Launched: March 25, 2025
At LootSink, we are committed to providing honest, in-depth, and data-driven reviews. To ensure transparency and help you understand how we evaluate games, we’ve outlined our scoring guidelines below. Our goal is to provide a fair and comprehensive assessment that reflects the overall quality and enjoyment of the gaming experience.
Our Scoring Scale:
We use a 10-point scoring scale, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. Here’s a breakdown of what each score generally represents:
- 1 – Unplayable: The game is fundamentally broken, riddled with technical issues, and offers virtually no enjoyable experience.
- 2 – Severely Flawed: The game has significant issues that heavily detract from the experience, making it difficult to recommend even to die-hard fans of the genre.
- 3 – Poor: The game has substantial flaws in core gameplay, design, or execution, leading to a largely negative experience.
- 4 – Below Average: The game has noticeable weaknesses and fails to deliver on its potential. It might offer fleeting moments of enjoyment but is ultimately disappointing.
- 5 – Average: The game is competent but doesn’t stand out in any significant way. It provides a passable experience but lacks innovation or memorable qualities.
- 6 – Above Average: The game is generally good and enjoyable, with some noteworthy aspects, but it may still have some minor flaws or areas for improvement.
- 7 – Good: The game is well-made and offers a solid and engaging experience. It’s a worthwhile play for fans of the genre and potentially others.
- 8 – Great: The game is excellent and stands out as a high-quality title. It offers a compelling and memorable experience with few significant drawbacks.
- 9 – Outstanding: The game is exceptional and represents a benchmark in its genre. It offers an unforgettable experience with innovative design and masterful execution.
- 10 – Masterpiece: The game is a near-perfect or perfect title that sets a new standard for excellence. It is a must-play experience that will be remembered for years to come.
Key Evaluation Criteria:
Our reviews consider a variety of factors, and while the weight of each criterion can vary depending on the genre and specific game, these are some of the key areas we assess:
- Gameplay: This includes the core mechanics, controls, and overall feel of playing the game. We consider how engaging, intuitive, and satisfying the gameplay experience is.
- Story and Narrative: For story-driven games, we evaluate the quality of the writing, characters, plot, pacing, and overall narrative impact.
- Graphics and Presentation: We assess the visual fidelity, art style, animation quality, and overall presentation of the game.
- Sound Design and Music: We consider the quality of the sound effects, voice acting, and musical score, and how well they contribute to the atmosphere and immersion.
- Performance and Technical Aspects: We evaluate the game’s performance, including frame rate stability, loading times, and the presence of bugs or technical issues.
- Innovation and Design: We consider whether the game introduces new ideas or mechanics and how well the overall design contributes to a unique and enjoyable experience.
- Replayability and Longevity: We assess the game’s replay value, including the amount of content, the presence of engaging endgame activities, and whether it offers reasons to return after the initial playthrough.
- Community and Multiplayer (If Applicable): For games with multiplayer components, we evaluate the quality of the online experience, the balance of the gameplay, and the strength of the community.
- Adherence to Core Principles: We also consider how well the game aligns with its core design principles and target audience.
Fairness and Objectivity:
As outlined in our Editorial Policy, we strive for objectivity and impartiality in all our reviews. Our reviewers are committed to providing unbiased evaluations based on their direct experiences with the game. While personal preferences may inevitably play a small role, our scoring aims to reflect the overall quality and merit of the game based on the criteria mentioned above.
Data-Driven Insights:
Where applicable, we will aim to support our scoring and analysis with data and evidence to provide well-informed perspectives. This might include referencing player statistics, industry trends, or comparisons to similar titles.
By providing these scoring guidelines, we hope to give you a better understanding of how we evaluate games at LootSink. We are dedicated to being a trusted and respected voice in the gaming community, and transparency in our review process is a key part of that commitment.
Change Log
- March 25, 2025 – Article launched.