REVIEW
HOWWEREVIEW
Werevieweachgameonitsownmerits,andtrytomatchit
toa reviewerwho’sa passionateexpertinthefield.Themain
aimofreviewsis tohelpyoumakebuyingdecisions.Tothis
end,we’reselectiveaboutwhatwereview,andtrytofocus
onthenotable,interesting,excitingorsurprising.
DOWNLOADABLECONTENT
DLCmightbenewmissionsfora game,orit mightbea single
newitem.If wethinkyouwanttoknowaboutit,we’llreviewit.
EARLYACCESS
Anyreleasedalpha,beta,orotherwiseunfinishedgamethat
youcancurrentlypayfor.Forthesegames,wewon’tassigna
score,butwewilltellyouwhetherthey’reworthyourtime.
THEY’REBACK
Wheneverthere’sa bargainorre-releaseofa significantgame,
ourexpertwillrevisitit andtellyouwhetherit holdsuptoday.
Withjokes.
TheEditor’sChoiceawardis
granted in addition to the score,
at the discretion of the PC Gamer
staff. It represents exceptional
quality or innovation.
Find out more
http://www.bit.ly/pcgreviewsOUR SCORING
SYSTEM EXPLAINED
00%-09% Broken or offensively bad; absolutely no value.
Example Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude
10%-19% We might be able to find one nice thing to say about
it, but still not worth anyone’s time or money.
Example Gettysburg: Armored Warfare
20%-29% Completely falls short of its goals. Very few
redeeming qualities.
Examples Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse
30%-39% An entirely clumsy or derivative effort. There’s
little reason to play this game over a similar, better one.
Examples Trials of the Blood Dragon
40%-49% Flawed and disappointing.
Examples Aliens: Colonial Marines
50%-59% Mediocre. Other games probably do it better, or its
unique qualities aren’t executed well.
Examples Primordia, Homefront: The Revolution
60%-69% There’s something to like here, but it can only be
recommended with major caveats.
Examples No Man’s Sky, Ghost Recon: Wildlands
70%-79% A good game that’s worth playing. We like it.
Examples Prey, NieR: Automata
80%-89% A great game with exceptional moments or
features, and touches of brilliance. We love it.
Examples Overwatch, Night in the Woods
90%-94% A compelling recommendation for most PC
gamers. Important to PC gaming, and likely ahead of its time.
Examples Bayonetta, Dishonored 2
95%-96% Far and away one of the best games we’ve ever
played. We recommend it to the entire world.
Examples Half-Life 2, Kerbal Space Program
97%-100% Advances the human species. Boosts the
immune systems of nearby children and small animals.w
Looking back
Have you actually played many new
games this year? A bit of
contemplating today made me
realise that, despite my job, I’ve
spent far more of my time in 2021
jumping back into old favourites, or
catching up on past titles I missed
first time around, than I have
keeping up with the latest releases.
It’s not normal, for me – I usually try
to stay in step with the zeitgeist, and
I’m easily distracted by new and
shiny things. It makes me wonder if
it’s the pandemic’s fault – has all
that background anxiety and
isolation pushed me towards known
quantities over unfamiliar
experiences? Or am I just blaming
all my personal failings on the
pandemic, like I do when people ask
me why I haven’t tidied my flat or
gotten a haircut in two years? If
you’ve experienced the same, tweet
me in solidarity – maybe we can
form a support group.ROBIN VALENTINE
PRINT EDITOR
[email protected]LET US KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK
Email us via letters@
pcgamer.com with your
reactions, or simply
tweet us your thoughts
@PCGamer