How we actually decide on a score

People ask why one game gets a 4.7 and another a 4.1, so here's the honest answer: the number comes last. We write the review first, argue about it, and only then agree on a figure that matches the tone of the text.

A score isn't a percentage of quality. A 4.2 casual game and a 4.6 adventure aren't competing in the same race — each is judged against what it's trying to be. A tiny time-killer that nails its loop can outscore an ambitious game that stumbles.

We weigh three things most heavily: how it controls on a phone, how it treats your time, and whether we actually wanted to open it again the next day. That last one is hard to fake.

If a score ever feels off to you, tell us. Some of our best internal arguments started as an angry email from a reader, and a couple of them changed our minds.