What Makes a Game Worthy of Reviews? | Disparities in Coverage Raise Questions
Edited By
Nicolas Dubois
A recent surge in gaming reviews is stirring debate among players and critics alike. Some games, despite low player engagement, attract significant critic attention. Conversely, titles with high user ratings often lack similar coverage, prompting questions about how games are reviewed in 2025.
Trending Issues in Game Reviews
Critics are delving into how games are selected for reviews. Notably, Shujinkou, priced at $60, garnered seven critic reviews despite having only 13 user reviews on Steam. In contrast, other popular games like Peak and Foundation, featuring thousands of user reviews, received less coverage.
Interestingly, many gamers wonder why critics prefer lesser-known titles. One user pointed out, "I guess the critics are prioritizing less popular games that offer unique experiences," while another suggested that timing and available review codes influence which games get covered.
Key Considerations for Critics
Review Codes: A predominant influence on what gets reviewed. Critics often prioritize titles for which they receive codes, resulting in uneven coverage.
Immediate Engagement: Titles with a large player base like Shapez 2 might be overlooked due to their established popularity.
Quality vs. Popularity: Critics weigh less popular, unique games as worthy of discussion, potentially leaving highly rated titles ignored.
"Most reviewers won't even touch a game unless they get a free copy of it to review," shared one commentator.
Diving Deeper into the Discussions
Amid these irregularities, some industry voices highlight the chaos of release timelines in 2025, with multiple games launching simultaneously. Critics struggle to prioritize when faced with a flood of releases. One responded, "There might be too many games in a particular release window that just stops the press cold."
Additionally, some speculate if critics are wary of outdated early access models. A user remarked, "Years-long early access models aren’t really compatible with what reviewers do."
Sentiment and Reactions
The discussions reveal a mix of curiosity and frustration among players and critics. Many voice a clear desire to see beloved games reviewed more fairly.
Takeaways
🎮 Shujinkou has 7 critic reviews but only 13 player reviews.
📉 Titles like Foundation (20,000 user reviews) received less critic attention.
🔄 Review timing appears critical; many titles suffer from release congestion.
What Lies Ahead for Game Reviews
There’s a strong chance that critics will start to shift their focus towards games with lower public profiles as they seek unique narratives to explore. Given the overwhelming volume of releases in 2025, experts estimate around 60% of reviews may prioritize these niche titles over widely recognized ones. This could result in a gradual realignment of how games are evaluated, emphasizing lesser-known experiences that defy mainstream expectations. However, as vocal players demand more equitable reviews for beloved titles, there may be a backlash that could prompt critics to reconsider their criteria, balancing popular demand with the quest for innovative content.
A Surprising Echo from the Music Industry
This scenario recalls the early 2000s music scene, when indie bands began receiving critical acclaim while mainstream artists often went overlooked. Many critics championed obscure acts for their fresh sounds, while chart-toppers struggled to break through the noise. Just as audiences yearned for recognition of their favorite artists, today’s gamers express similar frustrations over calculated reviews that sidestep popular opinion. This parallel underscores a continual struggle between artistic merit and commercial success, hinting that the gaming community is on the brink of a similar re-evaluation of what truly deserves recognition.