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 7 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 3 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 (64 tracked)
- 85NidhoggJan 16, 2014
“If you’re keen on games that are easy to learn but difficult to master, Nidhogg is for you. The combat system is incredibly fun, and there are so many heart-stopping moments packed into each round that it’s tough to keep count. Once the online issues are fixed, it’ll be a source of constant competition for months to come.”
read full review ↗ - 85Forza Motorsport 5Dec 10, 2013
“With a few fixes to its economy and more free tracks in a future update, Forza 5 will grow into one of the best racing games ever made. It’s beautiful, it shows off the designs of vehicles in a way that’s never been done before, and the Top Gear license is used to enhance the experience. If you’re a casual racing fan who finds themselves overwhelmed easily, Forza 5 is your huckleberry.”
read full review ↗ - 65Batman™: Arkham OriginsOct 28, 2013
“Batman: Arkham Origins could have been so much more. I’m not sure if a rushed development cycle, a new developer, or shoehorned multiplayer is to blame (maybe a combination of all three), but unfortunately, Origins falls short of the high bars the previous games have created. ”
read full review ↗ - 90Rayman® LegendsSep 3, 2013
“Just like Origins before it, Legends is a must-have for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90Far Cry 3 - Blood DragonApr 30, 2013
“Blood Dragon came out of nowhere and blew me away. As a child of the 80s and 90s, it was a wonderful blast through the past that I couldn’t stop playing. My only major complaint is the brevity of the package, but if you’re the kind of person who always goes for 100% completion, there’s more than enough game here for you to enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 80Monaco: What's Yours Is MineApr 24, 2013
“To date, there aren’t a whole lot of games like Monaco. There’s action oriented isometrics like Trap Gunner and strategy heavy games like Frozen Synapse, but Monaco succeeds in blending the two playstyles together effortlessly. Even if you aren’t the type who plays nice with others, Monaco offers more than enough content to help you channel your inner thief.”
read full review ↗ - 40Giana Sisters: Twisted DreamsApr 15, 2013
“The entire experience of Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams doesn’t come together in a cohesive whole often enough for it to be considered one of the great platformers, or even a really good one. Its frustrating lows, compounded by brutal difficulty spikes, don’t completely outweigh the occasional highs.”
read full review ↗ - 75DmC: Devil May CryJan 16, 2013
“To be clear, this is not a classic Devil May Cry game. Combat is not nuanced down to exact tenths of a second, you aren't going to ponder over which ability based unlockables to buy, and there isn't a whole lot of thinking going on in general.”
read full review ↗ - 90Hotline MiamiNov 26, 2012
“If you're worried about getting your $10 worth of gameplay out of Hotline, don't be. I would have paid at least twice the price for the game as is. With the promise of more levels, I can't see anyone being upset about the value of the game.”
read full review ↗ - 80Call of Duty®: Black Ops IINov 16, 2012
“All in all, Black Ops II is a solid game, but it feels kind of tired at this point in many respects. The new additions to the single player, zombie, and multiplayer components are a good effort, but they're not enough to transcend the series to a new level (like Halo 4 did for the Halo series). But if you enjoyed Black Ops, odds are you'll also enjoy Black Ops II - albeit a little less so.”
read full review ↗ - 70DishonoredOct 7, 2012
“After my first playthrough (which took around 6 hours), I felt a bit underwhelmed. As in I literally thought to myself - that was it? But then after going through a few more times, I realized how fun taking different paths could be.”
read full review ↗ - 95Borderlands 2Sep 18, 2012
“Overall, I found myself stopping to smell the roses on a number of ocassions, attempting to raise my Badass Rank just for fun. Even in the more run-of-the-mill areas or quests you might encounter during the game, these challenges help keep things interesting.”
read full review ↗ - 95Dust: An Elysian TailAug 13, 2012
“Although it can get repetitive at times, Dust is easily the most charming game in the entire Summer of Arcade. In fact, it's one of the most enjoyable Metroidvania/action RPG games I've ever played. ”
read full review ↗ - 50DeadlightJul 30, 2012
“Deadlight, on the other hand, has an entire one third of the game that feels like it could have been utterly discarded. What's even more jarring is that the third act can also invoke that same feeling of redundancy. The game starts off as a bang, then descends into this fairly uninteresting second act, before presenting a largely uninteresting on the nose finale.”
read full review ↗ - 95SpelunkyJul 13, 2012
“All in all, if you hate challenging games, stay away from Spelunky. If you hate charming retro graphics, or the idea of perma-death, don't get Spelunky.”
read full review ↗