How we decide what a game is really worth

People ask how we land on a number, so here's the honest answer: it starts with playing the thing for real. We install it, ignore any deadline pressure, and just play the way a normal person would. Only then do we start writing notes.

We weigh a few things heavily. How does it feel to control? Does it respect your time and attention? Is it fun after the novelty wears off? A game can be beautiful and still score lower if it constantly interrupts you or hides the fun behind menus.

The rating is deliberately fuzzy. A 4.5 and a 4.6 aren't meaningfully different, and we'd rather you read the words than fixate on the decimal. The number is a summary, not the point.

Most importantly, nobody buys their way onto our site. If we recommend something, it's because we actually enjoyed it. That's the whole deal, and it's why we keep the process this simple.