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 182 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 50 times.
Computed 4m 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.
- -28Ghost of Tsushimaoutlet 60 · players 88 · Jul 2020
- +46Pokemon Swordoutlet 100 · players 54 · Nov 2019
- +58No Man's Skyoutlet 100 · players 42 · Aug 2016
- +45Pokemon Shieldoutlet 100 · players 55 · Nov 2019
- -26Ghost of Yoteioutlet 60 · players 86 · Oct 2025
- -25The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Editionoutlet 70 · players 95 · Oct 2019
- +21Halo 5: Guardiansoutlet 80 · players 59 · Nov 2015
- -21Metroid Dreadoutlet 70 · players 92 · Oct 2021
- -37Human Fall Flatoutlet 50 · players 87 · Aug 2016
- -44Killing Floor 2outlet 40 · players 84 · Nov 2016
Recent reviews (1945 tracked)
- 80The Blood of DawnwalkerAug 31, 2026
“The narrative might be subservient to the mechanics, and not as thematically evocative as I might like, but excellent writing does combine with quality, well-executed mechanics to give us the equivalent of a pulp fantasy page-turner, and like the stories of dark pulp fantasy writer, Robert E. Howard, it’s really (really) difficult to put down.”
read full review ↗ - 90STAR WARS Zero Company™Aug 27, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“Star Wars Zero Company really is great, and after a long absence from the forefront, it’s good to see the XCOM formula make a return. I don’t think it adds anything particularly valuable to the Star Wars franchise, and indeed seems to struggle to properly understand the qualities of Star Wars at times… but then again, Disney itself has been doing that to the films for years now, so it seems silly to be precious about purity when the property owners clearly no longer care about that. Ultimately, it is nice to have a blockbuster game that respects the player’s intelligence, and if nothing else, that is what Zero Company does.”
read full review ↗ - 70Defender of the Crown: The Legend ReturnsAug 18, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“There is a lot that can be done with Defender of the Crown, so while I’m very happy to have the original game playable on my Switch, practically speaking, this game is like buying a retro game, I can’t help but feel that this was a wasted opportunity, overall.”
read full review ↗ - 100STEINS;GATE RE:BOOTAug 17, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“Whatever the reason, Re:Boot is the definitive edition of a true giant of the visual novel genre. As long as you can get along with the tweaked art direction, I doubt you’re going to have any complaints with Re:Boot.”
read full review ↗ - 100BLUE REFLECTION QuartetJul 29, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“Overall, the changes made to the four stories in this Blue Reflection collection don’t compromise the central thesis of the series (even with Sun and that pesky male character): These are truly, almost painfully ethereally beautiful magical girl JRPGs with a relentlessly wholesome message behind them.”
read full review ↗ - 80Splatoon RaidersJul 21, 2026
“I realise that I’m not the target audience for Splatoon Raiders, and I’m sure those that are the target audience will get a great deal of value out of the depth of its systems. And from Nintendo’s point of view, it’s a relatively low-cost project to fill the release schedule until the next big thing (Fire Emblem) comes along. I do, however, suspect that just about everyone, from the diehard fans to me on the spectrum of Splatoon advocacy, will ultimately wish that the first proper single-player outing for the franchise were a bit more than it turned out to be.”
read full review ↗ - 90Culdcept BEGINSJul 16, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“Blissfully microtransaction-free (it would have been very easy to make Culdcept very expensive), Culdcept Begins is everything a good digital board game should be.”
read full review ↗ - 80Digimon Story Time StrangerJul 9, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“But there’s no shame in coming second to Pokémon, the biggest IP in the world, and this is arguably the best Digimon title we’ve ever seen.”
read full review ↗ - 90Gothic 1 RemakeJul 6, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“However, while it might still be for a niche audience, this is very much an example of how to do a remake correctly. The developers have addressed the big issues in the original Gothic, while maintaining and building on everything that made it such a cult icon.”
read full review ↗ - 100Rhythm Heaven GrooveJul 1, 2026
“Rhythm Heaven is fundamentally different to other rhythm games, and Rhythm Paradise Groove is no different. It might seem both whimsical and bonkers from the aesthetics and general energy of the game, and it is that, but it’s also an enormously clever project that subtly helps you develop very real rhythm skills. I love it when games entertain while also teaching like this.”
read full review ↗ - 90Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: BattlemarkedJun 30, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“Ultimately, the number of adventures feels a little thin, given that they’re not overly replayable, but they are substantive in scope for that first playthrough, and there’s more than enough in Battlemarked to justify its asking price.”
read full review ↗ - 90Star FoxJun 24, 2026
“Where Star Fox stamps its value is in the new part of the game. The multiplayer is exceptional and will have some real lasting power, especially given that space dogfighting games with multiplayer modes are almost shockingly uncommon. With any luck, this release is an example of Nintendo testing the waters for what’s next, and we get even more Star Fox with even more of this multiplayer in the years ahead.”
read full review ↗ - 100DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last RoundJun 24, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“While Dead or Alive 7 was the really exciting recent news, this is the definitive version of a brilliant, funny, sexy, mechanically entertaining fighting game and I’ve loved stepping back into its ring.”
read full review ↗ - 90eFootball Kick-Off!Jun 19, 2026
“With clean controls that support pick-up-and-play football, a staggering number of teams, and very moreish gameplay loops, backed by a much lower price tag than its immediate competitor, eFootball Kick-Off is a perfect reminder that while a truly rancid host nation can undermine the delight of a World Cup, nothing can destroy the love for the sport.”
read full review ↗ - 80The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium TalesJun 17, 2026 · Matt Sainsbury
“However, with Elliot, the gorgeous production values and entertainingly breezy action roped me in anyway.”
read full review ↗