Our Review Philosophy

How we approach game reviews at Output Lag

Here's the thing about game reviews – they're inherently personal. What makes one person rage-quit might be another's game of the year. At Output Lag, we get that.

Reviews Are Personal (And That's Okay)

Look, we could pretend that there's some magical, objective way to review games. We could create elaborate scoring matrices and pretend we're scientific about this whole thing. But let's be real – at the end of the day, games are art, and art is subjective.

Every reviewer brings their own gaming history, preferences, and yes, biases to the table. The person who grew up speedrunning platformers is going to experience a game differently than someone who's logged 2,000 hours in tactical RPGs. That's not a bug; it's a feature.

Our Promise

We won't pretend to be objective. Instead, we'll be transparent about our perspectives, thorough in our analysis, and honest about what worked for us and what didn't.

It's Not About the Score

Yes, we use a 10-point scale. No, that number isn't the whole story.

Our role isn't to slap a number on a game and call it a day. Our job is to help you figure out if a game is for you. That score? It's just shorthand for how we felt about the overall experience. The real value is in understanding why we arrived at that number.

What Our Scores Mean

10

Masterpiece

A landmark that redefines its genre. Every element fires on all cylinders. We see maybe one or two per year.

9

Superb

Near-flawless with lasting impact. Minor nitpicks never detract. Easy recommendation for everyone.

8

Great

Polished and compelling. Limited weaknesses. Must-play for genre fans, strongly recommended for most.

7

Good

Memorable moments with solid craft. Some pacing or originality issues. Easy to endorse for its audience.

6

Decent

Competent but lacks spark. Noticeable rough edges. Worth playing with tempered expectations.

5

Average

Functional but forgettable. Strengths and flaws balance out. For genre die-hards or deep discounts.

4

Mediocre

Underwhelming with frequent frustrations. Only for dedicated fans willing to overlook issues.

3

Poor

Frustrations overshadow bright spots. Significant bugs or shallow design. Proceed with caution.

2

Bad

Deeply flawed across the board. Game-breaking issues make it nearly impossible to recommend.

1

Broken

Unplayable mess. Crashes, corrupted saves, or fundamental failures. Should not have shipped.

What We Look At

While every game is different, here's what typically catches our attention:

The Fun Factor

Is it actually enjoyable to play? This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many games forget this fundamental question.

Technical Performance

Frame rates, load times, bugs – the unsexy stuff that can make or break your experience. We test on real hardware, not just high-end PCs.

Value Proposition

Is it worth your time and money? A $70 game needs to deliver more than a $20 indie title. Context matters.

Innovation vs Execution

Sometimes a game does nothing new but executes flawlessly. Other times, ambitious ideas stumble in practice. We consider both.

Accessibility & Options

Can everyone enjoy this? We look at difficulty options, accessibility features, and how welcoming the game is to different skill levels.

Long-term Appeal

Will you still want to play this next month? We consider replayability, post-launch support, and whether the experience holds up over time.

Our Review Process

  1. We Actually Play the Games

    Revolutionary, we know. But seriously – we play games to completion whenever possible. For massive RPGs or endless games, we'll note how many hours we've invested.

  2. Multiple Perspectives

    When possible, multiple team members play major releases. Different perspectives help us understand how various players might experience the game.

  3. Time to Digest

    We don't rush reviews out the door. Sometimes a game that seems amazing at hour 5 falls apart by hour 20. We take the time to see the whole picture.

  4. Context Matters

    We consider price, platform, target audience, and developer size. An indie game made by three people isn't held to the same production standards as a AAA blockbuster.

Reading Our Reviews

Here's how to get the most out of our reviews:

  • Check the reviewer's background: Each review includes info about the reviewer's experience with the genre
  • Read beyond the score: The number is just the start – the "why" is what matters
  • Look at the pros and cons: What bothers us might not bother you (and vice versa)
  • Consider your preferences: Love grinding? Hate puzzles? Use our analysis to gauge fit

The Bottom Line

We're not here to tell you what to think. We're here to share our honest experiences, explain our reasoning, and give you the information you need to make your own decision. Because at the end of the day, the best game is the one you enjoy playing.

Transparency & Ethics

Let's address the elephant in the room:

  • We purchase most games ourselves. When we receive review codes, we'll note it.
  • Publishers don't see our reviews before publication. Ever.
  • We don't accept payment for reviews or coverage.
  • If we have any potential conflicts of interest, we'll disclose them.
  • We update reviews if major patches significantly change the experience.

Questions?

Got questions about our review process? Disagree with a review? Want to discuss why we're completely wrong about your favorite game? We're always happy to chat – hit us up on social media or drop us an email.

Happy gaming,
The Output Lag Team