What our numbers actually mean

People ask why our lowest scores are around 3.8 and never 1.0. The reason is simple: we don't publish full reviews of games we couldn't finish or didn't enjoy at all. If a game is broken or boring, we just move on.

So our scale is compressed on purpose. A 3.8 means it's playable and has an audience, but has real flaws. A 4.5 and up means we'd happily keep it installed after the review is done.

The rating is one person's summary after real playtime, checked against the rest of the team. It's subjective, and we're fine saying that out loud. Numbers are a shortcut; the paragraphs are where the real opinion lives.

If you only read the score, you'll miss the context. A game can score 4.1 and still be perfect for you if the one flaw we mention doesn't bother you.