VideoGamesCritic | The one source of truth for gamers

How this trust score was computed

Trust blends alignment (40%): does the outlet rank games the way players do; decoded accuracy (30%): after translating the outlet's own scale habits (a '7/10 means mediocre' scale is decoded, not punished), how well its reviews predict player sentiment; and player-side (30%): on games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, whose side it took. Recent reviews weigh more (2-year half-life), and the blend is shrunk toward a neutral prior (60) so small samples can't peg the scale. Player quality is launch-window Steam sentiment, so outlets aren't punished for reviewing a launch build that later got patched.

Alignment (40%)

Decoded accuracy (30%)

Player-side (30%)

Controversy record: on 12 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 6 times.

Computed 44m ago · full methodology →

Outlet vs. players

Each dot is a game both this outlet and players scored. The dashed line is perfect agreement: dots above it mean the outlet was more generous than players, below it more harsh.

Biggest disagreements with players

The receipts: games where this outlet's verdict landed furthest from player sentiment.

Recent reviews (123 tracked)

80
Agent 64: Spies Never DieAug 24, 2026 · Zach Barbieri
“While I played GoldenEye 007 on my purple, see-through Nintendo 64 back in my youth, I will admit I don’t really have an attachment to it. You know what else came out that same year? Final Fantasy VII, and that changed my life forever. Agent 64: Spies Never Die, however, did successfully manage to remind me why I subjected myself to every kid on my block for as long as I did. It’s an addictive loop, even at its most frustrating. There are places I feel this game could have evolved the formula or resolved the issues, but I get the direction, and I respect it. My biggest issue, and maybe this is unfair, is that the game tries too hard to feel like the classic game and not enough to set itself apart. It is fun, though, and in the end, who could ask for more?”
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80
Blood DungeonAug 24, 2026 · Taylor Rioux
“By taking a bountiful genre into new and interesting directions, Blood Dungeon is able to rise above the chaff. It eschews mindless stat boosts in favor of a more measured approach to the chaos inherent to the format and, in doing so, creates a distinctive experience that rewards quick thinking just as much as smart build choices. The balance between the low-level power of the player and the necessity of navigation elicits a tension and excitement so rarely seen in bullet-heaven titles.”
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80
DuskfadeAug 13, 2026 · Luis Avilés
“Nothing that you play here is new. But it does not have to be. Airy platforming that reminds you of better times. Active combat that makes you fight faceless enemies. A heartfelt cautionary tale that sneaks up on you. And the secret ingredient, an absolutely gorgeous art style that will often stop you in your tracks. Duskfade has it all. Sometimes, that is what you need to remind you of what is important in life.”
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Rec
The Incident at Galley HouseAug 12, 2026 · Ryan Bates
“Evil Trout’s knack for mysteries shines in The Incident at Galley House. It’s a game that will sneak up on you even when you’re not playing. At work, running errands, or even in the shower, you may find yourself turning over in your head the relationship between two people. You may have something click and find yourself racing to your computer to launch the game and see if you’re right.”
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70
Beast of ReincarnationAug 10, 2026 · Zach Barbieri
“There are points in the experience that frustrated the hell out of me. Then, there were other points where I was loving every minute of it, celebrating every win. I think there is something special buried under the muck, and that’s a shame to think about. What a fully realized adventure might have looked like, but I did enjoy what we got. I liked it; sometimes I liked it a lot, even if I never came to love it.”
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85
Fields of MistriaAug 10, 2026 · Zach Barbieri
“This is a cozy sim your friends have probably recommended at least once or twice while it was in early access. Now in 1.0, the developers have shown that they made the most of that time to create something great. There are no more excuses to be sleeping on Fields of Mistria, not anymore.”
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60
Disgaea MayhemAug 6, 2026 · Zach Barbieri
“I was excited to see what Disgaea Mayhem would feel like. I understand NIS isn’t exactly the biggest or boldest studio out there, but they’ve rarely left me unimpressed. This was sadly one of the times I was. The concept on paper works well, but the story mode rarely gives the company a chance to shine. This is on top of having a lackluster, completely uninspired structure.”
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100
Big WalkAug 3, 2026 · Zach Barbieri
“Look, I’m going to just come right out and say it. Big Walk is one of the best puzzle games I have ever played. It is also one of the best social experiments I have ever participated in. From the proximity voice chat that created so many humorous moments and grounded me in this world, all the way to the moments of trust that were required to guide my friend through a blind puzzle box, or vice versa. There are moments of absolute joy and bliss that are yours for the taking in your journey and memories that will last you a lifetime.”
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90
The Mermaid MaskAug 3, 2026 · Luis Avilés
“SFB Games knows how to make a great whodunit. Combatting the usual point-and-click slog of characters sluggishly pointing out an observation, everything is wittily described. The Mermaid Mask shines as a murder mystery because of the attention to every painstaking detail. The theatrical cast, stylish art style, and impeccable structure make for one of those cases that beg to be solved.”
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60
K-pop Idol Stories: Road to DebutAug 3, 2026 · Zach Barbieri
“K-POP Idol Stories: Road to Debut is no K-POP Demon Hunters, but that is obviously an unfair comparison. I was hoping this might maybe become a companion piece to the music, the movies, the TV shows, and everything else K-POP, and in that regard I don’t think it fails, just fails short.”
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75
BLUE REFLECTION QuartetJul 29, 2026 · Zach Barbieri
“Blue Reflection isn’t some fancy JRPG series that everybody is tripping over themselves to worship at the altar of. It’s not Persona. And maybe that is the issue. The Blue Reflection series invokes many franchises some might look at as better when compared to it. I never found this to be an issue, though. There is a deep catharsis to be found in the halls of each of these schools, and somewhere it can hold a mirror up to your own trauma and make you feel seen. Blue Reflection is imperfect, and that’s just part of the reason it is so special.”
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60
TeetoJul 28, 2026 · Luis Avilés
“I am not the target audience of this game. Nevertheless, having a considerable amount of experience as a big fan of platformers, I can say that it lands among the lower tier of them. Looking at it from its endlessly fun premise, though, I can certainly understand the appeal of dashing and jumping as the titular Teeto. Even more so when playing in couch co-op.”
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60
Celestial ReturnJul 22, 2026 · Ray Watts
“I’m a bit disappointed in how it comes together, but there are moments that really work. The setting is cool and has a lot of potential. They have a flair that could really work with some tweaking.”
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90
Denshattack!Jul 15, 2026 · Luis Avilés
“It is not hyperbole when I say that every single level introduced a new creative idea to keep things fresh. Telling a cautionary tale of climate change and ruthless corporations juxtaposed with human ingenuity, it is imbued with an undeniable charisma. I cannot underestimate how much love is put into Denshattack! With deep reverence to classics like Sonic Adventure and Jet Set Radio, it built on those foundations to create one of the most endlessly fun games of the year.”
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85
Moss: The Forgotten Relic Jul 14, 2026 · Luis Avilés
“Moss: The Forgotten Relic takes players on a magical journey carried by its endearing protagonist Quill. Evoking children’s fairy tale books in the best of ways, it feels like the definitive way for kids and adults to experience such a rich story.”
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Pixel Byte

How this trust score was computed

Outlet vs. players

Biggest disagreements with players

Recent reviews (123 tracked)