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.
Controversy record: on 19 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 5 times.
Computed 5m 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.
- +37No Man's Skyoutlet 85 · players 48 · Aug 2016
- -33Dying Lightoutlet 55 · players 88 · Feb 2015
- +39Street Fighter Voutlet 90 · players 52 · Feb 2016
- -29Hellblade: Senua's Sacrificeoutlet 60 · players 89 · Aug 2017
- +26Mortal Kombat Xoutlet 90 · players 64 · Apr 2015
- +24Deus Ex: Mankind Dividedoutlet 90 · players 66 · Aug 2016
- -20DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sinoutlet 60 · players 81 · Apr 2015
- +16NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4outlet 85 · players 69 · Feb 2016
- +27Absolveroutlet 90 · players 63 · Sep 2017
- -18Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogunoutlet 75 · players 94 · Nov 2016
Recent reviews (170 tracked)
- 85DRAGON BALL FighterZJan 22, 2018 · Ryan Esler
“Even as a relatively distant fan of Dragon ball, I was totally invested in Dragon Ball FighterZ. Dangerously so. Hours dropped off the clock as I perfected my team.”
read full review ↗ - 80Assassin's Creed® OriginsDec 16, 2017 · William Main
“As a soft-reboot, Origins establishes what this reviewer hopes to be a precedent for the series. A stronger focus on the historical settings impact on gameplay is a definite step in the right direction, but Ubisoft still continue to bog their title down with unnecessary elements intended to provide longevity to their game. There's still a need to break away from the remaining restraints of the franchise. Without the resource grinding and MMO level progression, Assassin’s Creed Origins could have been the best in the series yet.”
read full review ↗ - 90SOMADec 15, 2017 · Rhys Thom
“'Thought provoking' may be the best way to describe my overall experience with SOMA. With the story being expertly delivered through eloquent voice acting and dialogue, environmental design, and questionable moral choices. SOMA stands out as a deft lesson in storytelling, which many developers should learn from. I'd highly recommend trying SOMA for anyone and everyone.”
read full review ↗ - 40Black MirrorDec 14, 2017
“It's an uphill battle to recommend the game to anyone but the most committed fan of adventure games, and Gothic horror, and even then, there's a scant 5 hours of gameplay there.”
read full review ↗ - 45Hello NeighborDec 13, 2017 · Ryan Esler
“I was so desperate for Hello Neighbor to end that I regularly sought out ways to try and bypass the intended game. There could be something buried deep down, but the general execution of this steal-horror blend holds it back drastically. Even the quaint colourful world is hampered by the general sluggish feel and poor controls.”
read full review ↗ - 90It's Quiz TimeDec 10, 2017 · Mick Doherty
“It’s Quiz Time is a great way to spend some time with family and mates with plenty of questions and categories that will keep it fresh for a long while with the bonus of it being highly accessible for younger players thanks to the family friendly option.”
read full review ↗ - 75Let Them ComeDec 9, 2017 · Rhys Thom
“Let Them Come offered a surprising amount of variety for what essentially is a glorified shooting range. Weapons and upgrades feel unimpactful at first but quickly build momentum into some more fierce and powerful. Monsters are offered up on a platter for the player to blissfully murder then contorts the players elated murder spree into one of strategy and wit, continually mixing things up. But all this weighs heavy on how much players enjoy tower defence style games.”
read full review ↗ - 60Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New MoonDec 4, 2017
“Nights of Azure 2 is undercooked despite asking for 50 of my precious Queens faces. More fleshed out experiences can be bought elsewhere but I can’t get over the simple charm of the game and it’s fun, if lacking, gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 65Ashes CricketNov 26, 2017
“Ashes Cricket is a bit of a mixed bag. While I found myself enjoying great swathes of time playing through The Ashes with England, scoring centuries left and right with the excellent and tight batting controls, the sheer number of glitches upsetting the difficulty balancing for bowling and fielding meant that it truly was a game of two halves. Whilst the game is undoubtedly Big Ant’s best outing to date, the lack of polish meant that the game was slightly too frustrating to recommend to absolute newcomers to the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 40Need for Speed™ PaybackNov 23, 2017 · Ryan Esler
“Need for Speed Payback is a travesty of a game. Between 9 minute cycles of waiting at a vendor refreshing so I could buy better parts for my car, flying about a map populated with enough meaningless activities acting as filler, and the atrocious ending, it’s hard to pick out a point where I could say genuinely say the experience was fun.”
read full review ↗ - 65Sonic ForcesNov 18, 2017 · Neil McAllister
“Sonic Forces is by no means a career-killing disaster like Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric or Shadow the Hedgehog were, but it still a disappointment after all the wonderous hours of fun Mania offered.”
read full review ↗ - 50ELEXNov 15, 2017 · Jonathan Grier
“Elex has extremely limited appeal thanks to the horrendous combat and seemingly mindless balancing issues. Even habitual RPG players will be put off by these problems, and that spells doom for almost anyone outside that little niché.”
read full review ↗ - 70South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™Nov 5, 2017 · Rhys Thom
“The Stick of Truth managed to salvage my love of the series. Now, 3 years later, I feel that South Park: The Fractured but Whole has sought to destroy the bridges its predecessor rebuilt. The funny moments are sporadic, lost amongst a series of tired gags and namechecks, but the gameplay goes someway to saving the overall experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70Yomawari: Midnight ShadowsNov 4, 2017 · William Main
“Midnight Shadows is capable of conveying dread and tension, but this requires the player to engage it as intended and explained in the opening user agreement. Don't look way and play it in the dark. This is a fairly tight, atmospheric title that fans of horror will likely enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 70Rogue Trooper ReduxNov 2, 2017
“Rogue Trooper Redux is good dumb fun, if you don't go in expecting too much you won't be disappointed.”
read full review ↗