How I score games
Games are rated out of 100 across three pillars: Execution, Enjoyment, and Sauce. Execution and Enjoyment are equally weighted at 20 points each. The Sauce of a game adds 10 additional points for a potential total score of 50 points. This raw score is multiplied by 2 to reach a game's final score.
Score Guide
| Score | Verdict | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Classic | Exceptional. Essential. Unequivocal. These games are the rare few I'd call 'required reading.' |
| 75–89 | Excellent | Falls short of Classic status, but still a great game I'd recommend to pretty much everyone. Or: basically a Classic with one fatal flaw. |
| 60–74 | Good | A solid game I'd recommend — very enjoyable to the right kind of person. Or: a promising game that falls short of its potential. |
| 45–59 | Middling | A decent game with marked imperfections. If you enjoy the genre, wait for a sale. Otherwise you could pass without missing much. |
| 30–44 | Poor | Not recommended. Does more wrong than right. Or: a good idea ruined by poor execution. Or: interesting in a masochistic kind of way. |
| < 30 | Terrible | Very bad. Avoid. |
Execution
20 pointsDoes the game do what it set out to do?
Does interacting with this game feel good? Are the controls sensible and responsive? Consider the UI/UX design, does it feel flowy and intuitive?
| 5 | Near Perfect — Delightful, a joy to feel |
| 4 | Excellent — Responsive, intuitive, and satisfying |
| 3 | Solid — Feels good with some gripes |
| 2 | Inconsistent — Noticeable issues affect play |
| 1 | Frustrating — Feels wrong, unresponsive, or fights against you |
| 0 | Irredeemable — Debilitating, disgusting to play |
Is the game well-built? Are the sounds and visuals faithful to the author's intent?
| 5 | Near Perfect — Every detail was thoughtfully considered and tested thoroughly |
| 4 | Excellent — Clean, stable, and well presented. No complaints |
| 3 | Solid — Runs well, minor bugs that don't derail the experience |
| 2 | Rough — Playable with noticeable performance issues. |
| 1 | Troubled — Frequent bugs or performance hiccups. Softlocking |
| 0 | Unplayable — Crashes and game-breaking bugs |
Does the game have a clear vision? Do gameplay, story, visuals, sound, and decision space mesh with the game's theme?
| 5 | Harmonious — Every facet fits into a complete and coherent vision |
| 4 | Excellent — Intentional and unified, with almost no missteps |
| 3 | Cohesive — The game knows what it is, with only minor inconsistencies |
| 2 | Uneven — Disconnected parts, identity problems |
| 1 | Inconsistent — Tone, rules, or systems clash in unhappy ways |
| 0 | Contradictory — Utterly dissonant |
Does the game reach for something big? Did it stick the landing and deliver on its promises?
| 5 | Moonshot — Reached for the stars and surpassed its goal |
| 4 | Exceeded — Delivered upon and exceeded its ambition |
| 3 | Delivered — Set reasonable goals and met them well |
| 2 | Underdelivered — Unambitious, or falls noticeably short of promises |
| 1 | Major Gaps — Tries to achieve its goals and fails miserably |
| 0 | Star Citizen — Wildly overpromised and criminally underdelivered |
Enjoyment
20 pointsHow much did I love playing it?
Is the game enjoyable to play, moment to moment?
| 5 | Euphoric — Every moment exciting and elating |
| 4 | A Blast — Consistently enjoyable, maybe a dragging moment |
| 3 | Genuinely Fun — Fun on the whole, with a lot of filler time |
| 2 | Mixed — Fun at times, frustrating at others |
| 1 | Abrasive — Occasional bright spots in an otherwise joyless experience, or forgettable |
| 0 | Joyless — More chore than game, actively unpleasant |
Does the game look good? Does the game (and its music, if applicable) sound good?
| 5 | Iconic — A landmark of visual and sonic identity |
| 4 | Striking — Excellent visual art, sound and/or music |
| 3 | Solid — Good looking, good sounding |
| 2 | Functional — Unremarkable but serviceable |
| 1 | Lacking — Noticeably weak in one or more areas |
| 0 | Offensive — Upsetting to look at or listen to |
Was my time spent with the game worth it? Is the game reasonably priced for what it offers?
| 5 | Priceless — No time feels wasted. Incredible value |
| 4 | Rewarding — Time well-spent. A great value |
| 3 | Worthwhile — A satisfying play for a fair price |
| 2 | Thin — Something made it worthwhile, but time often feels wasted |
| 1 | Draining — The experience didn't justify the time spent. Overpriced |
| 0 | Robbery — This game stole hours of my life I will never get back |
Does the game stick with me? Is it important to me, to the medium, or to culture?
| 5 | Unforgettable — Timeless. I will think about this game for the rest of my life |
| 4 | Lasting — Will hold cultural cache for the foreseeable future |
| 3 | Lingering — Stuck with me personally; may grow a permanent, devoted audience |
| 2 | Peripheral — Left a faint impression. It'll come back to me from time to time |
| 1 | Faded — Evaporated quickly, unlikely to be remembered. A footnote at best |
| 0 | Lost — Left nothing behind in me or the medium |
The Sauce
10 pointsDoes the game bring something new to the table? Does the game have unique identity?
Does the game bring something new to the table? Does it have a unique identity?
| 5 | One-of-a-kind — Completely original, genre-(re)defining |
| 4 | Distinctive — Presents something original or reframes the familiar in a brand new way |
| 3 | Flavored — Wears its influence clearly, but iterates on it distinctively |
| 2 | Conventional — Leans heavily on what came before, but not trite |
| 1 | Formulaic — Follows the formula to a 'T' with little personality |
| 0 | Derivative — A cynical copy with nothing to call its own |
Did the game stop me in my tracks? Did it move me?
| 5 | Cathartic — Scenes, moments, or revelations changed me as a person |
| 4 | Transcendent — Elevated itself beyond genre, multiple moments of awe. I was immersed (emotionally) |
| 3 | Surprising — At least one moment genuinely moved me |
| 2 | Resonant — Landed emotionally, but to a lesser extent. Or: induced an emotionless flow state |
| 1 | Tepid — Almost something, but never quite seizes its moment. Or: a cheap shot. |
| 0 | Milquetoast — Exactly what's on the tin. No surprises. |