What our ratings actually mean

People ask why we don't just give everything a 4.5 like half the internet does. The short answer: a rating should mean something, and inflation kills that.

Our numbers come from one simple question — would we keep this installed after the review is done? A 4.5 is a game we genuinely return to. A 3.9 is solid but forgettable.

We don't score performance and fun separately into a formula. It's a judgment call after real play, written up honestly, flaws included. A high rating with a page of complaints is normal here.

If a game improves with updates, we go back and revise. Ratings aren't frozen the moment we hit publish.