How we actually test a game before writing a word

People sometimes assume reviewers just play for an hour and start typing. For us it's slower than that, and honestly a bit dull to describe, but the process is why we trust our own scores.

First pass is pure play, no notes, just impressions. We want to feel the game the way a normal player would. Then a second pass where we deliberately poke at the systems, break things, and test the controls under different conditions.

We play on more than one device when we can, because a game that runs great on a flagship might stutter on a three-year-old phone. That difference matters to real readers.

Only after all of that does anyone open a document. By then we usually already know how we feel, and the writing is just about explaining why clearly and fairly.