Our Editorial Standards
How We Review Games
We only review games that deserve a closer look. Our goal is to be fair, clear, and honest to players.
All reviews on GameWhims are written with a player-first mindset. Opinions are based on real experience and not marketing claims.
What We Review
We review PC and console games across indie and AA releases. Coverage includes new launches, major updates, and selected older titles that remain relevant.
Hands-On Review Process
All individual game reviews are based on direct play experience.
- We play the game ourselves.
- We spend enough time to understand gameplay, systems, and overall feel.
- Screenshots are captured by us during gameplay.
- We do not use press images or trailers.
What you see and read reflects the real experience.
Independence and Monetization
Some pages include links to stores like Steam and Itch.io
- These links are provided for reader convenience.
- We do not use affiliate programs.
- We do not accept paid reviews or sponsored scores.
- Opinions are never influenced by money.
We use UTM tags so developers can see referral traffic. This does not affect our reviews, scores, or rankings.
Updates and Revisions
Games change after release.
- Reviews are revisited after major patches or expansions.
- Scores may change if the experience improves or worsens.
- Important updates are reflected in the review content.
Scoring System
We use a 10-point rating scale. Every game reviewed on GameWhims is at least playable.
- 10 Masterpiece: Exceptional quality. A must-play.
- 9 Excellent: Outstanding and highly enjoyable, with only minor issues.
- 8 Great: Very strong and enjoyable, though not perfect.
- 7 Good: Solid experience that will appeal to the right audience.
- 6 Above Average: Enjoyable overall, but with some noticeable flaws.
- 5 Average: Decent, but inconsistent or occasionally frustrating.
- 4 Below Average: Has potential, but flawed or limited in appeal.
- 3 Poor: Major issues make it hard to fully enjoy.
- 2 Very Poor: Frustrating and flawed, though still technically playable.
- 1 Bad: Barely playable; significant problems throughout.
Games that are broken, unplayable, or fail to meet our standards are not reviewed and do not appear on the site.
Roundups and Best-Of Lists
List-style articles focus on coverage and comparison.
- Not every game in a roundup is played first-hand.
- We clearly disclose when a game was not personally tested.
- We rely on verified gameplay footage, player impressions, and community feedback.
- We never present second-hand impressions as personal experience.
Some of our roundups may be written by external author, but this does not undermine the quality of our content. Every submitted content are monitored through comprehensive guest post guidelines.
FAQs
At GameWhims, we spend enough time with a game to understand its core experience. Usually 7-10 hours for most titles, and longer for RPGs or games with heavy progression.
We don’t rush reviews just to meet deadlines. If a game needs more time to form a fair judgment, we’ll delay publishing until we’re confident in the score.
Yes, when possible. Some games perform differently across platforms due to optimization, controls, or technical stability.
If there are significant differences, we’ll mention them in the review. However, our main score usually reflects the platform we tested most thoroughly.
Yes, many modern games change dramatically after release, and it wouldn’t be fair to let a review become outdated.
For major patches or expansions, we either update the original review or publish a re-review if the game has significantly evolved.
Our focus is on player experience, enjoyment, and fairness, not just technical checklists. That means our scores may lean differently than aggregate sites like Metacritic or larger outlets like IGN.
Our commitment is to be consistent and transparent with our own scale.
We review both. While new releases are our main focus, we also cover retro titles, hidden gems, and overlooked games.
Sometimes we receive review copies from publishers or developers, but this never affects our scoring. We’re transparent about any provided copies, and we approach them with the same standards as purchased games.
Absolutely, we value community input. If there’s a game you’d like us to review, you can send us suggestions on our social channels.
