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 2 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 0 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 (20 tracked)
- 57
“With a measly two play modes and no real solo campaign, it's hard to believe Microsoft expects anyone to pay $50 for what feels like one-third of a game. [Feb 2004, p.126]”
read full review ↗ - 97
“L4D is one zombie apocalypse I completely and utterly embrace. [Jan 2009, p.84]”
- 52
“Flatout 2 is pretty much like the first "Flatout", which was pretty much like a poor man's "Burnout". [Sept. 2006, p.98]”
- 83
“Anyone who doesn't fall for the unique characters, hilarious dialogue, and brilliantly conceived environments of Psychonauts has no soul. The James Brown of games, Psychonauts' personality overcomes its flaws. [May 2005, p.136]”
- 73
“The tactical elements are simple and elegantly implemented, and despite being shockingly linear, it's a beautifully paced experience that provides some genuinely exciting battles. [May 2005, p.134]”
- 75
“The campaign's quick-paced action and violent nature will entice any FPS fan. [Jan 2009, p.75]”
- 93
“It's Mudokons. SoulStorm brew is made out of Mudokons! You gotta tell them! [Jan 2004, p.188]”
- 75
“This is as close as a console RPG has come to pen-and-paper games like "D&D": deep, non-linear and H-U-G-E, with more characters, towns and dungeons than you can imagine. [August 2002, p.134]”
- 82
“Incredibly innovative, wickedly addictive gameplay is the compelling reason to pick this up. It's pure genius. [May 2003, p.126]”
- 97
“Yet another outstanding FF sequel, this time with a return to its roots. [Jan 2004, p.188]”
- 83
“It's a truly beautiful game, too, spanning from the lush forest of Ewok-infested Endor the to the Tatooine desert (complete with hostile Tusken Raiders.) And it's just plain cool to see Darth Vader walking around kicking ass. [Nov 2004, p.124]”
- 67
“Distressingly little effort went into crafting this anniversary package: Square Enix merely cobbled together aspects from the PS1 and GBA remakes, touched up the graphics with high-resolution art, and added one new, ultra-difficult dungeon at the game's end. [July 2007, p.95]”
- 100
“Holy f***ing s***. (Sorry...I'm swearing a lot more now because of San Andreas.) I can't wrap my head around how much stuff is packed into this one disc. It's grand, it's ambitious, and funny as this may sound, it's legendary. [Dan Hsu]”
read full review ↗ - 72
“The enemies are tougher and more frequent in the brutal second half, but I still enjoyed every thrilling moment. [May 2002, p.106]”
- 78
“Dicing up the undead with your oversized Ginsu knife is a helluva lot of fun (if you can live with the occasionally annoying camera angles). [Oct 2002, p.188]”