How we actually decide a score

People ask what the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.5 really is, so here's the honest answer: it's judgment, informed by a shared checklist we keep arguing over.

We start with how a game feels to control, because on a phone that's everything. A brilliant idea buried under bad touch controls loses points fast. Then we look at how it respects your time, how fair its progression is, and whether it stays fun past the first novelty.

Scores are subjective and we never pretend otherwise. A 4.0 from us isn't a failing grade — it's a solid game with a few rough edges we think you should know about before you commit.

If our number and your taste disagree, that's fine. We'd rather explain our reasoning clearly than hand down a verdict you have to take on faith.