How we actually decide a score

People ask us how a game lands on a 4.2 versus a 4.6, so here's the honest answer. We don't have a formula. We play, we talk, and we argue until we agree on a number that feels right.

That said, a few things matter to all of us. Does the game respect your time? Do the controls get out of the way? Is there a reason to come back tomorrow? A title can be rough around the edges and still score well if it nails those basics.

We also try hard to judge a game against its own ambitions. A tiny casual collection and a sprawling RPG aren't competing for the same score. We ask whether each one does what it set out to do, not whether it does everything.

The number is really just a shorthand. The paragraphs above it are where the real verdict lives, so read those if you want to know what you're in for.