How we decide on a score

People sometimes ask why one game gets a 4.6 and another a 4.1 when both are good. Our scores aren't a formula, but they aren't random either.

We weigh how the game feels to actually play, whether progression stays fun, and if it delivers on what it promises. A cozy game isn't marked down for lacking a challenge, because challenge isn't its goal.

Context matters. A small team making something charming earns credit for ambition, while a polished title with a cynical grind loses points even if it looks great.

We also live with a game for a while before scoring. First-hour excitement fades, and we'd rather tell you how it holds up on day three.

In the end a score is a shortcut. The words around it carry the real verdict, so read those too.