VideoGamesCritic | The one source of truth for gamers

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.

Alignment (40%)

Decoded accuracy (30%)

Player-side (30%)

Controversy record: on 29 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 (180 tracked)

80
UnavowedSep 12, 2018
“A terrific plot, excellent characters, and fantastic worldbuilding elevate the game's unexciting puzzles. [Issue#272, p.44]”
90
WreckfestJun 25, 2018
“A deceptively realistic racing game that doesn't care if you want to ignore the details and just smash every car on the track.”
read full review ↗
70
FrostpunkApr 30, 2018
“Though repetitive with stacks of downtime, Frostpunk has a strangely addictive gameplay loop (more so, I imagine, if you emotionally connect with your people).”
read full review ↗
90
SubnauticaApr 5, 2018
“An ambitious game that manages to pack in a beautiful open world, complex survival challenges, and lots of teeth. [Issue#270, p.59]”
70
Kingdom Come: DeliveranceApr 5, 2018
“An unflinchingly hardcore RPG that trades promises of "realism" for just another fantasy. [Issue#270, p.49]”
90
Nioh: Complete EditionJan 6, 2018
“Nioh successfully reinvents Souls with deeper combat and skill trees. [Issue#269, p.58]”
90
Hand of Fate 2Nov 16, 2017
“Despite a few issues with pacing, Hand of Fate 2 crafts an atmosphere based on its predecessor, but also full of surprises. You will want to spend hours playing games within games within this game, even as the Dealer taunts you for your missteps.”
read full review ↗
70
ARK: Survival EvolvedNov 12, 2017
“Specialises in trick shots before mastering the fundamentals. Deeply flawed, but hard to ignore. [Issue#267, p.58]”
read full review ↗
90
Total War: WARHAMMER IINov 12, 2017
“A fantastic return to form that will only get better with the inevitable post-release content-drops. But even out of the box, this is Total War at its best. [Issue#267, p.54]”
read full review ↗
90
HobNov 12, 2017
“A gorgeous action-adventure that transports you to a magical world. [Issue#267, p.74]”
70
RUINERNov 12, 2017
“Not without some significant problems, Ruiner is still a satisfyingly difficult slice of twin stick grimdorkness. [Issue#267, p.73]”
100
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive EditionNov 9, 2017
“Old-school charm with modern mechanics makes for one of the best RPG experiences in ages.”
read full review ↗
70
ObserverOct 8, 2017
“Before it resorts to some rather cliched horror tropes, Observer is a gritty, oppressive cyberpunk nightmare. [Issue#266, p.60]”
80
Battlestar Galactica DeadlockOct 8, 2017
“Flawed but satisfying combination of epic turn-based tactical gameplay and incredible fidelity to the source material. [Issue#266, p.62]”
90
TacomaOct 8, 2017
“A bold, ambitious step forward for the - hnngh - "walking simulator." [Issue#266, p.54]”
read full review ↗

PC PowerPlay

How this trust score was computed

Outlet vs. players

Biggest disagreements with players

Recent reviews (180 tracked)