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Game
Game2014
Super Win the Game
Developer Minor Key Games
Super Win the Game is an action role-playing video game released on October 1, 2014 by American studio Minor Key Games. The game is a sequel to the studio's prior work, You Have to Win the Game, and is a homage to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. While critically praised, the game received lackluster sales, prompting its lead developer Kyle Pittman to call it a "total failure". From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
207 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky) · newest Sep 27, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
90
LovedLoved
168 positive · 18 negative
95% range 85–94%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 168 | 18 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 14 | 0 | 7 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
434 of 487 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
90% recommend · 170 yes, 19 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 189 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (582 of 654 positive).
Players praise Super Win the Game as a rewarding retro platformer with solid mechanics and exploration. [1][2][3] Some find the game frustratingly difficult, with one calling it borderline kaizo. [4][5] A few reviewers note the game is short or has a rudimentary map system. [6][7]
Liked
Representative posts
- [5]
A Painful Platformer UPDATE - 6/3/2021 : Finished the randomized run, and it was more fun than I thought, but my opinion still stands. The randomized run at least lets you teleport to the overworld but this feature is not in the vanilla game. Super Win The Game is a title I have had in my steam library for many years, but it is only until now (at the time of writing this) that I finally got around to playing it. I …
- [1]
A rewarding exploration-platformer with some great puzzles thrown in. Incredibly frustrating at times, but every time I thought I was stuck I just needed better timing. The numerous secrets hidden throughout were a joy to discover. If you like platformers where timing is important, exploration is rewarded, and will make you stop and think a few times, this game is for you. Additional Details Operating System Ubuntu …
- [2]
Had my eye on this for a while after enjoying the 2d side-scrolling metroidvania 'You Have To Win The Game'. This one, Super Win The Game, absolutely scratched the same metroidvania itch as its predecessor - while adding something new with the top-down overworld map to explore between the dungeons, towns and other areas. It took me back to simpler times with its CRT TV-style filter, retro graphics and soundtrack …
- [4]
i died more than 1000 times. 10/10 would never play again
- [7]
Super Win the Game is a peaceful retro metroidvania game inspired by NES classics Zelda I and II. The game thrusts you into its world without any explanation. Soon, you'll discover that the world isn't really hostile, as there's no combat involved. Instead, your journey involves exploration and the collection of items like gems and power-ups. These power-ups enhance your mobility, making your adventure like a …
Summarised from 34 of the 210 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
90% of the 189 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Super Win the Game. The complaint that keeps coming up: very difficult, sometimes frustrating. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Super Win the Game was received positively by critics. Tom Sykes of PC Gamer praised the CRT simulation visuals as well as its open-ended gameplay. Angelo D'Argenio of GameCrate considered it "a game about secrets", comparing it to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Although met with positive reception, Super Win the Game sold only 850 units in its first month after release, which lead developer Kyle Pittman called "a complete and total failure". Following this, Pittman declared that he no longer wished to continue making pixel art platformers in the vein of Super Win the Game.
From the “Reception and sales” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 207 · most liked firstA rewarding exploration-platformer with some great puzzles thrown in. Incredibly frustrating at times, but every time I thought I was stuck I just needed better timing. The numerous secrets hidden throughout were a joy to discover. If you like platformers where timing is important, exploration is rewarded, and will make you stop and think a few times, this game is for you. Additional Details Operating System Ubuntu Linux 18.04 x64 CPU Ryzen 5…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not for everyone and at least not for me. Watch a playthrough video before purchasing. This has basic gameplay, very short chiptune music loops, and simple design. Might be your thing, and I did not find any technical problems playing on Ubuntu 18.04 with radeon mesa drivers. If this is faithful retro, then I must not be remembering my NES cartridges so well.....
