Explaining Game Review Ratings: How Scores Are Built and What They Mean
Today’s update is a little different: instead of patch notes or a new trailer, we’re unpacking how our game reviews are built and what the ratings actually mean. If you’ve ever wondered why two players can walk away from the same review with different conclusions, this should clarify what you’re seeing and how to use it.
How our reviews are structured
Every review is organized into three core sections, with each one serving a specific purpose so you can decide how to read it based on what you care about most.
First comes the analysis—our main written breakdown. This is the longer, word-heavy portion where we examine what the game is aiming to be, how it tries to deliver that vision, and which parts of the experience strengthen or weaken the overall idea. The intent is to judge the game on its own merits, rather than treating it like a comparison against other titles.
In that analysis, we focus on the game itself without letting outside considerations steer the verdict. That means the evaluation is meant to remain independent of price, development budget, hardware constraints, how long the project took, previous entries in a series, or any other unrelated factors.
What the “score” really means
Next is the “score,” which is delivered as one of three ratings: “Thumbs Up,” “Neutral,” or “Thumbs Down.”
A “Thumbs Up” indicates that, in the end, the game managed to accomplish what it set out to do. If the style and concept sound appealing to you, then it’s a clear sign you should give it a shot.
A “Neutral” rating means the game did succeed in its goals, but it didn’t get there cleanly—there are meaningful issues that hold it back. If you like the premise and presentation, you may still have a good time, but it isn’t the kind of recommendation that fits everyone without caveats.
A “Thumbs Down” is reserved for cases where the game ultimately failed to deliver on its intended mission. Even if the concept itself sounds attractive, the guidance here is to steer clear.
Ratings are determined by the writer who authored the review. If a rating seems especially debatable or likely to spark disagreement, it’s reviewed with two or three other staff members to ensure the final result aligns with what’s actually written in the piece.
Where to look for buying decisions
The third section is the Recommendation. If your goal is simply to figure out whether you should purchase a specific game, this is the part to jump to.
When it’s done well, this section gives you the key information you need to make a smart buying choice quickly and efficiently. It can also include details that don’t belong in the analysis—like pricing considerations or discussion of different editions—so you’re not forced to dig through the review text to find practical context.
Review ethics and platform focus
We also make our standards clear. We don’t accept bribes or other incentives from publishers in exchange for higher scores or more favorable recommendations. Reviews are meant to be open, honest, and willing to be critical where the experience calls for it.
While the site focuses on Nintendo, we aim to avoid any kind of preferential treatment in reviews—whether the game is from Nintendo or from anyone else—so the evaluation reflects what players actually experience, not who released it.
