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 6 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.
Biggest disagreements with players
The receipts: games where this outlet's verdict landed furthest from player sentiment.
Recent reviews (60 tracked)
- 30Hotline MiamiNov 23, 2012
“I wonder if the developers themselves knew what exactly they were trying to create. Is it a stealth game? a tactical strategy? a top-down arcade? Kitschy, bold artwork is only there to cover up the lack of cohesive ideas, and crude execution.”
read full review ↗ - 80Natural Selection 2Nov 23, 2012
“Natural Selection 2 has quite a few things to be nitpicky about. Pared down strategy elements, scanty arsenal of weapons, lack of single-player missions and decent tutorials – yep, it's all there, but, in contrast to shooters that come off big assembly lines, the developers put love and effort into making of this game.”
read full review ↗ - 76Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New EyesNov 23, 2012
“Harvey's New Eyes is ridiculously easy to beat, but fun, not quite beautiful, but very stylish, never gets boring, but goes out with a whimper.”
read full review ↗ - 90
- 80Chivalry: Medieval WarfareNov 9, 2012
“Chivalry is, hands down, the best online slasher set in the Middle Ages out there right now.”
read full review ↗ - 78Torchlight IIOct 11, 2012
“Torchlight 2 is a very player-friendly action/RPG. It could have gotten a better score if not for its truncated Act IV.”
read full review ↗ - 80FTL: Faster Than LightOct 11, 2012
“Unlike its rogue-like brethren, FTL is not a game that you'll be enjoying for hundreds of hours, but still, saving The Federation is a lot of fun for a first few times.”
read full review ↗ - 86Orcs Must Die! 2Aug 30, 2012
“It's not easy to create a worthy sequel to a great game, but Robot Entertainment managed to go around the now-familiar gameplay formula by adding new ways to develop the characters and a very addictive coop mode.”
read full review ↗ - 62Sins of a Solar Empire®: RebellionAug 30, 2012
“Rebellion is clearly an improvement over the original Sins of a Solar Empire, but it's still a not very successful attempt to cross an RTS with a 4X strategy game.”
read full review ↗ - 55UnmechanicalAug 30, 2012
“Unmechanical is nice to look at, but overly simple and not that interesting.”
read full review ↗ - 84DeponiaAug 30, 2012
“Deponia is a refined adventure game – beautifully drawn, creative, incredibly funny and so close to the classic definition of the genre that it takes your breath away.”
read full review ↗ - 87NihilumbraAug 30, 2012
“Dark atmosphere, unprecedented drama for an App Store game, amazing finale. Finally, the iOS platform has discovered its own thatgamecompany.”
read full review ↗ - 63The Dark Eye: Chains of SatinavJul 28, 2012
“The weak narrative sucks all the emotional drama from the game's story, while beautiful hand-drawn backgrounds are saddled with the ugliest examples of character animation.”
read full review ↗ - 62Warlock - Master of the ArcaneJun 28, 2012
“Warlock is just a failed attempt to reproduce Master of Magic.”
read full review ↗ - 80BotaniculaMay 24, 2012
“A simple, yet very endearing game. If Botanicula were a living creature, you'd want to hold it in your arms and pet it around the neck. What a cutie! If only it were a wee bit smarter.”
read full review ↗