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Okay I made this as a reply to someone else but it deserves its own post. These are all indie games I *highly* recommend. Cosmic Star Heroine Cthulu Saves The World 8 Bit Adventures 1 & 2 Hush Hush - Only Your Love Can Save Them Pony Island Super Win The Game Before The Echo OH! RPG! 10000000
positive · AI labelView post →A Painful Platformer UPDATE - 6/3/2021 : Finished the randomized run, and it was more fun than I thought, but my opinion still stands. The randomized run at least lets you teleport to the overworld but this feature is not in the vanilla game. Super Win The Game is a title I have had in my steam library for many years, but it is only until now (at the time of writing this) that I finally got around to playing it. I judged the cute art and figured it would be a nice relaxing game with retro…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →(This game was supplied to me by the user lord.mrakainus. Thanks, bro! ) Winning the game is a super task! Reminiscent of retro NES gaming and a sequel-ish (Remake?) experience that's a throwback to You Have to Win the Game (Free on Steam), this game will test your platforming and your timing as you walk, leap, walk under water, walk under lava, and avoid the enemies that fill the world you are meant to save. Gameplay-wise, Super Win the Game is just You Have to Win the Game with a story…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What's a game you feel only you have played? Super Win The Game is a cute platformer! Lovely OST too
positive · AI labelView post →Get Super Win the Game and four more awesome Metroidvanias – Zapling Bygone; Lone Fungus; Haiku, the Robot; and Alwa's Legacy – in this bundle only on itch.io! (And thanks to the Elden Pixels folks for organizing this!) itch.io/b/2106/metro...
neutral · AI labelView post →🔵Requires light tinkering Borderless window have scale problems. Set Fullscreen in options. To fix controls navigate to options with touchscreen and activate gamepad. Tested on: OnexPlayer Mini Pro 6800U [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/42772030-Handheld-Friendly/] Follow Handheld Friendly
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Smells like shovelware to me...
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You should play NEON STRUCT and I should play Super Win the Game. You know, for the content.
neutral · AI labelView post →Super Win the Game is a very classic / retro platformer, both for its NES graphics and its gameplay. It doesn't innovate in any of its aspects, but what it does, it does well. The only downside is that it is too short. Recommended for lovers of old Zelda and similar games. ✪✯✪✯✪✯✪ 5.8 / 10 ✪✯✪✯✪✯✪
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a very fun metroidvania platformer that fills me with a deep unidentifiable sadness
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →oh man I love Dark Savior so much! Analgesic's Anodyne games are this. Corn Kidz. Some older indies: Fjords, Real Texas, Super Win The Game, Full Bore
neutral · AI labelView post →The Metroidvania Review [url= https://metroidvaniareview.com/2019/01/14/super-win-the-game/] Scored Summary | | [url=http://store.steampowered.com/curator/30503887/] Subscribe to our Curator How Metroidvania is it? Medium Fit – Has a World Map, so the level structure is more similar to Zelda 2, though the game does make you go back to old levels. [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/MetroidvaniaReview/discussions/1/1743346190291579889/] Want to hear a different…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought this game for less than 1$ on a sale, and I have to say it was a steal. A game that doesn't hold your hand and tells you where to go/what to do. Cute graphics, lots of hidden stuff, you'll feel great when finiding that last sneaky item in a level. A few hard achievements, but there is a great steam guide to help you with them.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →'Super Win The Game' complete!!!! i played it back in 2019 but never finished! it was one of many games i re-installed to achievement hunt and that one looks doable! i recommend it if you like retro platformer games with NES graphics ^_^
positive · AI labelView post →Had my eye on this for a while after enjoying the 2d side-scrolling metroidvania 'You Have To Win The Game'. This one, Super Win The Game, absolutely scratched the same metroidvania itch as its predecessor - while adding something new with the top-down overworld map to explore between the dungeons, towns and other areas. It took me back to simpler times with its CRT TV-style filter, retro graphics and soundtrack delivering a lot of nostalgia. Mechanically, the platforming was solid and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super Win the Game is a peaceful retro metroidvania game inspired by NES classics Zelda I and II. The game thrusts you into its world without any explanation. Soon, you'll discover that the world isn't really hostile, as there's no combat involved. Instead, your journey involves exploration and the collection of items like gems and power-ups. These power-ups enhance your mobility, making your adventure like a typical metroidvania experience. However, the game can be frustrating due to its…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I swear this game truly felt like an old NES classic. Like i had to blow on my screen to clear the dust off of nonexistent pins just to get it to load. The controls are fluid and never gave me any trouble. The graphics are simple but still keep you