My Rating System

I rate on a scale of 6 to 10. Games take me a long time to beat, and I don’t have the patience or desire to review things that I objectively despise. There has to be some potential or spark for me to review a game, because I need that in order to be able to complete it.

6 / 10 — That’s Enough of That!

The game was good enough that I did not return it to Steam within the two hour window, but not good enough for me to see it to the end. It has some elements that I enjoyed enough to keep playing it for a reasonable amount of time. But it also included enough annoying elements to ultimately make me go, “Next!” and put it down. Games are a very subjective thing, so your experience may be different than mine. But this one was not for me.

7 / 10 — Good

This is a game that I played and cleared, that I enjoyed, but that I also recognize has problems which either hindered me, or that I think could hinder many players. I’ll gladly specify whether that is one or both of the above statements in a review. Good exists to help sort entries in a series that are still solid but do not live up to the standard set by other games within the same franchise. It’s there for an individual title that was solid enough that I did finish it, but not strong enough that it knocked my socks off.

8 / 10 — Great!

A great game is a solid recommendation that I would encourage someone to play without hesitation if they are drawn in by the game’s premise, art style, or gameplay. Great games have something about them that I think really stands out, while still potentially having a few small wrinkles that may not have perfectly worked for me. I start every game I play with the impression that it has the potential to be Great, and the score goes up or down based on the experience that I have while playing.

9 / 10 — Amazing!

This is the highest rating that a game can get from me on a purely objective level. A 9 from me is a “run, don’t walk, and pick this up now!” situation. A 9 / 10 game puts its best foot forward in every major aspect of its game type. It’s top of its class, has been created with time and care, and is something I’m confident is going to give players a memorable and satisfying experience.

10 / 10 — It’s the Kat’s Meow!

I don’t believe in objective 10 / 10 ratings. So what my 10 / 10 means is that a game has all the qualities that I just praised in a 9 / 10 game, but it also affected me in some way personally. It nailed a favorite theme or gameplay concept. It had some amazing piece of music that’s stuck in my head a week later. It involved a story concept or character interactions that I’m still thinking about. I immediately created a different character and am doing a second playthrough. A 10 is a game that was perfect for me, and that I would eagerly and endlessly recommend to you.