How we decide on a rating

People ask what our ratings actually mean, so here's the honest version. A score is one editor's summary of hours spent playing, not a formula. It's subjective on purpose.

We weigh how a game feels in the hand, how it paces itself, and whether it respects your time. A game that runs smooth and knows what it is will score higher than an ambitious mess.

We rarely hand out top marks, and we don't do zeros. Most good games land in a tight band because most good games are, well, good. The number is a nudge, not a verdict.

Read the actual review if you want the real picture. The paragraphs always say more than the score ever could.