Review Policy

So Many Games takes the responsibility of reviewing video games in a serious manner. The backbone of our reviews lies in the importance of nuanced thoughts on the game in question, making sure to include information that we feel the reader would need in order to make a worthwhile purchase. Our reviews will always be balanced and fair, pointing out what the game did and did not do well and sharing the reviewers’ reactions to these points. All our reviews will come with as much accessibility option information as we can find, as we feel this information is just as important as the rest of the review. 

Beyond that, here are some other areas we think you should know about how we tackle our reviews:

• We choose what to review based on what we think you, our audience, would like to read about. We review as much as we can with the resources available to us. Although we would love to review as many games as possible, it’s just not possible, as we do this in our spare time, but we will endeavour to produce written reviews on a wide variety of games.

 

• Each review represents the opinion of the individual reviewer and their experiences with that game. No other influence is made by any other member of the team to include false information or to alter the final score. 

 

• We trust our writers to decide how much of a game is appropriate to play before publishing a review. We expect our reviewers to have rolled credits on a game before attempting to review it – but this will not be true in every instance. This will only occur in certain circumstances and a section of the review will be dedicated to the reasons why that particular game was not completed. 

 

• So Many Games never shares review text with publishers or developers before the review is published. We will always only share our reviews once the review has been made public.

 

• We do not update or change reviews once published. We always review the game at or as close to its launch date as possible. This entails us publishing a review for its embargo date, which is usually a couple of days before the games release or having a review published on or a few days after its release. In some instances we may publish a review of a game that was released in a previous year or a few months after its release. These reviews will be clearly labelled as “Backtrack Reviews.”

 

• We will only review final builds of games given to us from developers, publishers, or titles we’ve purchased ourselves. Alpha or beta versions will not be reviewed but may be included in previews or articles. We may, however, review commercially available early access releases where we decide it is appropriate.

 

• The version tested is noted in the red information box to the right of the review text. If the review was based on a free key provided by a publisher or developer, that fact is disclosed in the same red information box of the review.

So Many Games Review scores

Our scoring system is based on a five-star system, which uses half decimals. Reviewing games can include a range of different elements, with each reviewer bringing their own personal styles and thoughts to it. While some elements can be looked at in a similar fashion, themes, characters, music, and visuals will often inspire different emotions and reactions from different players.

Our scores are a personal rating of where the author feels the title should sit within our point scale shown below, based on both its quality and how it compares to similar games in the market. Our reviews remain the personal judgement of the reviewer at all times. 

Our rating is only a guideline, and it’s important to understand the full context, which is why we encourage everyone to read the actual text of a review before making any conclusions.

5 stars – Exceptional

To achieve five stars, a game must push the boundaries of the genre or medium it represents or be an exceptional example of what a video game can be. Five stars doesn’t mean flawless, but it represents a game that is the best it can possibly be and lives at the heart of what games can and should be measured by. 

4 stars – Great

A game that may not be a defining title or a must-play, but it is a game that still stands out as something noteworthy in its genre. The game needs to hold something special and, even after considering its faults, will bring an unforgettable experience. 

3 stars – Good

Games that receive three stars might include a genius concept but one that wasn’t implemented to its highest level. The game in question may hold middling, not very interesting concepts even if they are polished to a high standard. A three-star review does not necessarily mean a bad game; in fact, it might well be the opposite; it’s just it may not hold the ingredients for the next step up needed to bring it into the four-star category. 

2 stars – Poor

A game whose negatives outweigh its positives. It could include uninspiring or unimaginative aspects or be buggy or clunky in its performance. These games may hold interesting or redeeming qualities, but they may not have been implemented in a manner that’s produced an enjoyable experience. 

1 star – Avoid

Games that earn a one-star will include serious flaws in its game design or concept, include offensive material, or be unenjoyable to play. These games would include bugs or glitches that make them unplayable and are just not worthy of your time or money. Thankfully, we expect this rating to be incredibly rare. 

Ethical Policy

We strive to act professionally towards everyone we interact with, including publishers, developers, and our readers. 

We take a hard stance on review keys and always endeavour to create some form of coverage from every one we receive. We appreciate the position we are in and take great care and pride in how we use the keys we are given. Any abuse of this privilege is strictly prohibited and dealt with severely if any evidence of this occurring is produced. 

We do not take bribes, nor do we allow ourselves to be influenced by anyone for our review scores. 

We also take a hard stance on AI. All our reviews are written by the person, with no generative AI programs used to write or influence the review. Any instance of this happening will result in the review being scrapped or taken down until it has been completely rewritten by the individual. Repeated attempts to use AI will result in the writer being removed as a So Many Games reviewer.