Our goal for The Game Post’s reviews is to help you decide if a game is worth your time and money. We focus on clear, honest impressions backed by real playtime, not marketing promises.
This page explains how we handle reviews from start to finish, from what we choose to cover to what each star actually means.
How We Choose What To Review
We don’t review everything that hits the shelves. Instead, we focus on games our readers care about, whether they’re big-budget releases or smaller titles that deserve attention.
When a game sparks interest within our team or fits the kind of coverage our audience follows closely (live-service, action, shooters, RPGs, etc.), it gets added to our review lineup. Sometimes we buy our own copies, and sometimes we receive review codes from publishers, but either way, our opinions stay our own.
Here’s what usually gets our attention:
- Games people are already talking about or excited for
- New entries in long-running franchises
- Indie games doing something unique
- Titles our team just really wants to check out (passion matters)
How Our Reviews Are Done
All our reviews are based on firsthand experience. Before any review goes live, our writers spend real time playing the game, not just a few hours to meet a deadline. We test story content, mechanics, technical performance, and anything else that shapes the experience.
If it’s a live-service or multiplayer game, we wait until servers are live so we can see how it performs for real players, or if we want to get the thing out the door, we publish a “review-in-progress” for multiplayer titles, update it as the game progresses. (if the full content isn’t available at launch)
For single-player games, we usually finish the main story and explore side content before writing. Our goal is to understand how the game actually plays day-to-day, not just how it looks in trailers or preview events.
Our Scoring System (1 to 5 Stars)
We use a 1-5 Star rating system to sum up our thoughts in a quick, clear way. The stars are there to give you an idea of how strongly we feel about a game, but they’re not the whole story; the review itself explains why we landed on that score.
Every rating comes from real playtime and discussion within the team. We don’t hand out stars lightly; each one means something specific to us and should help you understand what kind of experience to expect.
Here’s what each star stands for:
1 Star – Avoid
This feels unfinished. It crashes, controls fight you, and bugs can stop progress. Even basic stuff, saving, menus, or core mechanics, can be a headache. It’s not fun, and it’s not reliable.
Bottom line: Skip it unless a major overhaul arrives.
3 Star – Below Average
There are a few good ideas, but the problems win out. Expect noticeable bugs, uneven balance, dull missions, or a lot of busywork. You can see what it wants to be, but it isn’t there yet.
Bottom line: Only for committed fans after big patches or a deep sale.
4 Star – Decent
It does the job and has some fun moments, but the quality is up and down. Solid in places, average in others. Performance may be fine one minute and shaky the next.
Bottom line: Try it if you already like this series or genre; everyone else can wait for a discount.
5 Star – Great
A well-made, enjoyable game that’s easy to recommend. Good pacing, strong design, and mostly smooth performance. There are flaws—maybe a thin chapter or a grindy stretch—but nothing that sinks it.
Bottom line: Buy with confidence if this style of game appeals to you.
5 Stars – Must-Play
Outstanding from start to finish. Tight design, great feel, and polish that makes small issues fade into the background. It sticks with you after the credits.
Bottom line: An easy recommendation at full price; make time for it.
Stars aren’t meant to reduce an entire review into a single number; they just help summarize our verdict at a glance. The words and context matter more than the stars.
Ethics, Independence & Transparency
Every review we publish reflects the honest opinion of the writer. Publishers don’t get to approve or change our reviews, ever. If a game code or early access was provided by a developer or publisher, we’ll clearly mention that at the end of the review.
Sometimes we attend review events or play pre-release builds, but those experiences never decide our final thoughts. We always retest games in real conditions when possible. We also avoid reviewing anything if there’s a personal or business conflict of interest with the game or its creators.
Technical Performance
Performance matters as much as gameplay. We test how games run on the hardware we use, from framerate and resolution to bugs and crashes.
If a game stutters, breaks saves, or constantly disconnects online, that absolutely affects its score.
Our reviews always reflect the version we played, and if technical issues are later fixed through updates, we may note that in a follow-up.
Post-Launch Updates & Re-Reviews
Games change, especially live-service ones, but our original review always represents how the game was at launch. If a game improves significantly after major updates or expansions, we may revisit it with a new “Updated Review” to reflect the current experience.
We don’t tweak scores every time a patch drops, but if the difference is big enough to change our overall opinion, we’ll make that clear in a new article.
Review Copies, Events & Disclosures
If we receive a review copy or attend a press preview event, we’ll always let you know at the bottom of the article.
We don’t allow publishers to influence our scores or conclusions in any way. If we review something from a public build (like early access or a beta), that’ll be stated too.
We don’t do sponsored reviews, ever. If we ever publish a paid partnership or advertorial content, it’ll be clearly marked as such.
Accessibility & Player Experience
Accessibility matters. Whenever possible, we mention settings and features that help players enjoy the game, like subtitle options, colorblind modes, or control remapping.
We’re not experts on accessibility, but we believe in making readers aware of tools that make games more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
Corrections & Updates
We’re human, and mistakes can happen. If we ever publish incorrect information, we’ll update the article and make a note of the correction. Transparency and trust come first, always.
This page was updated on November 12, 2025.