Here at Game Crater, we cover reviews and previews on video games, anime, tabletop games, and the occasional movie (live-action, video game-related).
We use a fairly common rating system of scoring games out of 10. Previously, we used half scores, but to simplify even our system even further, all our reviews will be whole numbers. So, don’t worry, you won’t be seeing .1s or .2s anywhere!
Also, all reviews at Game Crater are always written by one person. This means that others in our team may rate a title higher or lower than the reviewer. That’s normal, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, because of this, you might find that some articles are more favourable than our original review. Sometimes people love certain games that others don’t particularly enjoy.
Scores
Unplayable – 1/10
This is the worst of the worst; the bottom of the barrel; the lowest of lows. This is a barely playable game, never mind fun. We recommend staying far, far away from games with this score.
Terrible – 2/10
This is still laughably bad, but at least it turns on. It’s still barely functional, and a strong avoid, but it deserves the extra point for being terrible as opposed to the worst thing ever made.
Bad – 3/10
Still no good, but with some redeemable qualities. Sure, it’s not worth playing, but it’s possible someone in development decided to put in a modicum of effort. Maybe some good ideas, but terrible nonetheless.
Examples include:
Poor – 4/10
This is reserved for the Icarus of games. Maybe they had some fantastic ideas, but their ambition was just too big, and they faltered at every step. They can be appreciated for trying, but ultimately, they’re no good.
Examples include:
Mediocre – 5/10
This is your average experience. It works, you’ll probably have some fun while playing, but once you’re done, you’ll forget it exists.
Examples include:
- Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World
- Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
- Buildings Have Feelings Too!
Above Average – 6/10
It’s better than average, maybe even a little more fun, but still a little forgettable. It’s clear more effort has been put into titles with this score, and there’s a really good chance that fans of the genre or franchise will get something out of it, but for the most part, if you missed out on this experience you’d probably survive.
Examples include:
Good – 7/10
Now this, this is a pretty good game. Games with this score are definitely worth checking out and have lots of good ideas that are mostly well-executed. Sure, they’re not perfect, but there’s a really good chance that this will be someone’s favourite game.
Examples include:
Great – 8/10
These are games that are hard to put down. They’ll have a fault here and there, maybe a musical track that doesn’t quite gel with the reviewer, but for the most part, they’re incredible. They have great mechanics, narratives and visuals. The developers put in a lot of care and attention, and most players will enjoy it, regardless of their gaming preferences. It’s not perfect, but it’s sure as hell close enough.
Examples include:
Amazing – 9/10
These are the crème de la crème of video games, the kind that people will be talking about for generations. You’ll play these and quite literally burst into tears once you’re done. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but people will cite these as life-changing experiences for the rest of time. You’ll probably hear about these kinds of games even if you don’t care about video games. They’re that good.
Examples include:
Mythical – 10/10
The mythical score that blesses very few games. 10 out of 10s don’t really exist, but a reviewer may love a game so much that they defy all logic and give it a perfect score. Sure, 10 out of 10 implies there’s nothing wrong with it, but this is a purely emotional score. It is reserved for games that mean the world to the reviewer.
Examples include:
