§ Methodology
How we score
Six axes. Weighted for how much each one actually matters in VR. Sub-scores and the final in 0.5 increments. We always round down, never up — anti-inflation is a feature, not an accident. No curves, no "genre-adjusted" thumbs on the scale.
§ The axes
- Conceptweight · 15%
- The idea itself — originality, clarity of vision, whether VR is the right medium for it at all.
- Gameplayweight · 25%
- Mechanics, depth, controls, and flow. The heaviest weight because it is what you actually do.
- Visualsweight · 15%
- Art direction, fidelity in-headset, resolution clarity, and how well it scales across target hardware.
- Audioweight · 10%
- Spatial sound, music, voice work. Weighted lower than visuals because VR audio is more forgiving to a bad mix than bad visuals.
- Longevityweight · 20%
- How long the game earns your time. Replay value, endgame, update roadmap, and community health count here.
- Valueweight · 15%
- Price vs. hours of enjoyment vs. platform tax. A $40 five-hour game scores lower than a $25 fifteen-hour one.
§ The math
A review's final score is the weighted sum of its six axis scores, then rounded down to the nearest 0.5. Weights always sum to 1.00. Sub-scores are entered in 0.5 steps — the admin UI enforces it. A weighted raw of 7.9 yields a final of 7.5, not 8.0; to cross a tier, a sub-score has to be lifted explicitly.
finalScore = ( 0.15 × concept + 0.25 × gameplay + 0.15 × visuals + 0.10 × audio + 0.20 × longevity + 0.15 × value )
§ Tiers
- 9.3Essential · 9.0+
Buy it. Full stop.
- 8.4Great · 8.0–8.9
Confidently recommended. Standout in its genre.
- 7.3Good · 7.0–7.9
Worth your time if the concept appeals.
- 6.4Mixed · 6.0–6.9
Real problems, real strengths. Wait for a sale.
- 5.4Flawed · 5.0–5.9
Interesting but broken. For fans only.
- 4.2Avoid · under 5.0
Skip.
§ When the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
Despite usually sticking to the weighted formula above, sometimes a game (or piece of hardware) is simply more than the sum of its parts — and sometimes it's less. That's a reviewer's call to make, and when it happens we override the computed final. What we won't do is falsify the sub-scores to justify the overall number. If audio scored a 7, audio scored a 7; if the final still reads 9, it's because the reviewer judged the experience as a whole and is accountable for that call.
Reviews where the displayed score differs from the weighted calculation are marked accordingly. Treat the override as an editorial judgement, not a formula.