How we land on a rating

People ask how a game ends up with a 4.2 versus a 4.5, so here's the honest answer: it's a conversation, not a formula. After a week of play, whoever led the review argues their case to the rest of the team.

We weigh a few things: how the game feels moment to moment, whether progression stays interesting, how well it fits mobile, and whether we'd genuinely recommend it to a friend. That last one matters most.

A rating isn't a verdict on effort or budget. A small, focused game can score higher than a sprawling one simply because it does its thing cleanly and knows its audience.

We also try to be consistent across genres, which is tricky. A great casual game and a great RPG are judged against what they're trying to be, not against each other.

So treat the number as shorthand for our overall take. The review text is where the real nuance lives.