Deck 01Which worlds make the chart
Games that players in the UK can start today on at least one mainstream console, computer or phone. We mix exploration, puzzles, action, farming and party games, games played alone and games for a family or a group of friends, and we favour games that do not sell anything once you are playing.
Deck 02How we play them
Over many evenings, alone and with friends or family where the game allows it. We look through any shop, try the chat and report tools, set up the family controls, check the comfort and accessibility options and time ordinary sessions before we write a word.
Deck 03What a score weighs
- Play: controls, depth, fairness and how it feels to get better.
- World: art, sound and whether the place is worth spending evenings in.
- Company: how well it works alone, with friends or with a family.
- Return points: clear save points, sensible sessions and how hard the game pulls you back.
Deck 04From score to constellation
One editorial score out of five, in tenths. It is drawn as a constellation of five stars: whole points light whole stars and the last star glows by the fraction. The score also sets a band:
- First magnitude (from 4.7): One of the brightest games we have played: we would point almost anyone who likes the genre towards it.
- Bright star (from 4.4): Excellent, with a caveat or two that the survey log spells out.
- Clear sky (from 4.0): Very good for the right player; the log says who.
- Faint signal (below 4.0): Rough in places, but worth an evening if the genre is yours.
Deck 05Pace
Pace describes how a game feels to play, never how good it is:
- Calm: unhurried; nothing chases you.
- Thoughtful: steady, and it asks you to think and plan.
- Fast: quick reactions and a lot happening at once.
Deck 06Orbits and return points
A world’s orbit on the star chart is the typical session we timed ourselves: a loop, a day, a run, a few levels. The return point is the natural moment to put the game down, usually where it saves. Neither changes a score; both help plan an evening.
Deck 07Comfort notes
Flashing light, motion, volume, hand strain and long sessions matter in every genre. Each log notes what we found and which settings help. Always read the game’s own health and safety warnings too.
Deck 08Where the facts come from
Platforms, chat options, accounts and costs come from our own play and are checked against each game’s official pages, which stay the reference for prices and age ratings. Studio home towns come from the studios’ own pages.
Deck 09What we never do
No paid placements, no sponsored scores, no invented facts and no reviews written from trailers or press releases.