Why I stopped caring about mainstream game review scores

It depends on how low the scores are

In general, a game that receives almost universally low scores across every port is a good warning to stay away. However, it also depends on how low it is and what the specific complaints are.

Something with mid-range reviews, like 50-60 on Metacritic or OpenCritic, is still likely to have some traction as evidenced by the fact that some reviewers found something they liked about it. Average reviews might prompt me to look into it more deeply than I would otherwise, out of curiosity about what people like about the game.

A lot of my favorite games are far from being critically loved, and I have a history of tolerating a lot of negatives if the gameplay is engaging enough.

A bad launch isn’t always a death knell

It’s a tale as old as time at this point: a long-awaited game is released with technical glitches, lacks content, and as a result, gets average to poor reviews. Often times, this doesn’t mean that the game itself is bad, but rather that it was released too early, or simply didn’t deliver what fans expected (whether that’s fair or not).

Nowadays, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn’t admit it Cyberpunk 2077 is A top notch open world game or so No sky man It doesn’t have much to offer. This is because, despite the difficulties at launch, they were built with a solid foundation that simply needed more time in the oven, so to speak.

After the redemption arc is completed, even games with more difficult launches, e.g assassin’s creed unit, It could grow into a fan favorite in time. In this case, I’d still likely stop buying it at launch if I found the reviews to be less than stellar and the technical issues to be plentiful. But a hard start will never be something that turns me away forever.

Mid-range reviews can be a sign of newness

Sometimes mid-range review averages don’t come about because the game is bad or downright boring, but simply because it doesn’t follow the usual conventions the average gamer expects.

A lot of classic indie games or even more obscure entries in older franchises can take a direction that breaks with the usual core elements of modern games. This can sometimes lead to commercial failure, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the game doesn’t have a lot to offer.

Quite the opposite is true in many cases. Games with minimal corporate intervention that avoid sticking to a formula can thrive because of this.

Game designer Goichi Suda’s studio, Grasshopper Manufacture, comes to mind. The company focuses on making unique games, rather than prioritizing sales. Some of its games, such as survival horror Michigan: Report from Hell It failed to make a significant impact with critics and general audiences but still maintains a cult following due to its niche appeal.

In an industry dominated by live-service games, AAA cinematic story-driven experiences, and open-world RPGs, it can be a hard sell if you release a game that completely avoids these tropes.

As someone who’s tired of the usual gaming trends, seeing a game with somewhat divisive outcomes can be strangely reassuring. It might mean I found something completely original. What many consider to be negatives can become exactly what I’m looking for, and I’m always eager to try something new.

Loyalty to the franchise is a powerful motivator

This may not be the best practice as a consumer, but I’ll also admit that I’m more forgiving of reviews of games in series I already like.

Usually, there’s a specific reason that keeps me coming back to every subsequent game in the series. If I feel like a new entry achieves that, I rarely care about the review results. Even if major reviewers bundled a game into an ongoing series, I’d likely keep playing it just to satisfy my interest in the series.

I am a devout advocate of Resident Evil 6which sits at a mediocre 67 on Metacritic, for many of the same reasons it was panned by many critics. While popular media criticized the story and focus on action rather than horror, it wasn’t enough to put me off, and as a franchise loyalist like myself, I ended up enjoying the film.

Ultimately, well-known titles and familiar characters are a surefire way to pique my interest, even if the end result doesn’t impress many critics. I’m always curious to see what new directions my favorite franchises might take. Whether I end up not being a fan or not is just part of the adventure.

User reviews are helpful with a pinch of salt

While popular review outlets may give you a good first impression of the overall quality of a game, they often fail to show you the bigger picture. User reviews from fans of all types tend to be more specific and can offer a more personal view of what it’s like to actually play a particular game.

Fellow fans are likely to have more clear opinions about the game’s pros and cons, as some of them may feel more invested in it than a professional reviewer. Some may be more willing to tolerate certain aspects if a particular part stands out to them, while others may be more harsh.

Games with turbulent launches benefit from this the most. Following up and looking at the latest reviews from fans on Steam and other platforms shows how much the game has improved since its initial reception (or whether the game has simply been abandoned).

It’s important to put these reviews in context, since user reviews are not infallible. Some of them can be dishonest, malicious or not constructive at all. Some of them are negative due to a hardware issue on the user’s end, or something specific to the player and not a bug in the game itself.

As you get older and take on more financial responsibilities, understanding what you’re getting out of a game is crucial, but that doesn’t mean you should let reviews define what’s fun for you.

Understanding the context behind potential negative reviews and your own tastes to paint a bigger picture can help make sure you don’t miss a potential diamond in the rough.