interested in the surroundings in each new room. The platforming is challenging as well, but never to the point of controller breaking frustration. It has that very Metroidvania quirk of giving you a new mobility or power up that requires you to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A nice metroidvania retro-style game. There is a little too much backtracking for my taste, but overall it's a nice game to waste a couple hours. Score 7/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super Win the Game is the sequel to the free to play You Have to Win the Game, which is one of the best retro platformers out there. This sequel may not be free, but it’s a worthy successor and worth the price. It plays like the original, but the game has more color and you have a hub world to explore, connecting the various towns and dungeons. It’s really cool. The game has a big focus on exploration, with tons of secrets to find. You also need to find upgrades in order to progressively get…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i died more than 1000 times. 10/10 would never play again
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I dont remember anything from this game or why I played 13 hours
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Haven't played much of it but this one. Super Win the Game and Animal Well are close behind
neutral · AI labelView post →Very fun adventure, reminiscent of the classic NES action/adventure games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It is not a bad game. It is just an oddly designed game. I had to look up a speed run to have any idea of what to do at some point. Maybe I am just not good at games. But, there was a secret passage that I saw no sign of it being there. There was an NPC that said something about a secret dungeon at the sky palace. But.....I was supposed to figure that out from that piece of information? No. You do not get to do that game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun retro adventure.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →its like zelda 2 for nes but on pee see
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I spent one wonderful night last summer with this game. So this game is a sequel to the developer’s other game: You Have to Win the Game. I would recommend this retro platformer too as it is significantly shorter and free to play, so it can give you an idea of the game play and whether or not you would like this one. Having played that, this game is highly inspired by games such as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and Gargoyle’s Quest which feature a top-down over-world and side-scrolling…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really like this game! I got to enjoy it again thanks to the randomizer update, and it just made me feel even more happier being able to play it again. It's charming, it's simple, the plot isn't too big but it's entertaining, and the platforming is super solid, the level design too. I really recommend it to anyone who likes retro-platforming games, especially those who likes Zelda 2 gameplay.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is really good on its own, but the randomizer compelled me to leave this review. I haven't really seen any games with official randomizers. Even after only playing one seed, I'm hooked! I've seen some really weird and interesting stuff already, like two heart pieces in one Underworld level. This sort of stuff enhances the already great joy of exploring the sprawling world even more.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After trying and loving the free "you have to win the game", i was eager to try the seemely more robust sequel. I end up getting it a in a bundle and let sit on my library for a while. Finaly i got down to it this holiday and finally beat the game. What can I say, the game is amazing in its simplicity. Basically, your only action is jump, but this don't stop the game from being fully realized on what it tries to do, giving you plenty of oppotunity to test you skill across different dugeons…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Reminds me of Zelda II... a lot... a whole lot.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Excellent platformer with fun visuals and excellent chiptune music. The fact that there is no combat at all actually adds to the fun and challenge (especially later on).
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Probably my favorite game of all time
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →336. Super Win the Game This game (and its predecessor, You Have to Win the Game) is such a beautiful throwback title. Just a perfect game. And that CRT simulation is damn near unmatched.
positive · AI labelView post →Had a great time with this one. It's basically a sequel to the previous game which was also pretty good! https://store.steampowered.com/app/286100/You_Have_to_Win_the_Game/ This game adds a full overworld with more secrets and collectibles. Lots of well-designed areas as well as enemies and obstacles that usually never felt too unfair or overwhelming, while still keeping a pretty decent difficulty level demanding excellence in many scenarios. Like the first game, I did not complete the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sideways thumb. Navigation is an absolute pain but the platforming was decent.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice, thanks! I've played You Have to Win the Game and Super Win the Game and, while I'm slightly terrible at them, I really enjoyed both. They were very de-stressing.
