10.0 - Masterpiece
Simply put: this is our highest recommendation. There’s no such thing as a truly perfect game, but those that earn a Masterpiece label from IGN come as close as we could reasonably hope for. These are classics in the making that we hope and expect will influence game design for years to come, as other developers learn from their shining examples.
Examples: The Last of Us, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Grand Theft Auto IV
9.0-9.9 - Amazing
We enthusiastically recommend that you add these games to your to-play list. If we call a game Amazing, that means something about it seriously impressed us, whether it’s an inspired new idea or an exceptional take on an old one. We expect to look back at it as one of the highlights of its time and genre.
Example: BioShock Infinite, The Walking Dead, Sid Meier's Civilization V: Brave New World
8.0-8.9 - Great
These games leave us with something outstanding to remember them by, usually novel gameplay ideas for single-player or multiplayer, clever characters and writing, noteworthy graphics and sound, or some combination thereof. If we have major complaints, there are more than enough excellent qualities to cancel them out.
Example: Rock Band 3, State of Decay, NHL 13
7.0-7.9 - Good
Playing a Good game is time well spent. Could it be better? Absolutely. Maybe it lacks ambition, is too repetitive, has a few technical bumps in the road, or is too repetitive, but we came away from it happy nonetheless. We think you will, too.
Example: Resident Evil 6, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, God of War: Ascension
6.0-6.9 - Okay
These recommendations come with a boatload of “ifs.” There’s a good game in here somewhere, but in order to find it you’ll have to know where to look, and perhaps turn a blind eye to some significant drawbacks.
Example: Tom Clancy's HAWX 2, Wonderbook: Book of Spells, Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
5.0-5.9 - Mediocre
This is the kind of bland, unremarkable game we’ve mostly forgotten about a day after we finish playing. A mediocre game isn’t something you should spend your time or money on if you consider either to be precious, but they’ll pass the time if you have nothing better to do.
Example: Dust 514, Time & Eternity, Game & Wario
4.0-4.9 - Bad
For one reason or another, these games made us wish we’d never played them. Even if there’s a good idea or two in there somewhere, they’re buried under so many bad ones and poor execution we simply can’t recommend you waste your time on it.
Example: Aliens: Colonial Marines, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Dark
3.0-3.9 - Awful
You’re welcome. We just saved you from making a terrible mistake by buying this collection of poorly executed, bad, or unoriginal ideas – or even playing it for free. While even a Bad game generally has some bright spots, an Awful one is consistently unenjoyable.
Example: Samurai Warriors 3, Let’s Fish! Hooked On, Legends of Dawn
2.0-2.9 - Painful
Let’s face it: anything worse than Bad is a trainwreck. Worse than Awful? That’s kind of impressive. Not only are these games not fun, but they’re outright infuriating or insulting.
Example: Quantum Theory, Fast & Furious: Showdown
1.0-1.9 - Unbearable
The silver lining of these dark clouds is that they’re often so poorly made that they crap out after a certain point (if they ever worked at all), so we were spared from any permanent effects that playing a game this terrible might have on our brains.
Example: The Simpsons Wrestling, London Taxi Rush Hour, Elf Bowling 1 & 2
0-0.9 - Disaster
One of the worst games ever made. Games that score this low are rare, because it’s reserved for those that simply don’t work or are outright frauds – they’ve really got to work for it. This is also probably where we’d put a game about how awesome Nazis are.
Example: Extreme PaintBrawl
