How We Actually Score the Games We Review

People ask what our ratings mean, and the honest answer is: a lot of argument. A score is just shorthand for a conversation the whole team had after playing.

We split our impressions into early and late game. A score mostly reflects how a game holds up once the novelty wears off, because that's where most mobile games stumble. A 4.0 from us means solid and worth your time, not mediocre.

We weigh story and progression heaviest, since that's what this site is about. Presentation matters, but a gorgeous game with a hollow loop won't outscore a plain one that nails the fundamentals.

Nobody pays for a number here. If a review reads like an ad, we've failed, and we'd rather post a harsh honest score than a comfortable fake one.

Ratings are opinions with homework behind them. Read the actual review for the full picture; the number is just the doorway.