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 9 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 8 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.
Recent reviews (55 tracked)
- 70Arma 3Oct 18, 2013
“Arma 3 is as much a tool as it is a game, and it is by far the best tool Bohemia has created so far. Its not perfect though, and it's still a product for a very specific audience. I wish a few compromises had been made to make it more accessible and fun.”
read full review ↗ - 70Dragon's CrownOct 18, 2013
“Dragon’s Crown is a beautiful side scrolling 2D beat ’em up that mixes in loot chasing elements of action RPG’s like Diablo and the grinding aspects of a Japanese RPG. At times a frustrating game, but in the end a rewarding experience that should be enjoyed in small chunks at a time.”
read full review ↗ - 70PAYDAY 2Sep 13, 2013
“Payday 2 is a real gem of a cops and robbers game when everything clicks. Overkill manages to capture the atmosphere of classic heist movies and the gameplay is about a whole lot more than just shooting cops. Artificial intelligence is a joke though and the game is pulled down by quite a few bugs that can be anything from annoying to totally game breaking.”
read full review ↗ - 60Shadowrun ReturnsSep 13, 2013
“Shadowrun Returns is a faithful reinterpretation (and in a vague sense, sequel) to the SNES game from 20 years ago, maybe a bit too faithful. Though most aspects of the the wild and unruly Shadowrun world is included, the promise of this game lies more in the open embrace of the mod community than the included adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 100Europa Universalis IVAug 28, 2013
“Europa Universalis IV is the ultimate edition of the series. The interface is better and more welcoming than ever and still the strategy is even deeper and grander than before. Basically everything is improved over the last game and playing sandbox with history has never been this fun.”
read full review ↗ - 90Rayman® LegendsAug 28, 2013
“Almost perfect platform game with crazy humor and not very subtle pop cultural references. Could have been a little less repetitive, but with a couple of friends it has the potential for fantastically fun chaos. Very addictive and cleverly-paced so that you will always feel the need for one more try.”
read full review ↗ - 80Company of Heroes 2Jul 5, 2013
“Relic may have taken a safe route with Company of Heroes 2 and made it very similar to the earlier games in the series, but that also means that it has the same cinematic and engaging action that made them famous. The campaign fails to deliver anything special but the skirmishes are just as fun as one could have hoped for.”
read full review ↗ - 80The SwapperJun 28, 2013
“The Swapper is an expertly designed puzzle platform game that excels in every area. Although the story is a bit hidden away in log files, it’s well worth going through them to expand the experience. This indie game is rivaling the quality of many of the AAA titles this year so far.”
read full review ↗ - 70CastleStormJun 28, 2013
“A nice mix of a handful different genres, where tower defense and Angry Birds are the most prominent ingredients. As you can probably imagine, the use of so many game mechanics at the same time can get too messy from time to time. The game is still worth checking out, though.”
read full review ↗ - 80Call of Juarez: GunslingerJun 6, 2013
“Call of Juarez: Gunslinger lifts the franchise after the failure that was The Cartel. When you find yourself in a duel with sheriff Pat Garrett, you’ll forget everything about Battlefield and Modern Warfare. At least for a while.”
read full review ↗ - 80Sanctum 2May 28, 2013
“Sanctum 2 brings improved balance between it’s FPS and Tower Defense mechanics, making it one of the most engaging and intensive additions to this hybrid genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80The Incredible Adventures of Van HelsingMay 28, 2013
“The game really doesn’t do anything new, but the things it does are done extremely well. If you are a fan of Torchlight II and Diablo III, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is the next great game in the same genre of games.”
read full review ↗ - 40Game Dev TycoonMay 13, 2013
“The problem is not that Game Dev Tycoon is a Game Dev Story-clone; the problem is that the game neither brings anything new to the table nor manages to live up to its role model.”
read full review ↗ - 70ShootMania StormApr 26, 2013
“ShootMania is a difficult game to rate. The pre-made game modes that come packed with the game are kind of disappointing and not that fun to play. At the same time, the tools for creating own content such as new game modes, maps and weapons are fantastic in every way, and gives us players everything that is necessary to create splendid game-play in an entertaining way. If you like creating or modifying things, this is the game for you. If you just want a good shooter game on the other hand, you should probably wait and see if the community will create any amazing game modes before you buy ShootMania Storm.”
read full review ↗ - 80Monaco: What's Yours Is MineApr 24, 2013
“Wins with simplicity. Strategically challenging without losing pace. Lack of variation and a bit to stupid AI brings down the grade, but it's still one of the more charming games I have played in a long time.”
read full review ↗