Here at Seasoned Gaming we believe in giving our full and unbiased viewpoint. While we will continue to play and discuss pre-release copies of games when possible or necessary, our final review will almost always be after we have completed the game (for games that have a standardized “completion”).
Worth noting, as an independent site with limited resources, we are often reviewing higher quality or more notable releases. As always, we encourage our community to read or watch the review rather than solely focusing on the score to get the full scope of the experience from the reviewer’s point of view.
Our full scale can be found below. Should the reviewer believe the game deserves a 7 or above, we will award it with an “SG Medal” as well, which further separates them from the crowd.
Historic (10)
Awarded only to titles that represent a truly generational level achievement by the developer. These titles have a significant and notable impact on future game development and/or the industry as a whole. They are immediate entries into the SG Game of the Year discussion and will likely be remembered for generations.
Sensational (9-9.5)
Awarded to titles that push the boundaries in nearly all areas and stand superior when compared to peer titles across the industry. These titles demonstrate a level of gameplay innovation and story, character, or world development that is highly memorable and not impaired by any notable issues.
Superb (8-8.5)
Awarded to titles that demonstrate noteworthy design elements and very positive gameplay experiences while being free from any glaring faults.
Honorable (7-7.5)
Awarded to titles that exhibit qualities that bear mentioning and, despite some shortcomings in areas, demonstrate more positives than negatives.
Decent (6-6.5)
Given to titles that may have notable shortcomings yet show promise in other areas. They aren’t going to win any awards, but you can still find some enjoyment with them.
Forgettable (5-5.5)
Given to titles that are flawed in key areas yet not necessarily poor or terrible. They are simply not memorable in any meaningful way.
Poor (4-4.5)
Given to titles that are heavily flawed and don’t present players with any meaningful gameplay experiences. Typically, there are peer titles that you’re better off playing instead.
Terrible (3-3.5)
Given to titles with next to no redeeming qualities. Look elsewhere.
Atrocious (2-2.5)
Given to titles that function and you can technically play, when they actually work…but you wouldn’t want to.
Unplayable (1)
We believe “Unplayable” says it all.
In addition to our “overall” verdict, we will break a game down with a few category scores as well. These are independent and do not sum or average towards the Final Verdict. They are simply meant to provide additional insight into aspects of the game.
Fun Factor
Regardless of other factors or the overall sum of the experience, how fun is the game to simply turn on and play.
Technical Prowess
For its genre and the experience its aiming to provide, how technically proficient is the game.
Time Investment
For games with a completion state, how long does it take to complete. This can vary by player so we’ll often offer ranges.
Replayability
For games with a completion state, how much does it offer to play through multiple times. For games with live-service and/or multiplayer components, how deep are they.
Example Review Summary Card
