GamerNode - Scoring

Does seeing a number at the bottom of a review perplex you? Worry no longer! Any time you're curious as to what exactly a score means, just consult this handy explanatory page!

A game scoring a 10 is rare beast indeed. With a score of 10, you can consider the game in question the pinnacle of interactive entertainment. Not only is it extremely fun and innovative, but it is also free of technical flaws and should be purchased without hesitation. Games that score a 10 will be remembered for years to come.

Scores of 9.0 or 9.5 are much more likely. These games are usually the cream of the crop -- if a game scores in the 9s, we believe it goes far above and beyond the average gameplay experience for similar titles, and is free of all but minor technical flaws. If a game scores above a 9, remember its name, because it's something special.

Scores of 8.0 or 8.5 are good games, and still above average when compared to similar titles. Games with an 8 attached to them should be proud -- the gameplay is great for the genre, and the game's flaws aren't terribly detrimental to a gamer's experience. For fans of a certain series, a score of 8 would be considered must-play; for others, it signifies a very solid game.

Scores of 7.0 or 7.5 are right in the middle of our bell curve. These games aren't bad by most measures, they're just merely average for their type. For fans of a series or genre, a score of 7 is a solid score, and is worth checking out. There may be some large flaws in the gameplay, but the overall experience will be positive for most players.

A score of 6.0 or 6.5 is for games that are below average, but not completely broken. These games often have a few good features, but they lead to a probable negative experience. If you're a huge fan of the series, you may still want to try them out. If you aren't, at least these games are playable -- to an extent.

Games scoring 5.0 or 5.5 fall short in a variety of ways. They may have a lot of bugs, or their basic gameplay may be broken. If a game scores a 5 or under, consider yourself warned before you play it.

A score of 4.0 or 4.5 means that the game isn't even worth a rent. These are the games you see in the discount aisle of your local store two months after release. If you get stuck with one of these games, you may find an hour or two of playing time, but you're better off holding the controller and looking at a blank television.

A score of 3.0 or 3.5 is a game you'll only want to play if you need to take your mind off of the pain from that recent double compound fracture. However, a hammer can cause just as much pain as a 3.5 game, and you can get a hammer for less than $50.

A score of 2.0 or 2.5, you can consider it one of the absolute worst games we've ever seen. If you ever find yourself with a game which got a 2 and decide to try it, make sure you have a friend spotting you. That way, once you lose consciousness from playing the game, they can return it to the store for you and try to at least salvage the money for smelling salts.

There will, hopefully, never be a game scoring a 1.0 or 1.5 at GamerNode. If there is, it may be the worst game ever made, and we'll be sure to say so. Games this low are an insult -- to gamers, to the development team that worked hard to churn it out, to entertainment as a whole. You don't even have to play a game scoring this low to know it blows.

If a game gets less than a 1.0, pray to whatever deity you believe in that the world isn't ending.