How we actually decide on a score

People ask us how a game ends up with a 4.2 instead of a 4.5, so here's the honest answer: it's a conversation, not a formula. Someone plays the game properly, then we argue about it.

We weigh how it feels to control, how well it fits phone play, whether it respects your time, and whether we actually wanted to keep playing. A game can have flaws and still score well if the core is genuinely fun.

We don't compare across genres for the number itself. A cosy sim and a hardcore strategy game are judged on what they set out to do, not against each other.

The score is our opinion, nothing more. If it points you toward a game you love, great. If you disagree, tell us — we read the messages.