positive · AI labelView post →43. Super Win The Game. What if someone made Zelda II again? That's... That's the pitch pretty much. Zelda II slaps. This slaps as well. It also has really customizable CRT effects stuff. www.superwinthegame.com
positive · AI labelView post →I felt pretty take it or leave it with this. I'd leave a neutral rec if that were possible. Navigation is slightly overwhelming. You have lots of little separate maps and the game is a bit open-world-ish. It reminds me of games like Elephantasy: Flipside and to a lesser degree Elliot Quest, where it gets a little annoying to keep track of all the different places.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super Win The Game is very inspired by Zelda 2 and it’s quite good.
positive · AI labelView post →Definitely helps if you have nostalgia for, or an innate appreciation of, 8-bit games. Gameplay chiefly involves 2D platforming and open-world exploration, but certain NPCs can optionally give you guidance on where to go next, an inclusion I definitely appreciated. There's also some kind of poetic sub-plot that went way over my head, but some players may enjoy trying to decode it. Overall, don't expect something quite as fully-featured as Shovel Knight, this game's a bit more scrappy and small…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →one of my favorite all time games, the ost is so amazing
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Amazing, addicting and overall awesome.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#330: Super Win the Game Essentially a Zelda II-like sequel to You Have to Win the Game. I think the Zelda II form factor works really well as a Metroidvania, and if Nintendo ever tries to make their own Zelda II spiritual successor I'd like it to be structured like this.
positive · AI labelView post →10 Video Games in no real order: Crush Crush Pokémon Final Fantasy Mega Man Zelda Undertale Blaster Master The Tower Idle Huntress Super Win the Game
neutral · AI labelView post →1) Super Win the Game - Dream of a Memory I played this years ago yet its intro song remains stuck in my head youtu.be/f-uH__BSVjM?...
positive · AI labelView post →Okay in all seriousness: Cosmic Star Heroine Cthulu Saves The World 8 Bit Adventures 1 & 2 Hush Hush - Only Your Love Can Save Them Pony Island Super Win The Game Before The Echo OH! RPG! 10000000 You Must Build A Boat 911 Operator/112 Operator Odallus: The Dark Call Cook Serve Delicious 1/2/3
neutral · AI labelView post →I don't think this one holds up as well as its predecessor. Where YHtWtG emulated the MS DOS / CD64 era of games, SWtG iterates upon the "vicariously live out a bygone era" concept by emulating the NES era of games. It's a compelling concept that both games pull off pretty well, so for that I think they both deserve praise. But where YHtWtG was a tight and compact experience that complimented its simplistic roots, SWtG just overstays its welcome. The levels are too large for the lack of…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super Win the Game is a cool little retro style platformer which is a sequel to the free to play You Have to Win the Game. It's similar to the first one, but I like how they added an outside world as well as a speedrunning section and even though it only takes a few hours to complete, I enjoyed the simplistic gameplay and overall look.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Probably ok if you have patience, but I can't see the case for choosing it ahead of other similar games. I played for about an hour before reaching what I thought was a softlock. Googled it to be told that I was expected to run into a wall to discover it was illusory. I didn't really like that mechanic in Elden Ring (a favourite of mine), but at least in Elden Ring you had a) a slightly different visual appearance and b) a suggestion prior to encountering one's first illusory wall that…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awesome retro game ! Totally worth playing and beating ! ^_^
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game retroactively cured my appendicitis.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short Metroidvania with zero combat. Game consists entirely of collecting items: either those that give you new powers, or ones that unlock new areas, or, eventually, win the game (heh). For the most part, it's challenging but has frequent checkpoints that keep the frustration level very reasonable. Then when you get to the last 6 collectables, the challenge level goes up 10x and the checkpoints disappear, resulting in having to play each area 10-30 times minimum to get a pixel perfect…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →tedious mechanics, boring world
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →subcon deez nuts
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sidescrolling platformer where you collect stuff all game long and occasionally gain new abilities to access areas. It's decent and cheap but nothing that good about it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game seemed good for the first while. Then I came across a place in desert ruins where there's a bouncing eyeball shooting mini bouncing fireballs in rotation. I got past it from left to right and read a book. Then after the book, it spawned me to the right side of the eye and have to go from right to left. I am stuck here. Ruined the experience. Can't even "win the game" now.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought this game on sale and I've been having a good time playing it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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