Every game on the board is marked from 1 to 10 on five criteria. The overall score out of 100 is the weighted total, so a game can't score well overall while doing badly on price honesty, and vice versa.
The five criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | 25% | Controls, feedback and the moment-to-moment play. |
| Depth | 20% | Whether it is still interesting after fifty hours. |
| Price honesty | 25% | How clearly it shows what things cost and what you get. |
| Time respect | 15% | How little it leans on fear of missing out and daily chores. |
| Access | 15% | Platforms, crossplay, hardware needs and account hoops. |
Worked example: Fortnite. 8.5 × 25% + 8.5 × 20% + 8 × 25% + 6.5 × 15% + 9.5 × 15% = 8.22 out of 10, shown as 82/100.
What the numbers mean
- 90+: rare. A game we'd recommend to almost anyone.
- 80–89: excellent, with a clear audience.
- 70–79: good, with caveats worth reading.
- Below 70: not on our current board.
What price honesty looks at
Because every game we rate earns from optional purchases, price honesty carries a quarter of the weight. We look at whether items are named and previewable, whether currency bundles leave awkward remainders, whether passes expire, whether premium currency can be earned through play, and whether the shop sells paid random items. A random paid result is the single biggest deduction.
What time respect looks at
Daily login chores, short-lived shop rotations, timers you can pay to skip, and passes that need daily play to finish all count against a game. Content that stays available, and progress you can make at your own pace, count in its favour.