OUR APPROACH
The thinking behind the number.
Four criteria, fixed weights, and a rule that we pay first.
We pay first
Two of us buy each game at full price on our own accounts and play for at least three weeks; where a subscription is involved we pay for at least two months so we see a renewal. The third checks the receipts and asks the awkward questions. Publishers do not supply keys and would not be accepted if they offered.
The four criteria
| Criterion | Weight | The question |
|---|---|---|
| Would pay again | 35% | Knowing what we know now, would we hand over the same money? Does the pricing model match how the game is actually played? |
| Honesty of the shop | 25% | Is every cost visible before you buy? Do optional extras stay optional? Does anything sold change how you perform? |
| Time respect | 25% | Can you make real progress in a short session? Does a week away cost you? Does the design fill your hours or reward them? |
| Polish | 15% | Does it run on ordinary hardware, stay readable, and treat strangers in matchmaking decently? |
Each criterion is scored out of ten independently; the verdict is the weighted average rounded to one decimal. Where we differ by more than two points we play another week.
Prices and cost per hour
Every verdict prints the US list price of the standard edition on the check date, the publisher’s euro and pound list prices, the extras we bought, any subscription, and a first-year estimate. Cost per hour divides the first-year estimate by the hours we logged. Regional and platform stores differ, and sales happen; the price index shows the check date on every number.
Re-tests
Games are re-tested when they change pricing, add a shop, release a major update, or when readers report something material. A game is dropped if it adds gambling mechanics or loot boxes, or falls below 7.0. Changes are logged on the updates page.
Artwork and independence
Key art on this site is the publishers’ official artwork, used to identify the games reviewed. Affiliate links carry the sponsored attribute and are added after verdicts are locked. No store or publisher has editorial input.