How we land on a score

People ask what a 4.3 means versus a 4.6, so here's the honest answer: it's a judgement call, backed by real playtime. There's no secret formula spitting out numbers.

We weigh how it feels moment to moment, how well the controls fit a touchscreen, and whether it respects your time. A game can be gorgeous and still score lower if it's a chore to control.

We also try to grade within a genre. A casual matcher and a deep strategy game aren't held to the same standard — that would be unfair to both.

If a score surprises you, read the review. The number is shorthand; the words are where the actual opinion lives.