Gaming Reviews Aren’t Broken - Here’s Why

A ton of articles lately seems to want to talk about gaming reviews. So, let’s talk about them. The trickiest part of this conversation comes from many journalists working at big sites in which questions regarding authenticity are at play. Well, I’m not an expert on this, but I can say the Phenixx Gaming team is safe from any sort of bias from the industry. Our site founder Alexx is clear about his intentions for the site. When we get a review code, then we review the game honestly.

I think some readers of our site and others might be wondering about that game review code process. Simply put, we email PR professionals at gaming publishers or PR firms and they send us a code. That code usually comes with some images, patch notes if there’s a “Day One” update, and other information. At no point in this process does anyone say, “Here’s what you need to say in your review.” So, how does it still end up happening from time to time at other sites?

There’s a real fear for some journalists that a developer or publisher might not provide them with future codes for games. In all honesty, that rarely happens. I can’t talk about personal experiences with this, of which I have none, but the backlash from other journalists and gamers would be too large for a game maker to do this. So, again, we’re brought back to the original debate: are game reviews broken?

A ton of videos and articles lately want to talk about game reviews. The catalyst for all of this was The Last of Us Part II. When leaks for the game’s plot released, fans immediately decided the game was doomed. Much like Pokemon Sword and Shield, fan outrage was not mirrored in reviews and articles about the game. So, suddenly, it seems like the disconnect is too large to ignore. A lot of high profile sites reviewed the game fairly and I didn’t see any questionable discourse from journalists. Fans, nevertheless, called feedback on the game suspect.

The real disconnect here isn’t the reviewing itself, but the pure subjectiveness of how each outlet reviews games. Some have a single score delivered from a single journalist. Other sites work to aggregate team scores from the writers. This can lead to a ton of different interpretations and levels of feedback. One thing seems universal, however: pandering to game makers rarely happens. People who review games at big sites like IGN and Kotaku aren’t “in” with the industry in some way.

The suspicions and criticisms from gamers aren’t uncalled for or unwelcome. It’s up to everyone to be diligent in regards to the media they consume. Still, the treatment of journalists who favorably reviewed The Last of Us Part II or other games you may not agree with is uncalled for. It’s getting to be less about the games and more about vendettas you have against journalists who like a piece of media that you don’t. Surely, there is a better use of your time and energy.

When I play something I don’t like or do like, I sometimes get the chance to review it here at Phenixx Gaming. I can assure you that my review doesn’t ever take into consideration the wishes or desires of the publisher. Similarly, I don’t write reviews to appease our audience. My fellow PG writers can say the same. We let you know simply whether or not a game is worth your hard-earned money. We’re honest, sincere, and thoughtful, no matter if it’s a AAA game or an indie sleeper title. That’s never going to change.