How ratings work

What every label means.

The numbers are shortcuts for choosing a game, not scores pretending to be science.

What we check

1. Steam details: app identity, US list price and Steam Deck category come from Steam and Valve.
2. Game systems: prestige, automation and offline progress describe how the game actually asks you to play.
3. Player feedback: reviews look for complaints and praise that keep recurring, not one spectacular rant.

How reviews are written

We read both recommendations and complaints, identify the trade-off behind them and give a verdict for a specific kind of player. We do not copy player reviews, turn one bug report into a universal problem or invent first-person experience.

The scales

Prestige depth measures whether resets add new decisions, not how often they happen. Automation depth measures how much work can be configured and retired. Offline progress is full, partial or absent; individual activities may still have their own limits.

How recommendations work

No game is “best” for everyone. Every shortlist names the reason to play, the catch and the player who should skip it.

Daily Steam charts

Our daily charts measure review activity across the reviewed catalogue. Trending counts new positive English reviews in seven days; Best rated accounts for sample size with a 95% Wilson lower bound. Online counts are context, never a quality score. The chart explains its thresholds, dates and limitations.

Comparing games

The game finder compares up to three games using the same documented system notes as their full profiles. A scenario is a starting point, not a promise about exact play time. Shop-free recommendations use our separately checked shortlist rather than assuming every paid game has no purchases.

Freshness

Every profile shows its update date and links directly to Steam. Review percentages are dated snapshots, and prices or Steam Deck support can change after our last check.