Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Aug 21, 2019
    85
    Damsel is a fun arcade-style platformer/shooter/speedrunner/whatever genre you want to call it. The comic-style motif is a nice concept that I haven’t seen for a long time and the gameplay is pretty fluid. The darkness of the stages and the similarities between the three game modes kind of bring the game down a little, but it’s still an enjoyable outing for the Nintendo Switch.
  2. Oct 31, 2019
    65
    When the dust finally settles — and hopefully the dust isn't the charred remains of a loved one's heart — Damsel has something to offer to a very specific type of player. The story leaves something to be desired, the levels can feel tedious and repetitive, the music can come off as having a little tunnel vision, but the basis of the game is incredibly solid. The platforming feels good, busting through hordes of enemies is satisfying, the controls are incredibly solid, and the art style is both macabre and peppy! While the title can simultaneously feel cluttered (large number of different tasks) and tedious (gameplay lacks variety), one could easily see this being ideal for someone who's incredibly goal-oriented and has a laser focus on details — perhaps speed-running fans. For the average Joe Schmo, it may make you feel as if your life forces are slowly being drained away. (Check your necks, people!)
  3. Sep 5, 2019
    60
    Generally, vampires aren’t given the satisfaction they deserve, and Damsel on Nintendo Switch further proves that. Despite providing an interesting premise, the game is held back by its art style & baitful gameplay.
  4. Aug 28, 2019
    60
    While not a bad game by any means, Damsel seems to lack polish and direction. With a mediocre story and overly cluttered environments, it struggles to find its footing as either a story-rich game or speedrunning twitch fest. If one direction was chosen, the potential seen here could certainly be reached.
  5. Aug 20, 2019
    50
    For all of the polish on the visuals and the movement design, Damsel is sorely lacking in gameplay and level design. Stages start to feel similar, then diverge a little, then ram back into similarity over and over. It’s here that the game starts to show its seams–feeling more like a mobile game than an actual console game. Level designs are short, difficult by way of oddly placed items, and a bit irritating.