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 67 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 9 times.
Computed 6m 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.
- +19Counter-Strike 2outlet 90 · players 71 · Nov 2023
- +21Halo 5: Guardiansoutlet 80 · players 59 · Dec 2015
- +20Animal Crossing: New Horizonsoutlet 90 · players 70 · Mar 2020
- +26Call of Duty: Black Ops 4outlet 70 · players 44 · Nov 2018
- -28Ghost of Tsushimaoutlet 60 · players 88 · Jul 2020
- +16Pokemon Swordoutlet 70 · players 54 · Dec 2019
- +21Dreamsoutlet 100 · players 79 · Mar 2020
- +34Total War: WARHAMMER IIIoutlet 80 · players 46 · Mar 2022
- +212XKOoutlet 70 · players 49 · Feb 2026
- +41Sid Meier's Civilization VIIoutlet 90 · players 49 · Feb 2025
Recent reviews (693 tracked)
- 50PalworldAug 6, 2026
“The empty calories Palworld provides are at least moreish, by design. It's a nightmare of animal exploitation, rehashed game loops and meaningless engagement that we somehow struggle to put down. [Issue#427, p.112]”
- 80Assassin's Creed Black Flag ResyncedAug 6, 2026
“Returned to us with its seams concealed and its ropes tightened, Black Flag feels not like a relic from an earlier age, but a reminder of a path the genre might profitably rediscover: breadth without bloat, and an ocean of possibility that rarely asks you to sail too far to find something worth doing. [Issue#427, p.106]”
- 90Big WalkAug 6, 2026
“Being alone in Big Walk evokes a feeling we're not sure we've had in a videogame before. It digs up real-life memories of getting separated from the group at music festivals and on school trips, and from parents in the supermarket when you're young enough for the aisles to feel like a towering labyrinth. [Issue#427, p.102]”
- 60The Mound: Omen of CthulhuAug 6, 2026
“Ultimately, our disappointment in The Mound's direction is encapsulated in the Tempestad captain's advice as he sends us off on our first mission: "Remember we are here for treasure, not riddles and mysteries". We can't help but wonder how much the game would have benefitted if these priorities were overturned. [Issue#427, p.114]”
- 80Splatoon RaidersAug 6, 2026
“How thrilling it remains nonetheless - and how remarkable that all these reheated ingredients should result in something so fresh. [Issue#427, p.110]”
- 70Gothic 1 RemakeJul 9, 2026
“Like one of its grizzled mercenaries, it's hard to know and harder to like. But, whether you make friends with it or not, it demands your respect. [Issue#426, p.108]”
- 50
“The story may make its mark in the end, but when the destination is more fascinating than the journey, is that really and adventure? [Issue#426, p.114]”
- 80The Mermaid MaskJul 9, 2026
“For three or four hours, we get to fully inhabit the role of detective, putting our theories into action while in response the game delivers one major revelation after the next. The answers it supplies are all satisfying - never a given, in this genre - and by the time it's all wrapped up, the all-important supporting cast have been left in some interesting places. [Issue#426, p.118]”
- 80The Incident at Galley HouseJul 9, 2026
“If we sometimes miss the sparse presentation of the original's read-only memories, there's no question that this rework makes Galley House far more approachable than its predecessor. And, vitally, far better suited for playing from the sofa, with the Watson to your Holmes (or vice versa). Even if you've played "Type Help," the game remains very much afoot. [Issue#426, p.123]”
- 70Rhythm Heaven GrooveJul 9, 2026
“Even if this particular slice of "Paradise" takes a little longer to find its groove, there's comfort in realising that, for this most stately of companies, the (off)beat goes on. [Issue#426, p.116]”
- 80Star FoxJul 9, 2026
“It shows that there's life in the old fox yet, and that the foundations are there to build a truly wondrous Star Fox game from scratch for Switch 2. But if that never happens and this really is it, this return to the Lylat system has been well worth it. [Issue#426, p.104]”
- 70Mina the HollowerJun 11, 2026
“Mina is at its best when it's channelling Zelda, less so when it lens into Soulslike territory or becomes ascetic in its early-'90s sensibilities, trying too hard to retain a link to the past. [Issue#425, p.116]”
- 80Forza Horizon 6Jun 11, 2026
“When Forza Horizon 6 manages to get out of its own way, its magic is that it was two compelling fantasies to draw on. Being a world-class race driver is a pleasure we can get elsewhere - although this makes it accessible to those who might fear Gran Turismo's sterner sim - but it can also satisfy the humbler dream of being on holiday in a fun new place. Whether Playground has captured the authentic Japanese experience, we can't say, but it's certainly got that last bit nailed. [Issue#425, p.102]”
- 70ZERO PARADES: For Dead SpiesJun 11, 2026
“Zero Parades does succeed, but it's a qualified success. [Issue#425, p.106]”
- 60LEGO® Batman™: Legacy of the Dark KnightJun 11, 2026
“When Legacy of the Dark Knight finds its focus, there's still plenty of zen-like charm to enjoy here. And if you crave the chaotic? Well, beanbag begins. [Issue#425, p.112]”