further discussion around perceived greed from the developers.
How is it possible that Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond is still standing strong amid all this negativity? It appears that despite the backlash, many players continue to find enjoyment in the game. The negative reviews may only reflect a segment of the player base. With the review bombing fading, the game shows signs of resilience.
A new battle pass introduced during this chaotic period contributed to SVWB’s resurgence on August 28, as players logged in to check out the rewards. However, it’s likely that average player numbers will stabilize in the coming days.
What makes Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond so divisive among players? The blend of nostalgia from the original game and the frustrations with the monetization strategy leads to mixed feelings. Players need to feel valued regardless of their spending habits, and the response to the game’s mechanics has highlighted that expectation.
Will SVWB recover from its review dips and maintain its player base? Time will tell, but the game’s ability to attract players, even during challenging times, speaks to its core appeal.
Are there updates that could improve player sentiment about Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond? Continuous adjustments to address community feedback could potentially revitalize interest and bolster its reputation over time.
If you’re looking for more insights about games like Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond and the evolving gaming landscape, don’t hesitate to explore more content from Moyens I/O.