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 1 time.
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 (18 tracked)
- 95Denshattack!Aug 8, 2026 · Iain McParland
“I love Denshattack! I love it a lot. In a lot of ways, it’s a throwback to a simpler time with levels, checklists, high scores, and medals. But it’s also a whole lot more, bringing old ideas into the modern era with hype-as-f*ck set pieces, an engaging anime storyline, and smooth-as-butter gameplay. Denshattack! is probably the most fun I’ve had in a video game this year, and that’s saying something. It’s just pure joy.”
read full review ↗ - 100Mina the HollowerJul 15, 2026 · Iain McParland
“The level design, visuals, music, story, and gameplay are all terrific. However, this game also has the innate ability to make me smile with its cast of characters and its surprises awaiting you around every corner. Mina the Hollower is a fricken masterpiece that more people should be playing.”
read full review ↗ - 95MixtapeJun 16, 2026 · Iain McParland
“Mixtape does what every great compilation album does. It begins with a bang, hooks you into its throes, rises and falls, and then finishes with a number to remember. That’s both in the music choices, expertly compiled by the team at Beethoven & Dinosaur, and in the gameplay and narrative.”
read full review ↗ - 80FishbowlApr 28, 2026 · Iain McParland
“There is so much trauma in this game that it sometimes feels a little unfocused. There’s enough for me to deal with in Alo’s challenges to think about side characters’ LGBTQ+ issues, funding problems to continue teaching deprived children, and finding new passions after retirement (to name just a few). It was overwhelming, and I think I lost track of where I needed Alo to be in her life. All this being said, Fishbowl is a very effective game. It got me emotional (no tears) on a couple of occasions, and that’s not easy to do. The narrative is where these games thrive or die, though, and this one certainly resonated with me. It transported me back to 2020, living in isolation, trying to find a new passion or reigniting an old one. But it was also… a lot. I’m not going to say you’re going to have a fun time with this game, but you will feel something.”
read full review ↗ - 95DispatchDec 14, 2025 · Ben Hazell
“Dispatch is to me the best narrative-driven game to come out since Telltale’s The Walking Dead, and I would highly recommend anyone interested in games like this to try it out, even if you don't particularly like superhero stories. It's definitely worth it.”
read full review ↗ - 65Terrifier: The ARTcade GameDec 9, 2025 · Iain McParland
“Sure, it’s not the best side-scrolling beat ‘em up on the market, and the combat doesn’t feel amazing, but what it does is mirror the film franchise fantastically. Art the Clown is a campy serial killer with a penchant for schlocky blood and guts. Are there better films than Terrifier? 100%. Are there better games than Terrifier: The ARTcade Game? 100%. But there’s still fun to be had here if you can look past its rough edges. That’s how I feel about both the films and the game. It’s worth a go, but don’t expect anything truly spectacular. It’s a fun time despite its obvious weaknesses.”
read full review ↗ - 80Lumines AriseDec 4, 2025 · Iain McParland
“Lumines: Arise is a simple game, but what it does, it does exceedingly well. For a game about making squares and surviving as long as you can, it makes that loop so compelling that it’s hard to put it down. It has insane visuals and an amazing soundtrack that Enhance-s (get it?) the experience. However, for some people’s brains, that overstimulation could be a little too much. On a handful of stages, I was no longer one with the game, but I was fighting against it, and that’s a damn shame.”
read full review ↗ - 85ARC RaidersNov 19, 2025 · Tim Beisiegel
“ARC Raiders is a great entry point for any gamer who, like me, is new to the Extraction Shooter genre. Despite some moral issues with the use of AI voices, which Embark are working on replacing, this game is my GOTY for 2025.”
read full review ↗ - 70Bye Sweet CaroleNov 17, 2025 · Iain McParland
“Bye Sweet Carole is filled to the brim with personality and style. The art and animation are something I’ve never experienced in a video game before, and it’s beautifully done. The point-and-click puzzles are straightforward, yet satisfying to solve, and the story is intriguing. That doesn’t excuse the game’s misgivings, with a story that sometimes doesn’t fit in with its own themes and some stealth mechanics that almost had me throwing a controller at a wall in disgust. But, I have to say, Bye Sweet Carole is a video game experience worth having. I’ve never played anything like it, and I doubt that I will again anytime soon. Just be prepared for a little internal rage every now and again.”
read full review ↗ - 95AbsolumOct 9, 2025 · Iain McParland
“Absolum is a revelation in the genre, the beautiful love-child of Hades and Streets of Rage 4. I cannot believe that this game exists, but I thank all of the Gods it does.”
read full review ↗ - 90SHINOBI: Art of VengeanceSep 28, 2025 · Iain McParland
“Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a triumphant return for Joe Musashi and his action-platforming ninja franchise. The combat feels like you are a badass shadow warrior on a quest for justice in a world where ninjas, mercs and demons are all out to get you, but you know they can’t touch you because you’re the freaking SHINOBI.”
read full review ↗ - 85despeloteMay 20, 2025 · Iain McParland
“Warning: despelote may cause unexpected feelings… from a soccer game. Yes, seriously. It’s like Field of Dreams had a baby with a soccer ball and a warm empanada.”
read full review ↗ - 95Blue PrinceMay 13, 2025 · Iain McParland
“This castle builds itself… and it’s got secrets. Blue Prince might just be the weird, wonderful game you didn’t know you needed. Room by room, it lures you in with charm, mystery, and just the right amount of existential dread.”
read full review ↗ - 80Monster Hunter WildsApr 30, 2025 · Ben Hazell
“Monster Hunter Wilds promises a lavish feast of epic hunts and wild open-world freedom—but is it all just a pretty illusion? After 70 hours in, I’m here to tell you the truth: this game isn’t serving the full cake it claims to be. Instead, we’re left with a tray of disconnected cupcakes—tasty, sure, but not the immersive experience we were promised. From brilliant combat to a lackluster story and hollow exploration, my review breaks down exactly where Wilds shines and where it crumbles. Read the full review on Couch Soup to see why even a great game can leave a strange aftertaste.”
read full review ↗ - 65Afterlove EPMar 12, 2025 · Iain McParland
“If you loved Coffee Talk for its cozy, pixel-art charm and relaxing vibes, Afterlove EP is… not that. Instead, it's an emotional gut punch—a game about love, loss, and moving on, developed by a team mourning its own creator, Mohammad Fahmi. With time management mechanics, a rhythm game twist, and an unforgettable soundtrack, Afterlove EP is a messy yet compelling experience—just like grief itself.”
read full review ↗