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 2 times.
Computed 4m 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.
Recent reviews (32 tracked)
- 84Anomaly: Warzone EarthSep 8, 2011
“The simplicity of the design is where the game really shines. [Oct 2011, p.105]”
- 90Frozen SynapseAug 8, 2011
“Puts its core mechanics before everything else and with good reason - they're as near-perfect as we're ever going to get. [Sept 2011, p.102]”
- 91Total War: SHOGUN 2Mar 18, 2011
“It's the finest Total War game CA has ever made, with a beautifully focused campaign and involving multiplayer too. [Apr 2011, p.94]”
- 92Sid Meier's Civilization® VDec 25, 2010
“As good as Civ ever was, with some interesting new additions and, better yet, no more stacks o' doom. A worthy series update. [Issue#245, p.98]”
- 90Amnesia: The Dark DescentDec 25, 2010
“This isn't a game, it's a trip into the human psyche's darker spaces. Not for the faint of heart, but horror junkies will lap it up. [Issue#246, p.107]”
- 96
“Revel, savour and bask in the brilliance; this is a game that no gamer can afford to ignore... The PC's finest gaming moment, with a half-life of forever. [Nov 2004, p.83]”
read full review ↗ - 86
“As used in CS: Source, that ground breaking physics engine is just gimmickry. Likewise, no attempt has been made to make the robotic hostages lifelike. So much for "HL2's" ground-breaking AI. But we have a confession: we just can't stop playing it. [Dec 2004, p.85]”
read full review ↗ - 78
“An enjoyable kill-a-thon then, though sits unsteadily alongside the now-classic Valve title. [Oct 2009, p.98]”
- 82
“PopCap at its finest. [July 2009, p.95]”
- 90
“A bewigged, flouncing, educational "Rome." Wonderful stuff. [Christmas 2006, p.88]”
- 82
“It's a simple, short thing, but the truly masterful handling of the lightsaber(s) this time around means it's also perhaps the most genuinely Star Warsy game in a long, long time.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“A fresh breath in the MMORPG genre. In some respects it's ELITE on steroids.”
- 80
“Doesn't broaden Civ IV's appeal any, but a must-have if you have any Sid Meier love in you. [Oct 2007, p.80]”
- 79
“The connection with the song and tapping into your musical taste is enthralling, but the project ins't quite all it could be... yet. [May 2008, p.110]”
- 82
“A good sequel that's faithful to its forebears in all the right places. [July 2006, p.98]”