How we actually score a game at Yarrow Play

Every so often someone asks why we gave a game a 4.3 and not a 4.5, as if there's a formula. There isn't, exactly, but there is a process, and I think it's fair to explain it.

We play every game to a point where we can speak honestly about it. For a short adventure that might mean finishing it. For an RPG it means enough hours to see how the systems and story hold up. We never score off a trailer or a demo.

The number reflects the whole experience — how it plays, how it feels, whether it wastes your time, and whether we'd genuinely recommend it. It's subjective, and we say so openly. Two of us can disagree by half a point and both be right.

We don't grade on a curve or compare across genres. A relaxing fishing game and a tactical RPG are trying to do completely different things, so we judge each against what it's reaching for.

If a game earns a lower score, we explain exactly why. The point isn't the number; it's the reasoning behind it. Skip our verdict line if you like, but read the review.