How we actually test the games we review

People ask how we land on a number, so here's the honest version. It's less scientific than you'd hope and more consistent than you'd think.

Every game gets at least two of us playing it separately for a few hours. We take rough notes on controls, pacing, and how it feels after the shine wears off. First impressions lie, so we always sleep on it.

Then we compare notes. If we disagree, and we often do, that argument usually sharpens the review. A game that splits us gets a note in the write-up so you know your mileage may vary.

We test on mid-range phones, not just flagships, because that's what most people actually own. A game that only runs well on top-tier hardware gets marked down for it.

Finally, the score is a snapshot, not a law. Games update, and we go back and revise when something changes meaningfully.