It's impossible to boil a game down to a single number without losing a lot of the nuances of the experience, and two games with identical scores can have vastly different qualities with little or no overlap.
But review scores are still important. In-depth long-form reviews aren't always easy to parse, so having a final score can help bring everything together and make sense of all the nuances as one. Plus, when you're short on time, you may not be able to read every sentence of a sprawling review. Quick-glance scores are certainly useful then!
All that to say, I strive to wrap up all of my board game reviews with a score that summarizes the pros, cons, and vital details that make a game what it is. This score isn't meant to be a replacement for the review itself, though. You'll need to read the full thoughts to get the full picture.
What the Stars Mean
I'm not a picky gamer. I tend to like most games I play, so my review scale is slightly skewed—it takes a lot for me to actively dislike a game. That's why everything from 2.5 to 5 stars is basically positive. However, for a game to be positive and worth buying, it needs to earn at least 3.5 stars. (Scroll down even further for an explanation on how stars are earned.)
- 0.0 to 1.4 stars: Avoid. A game that sparks zero joy, feels tedious to play, or isn't worth the effort for the experience. I would actively avoid playing this even if someone suggested it.
- 1.5 to 2.4 stars: Meh. A flawed, uninspired, or forgettable game that I could be convinced to play under the right conditions.
- 2.5 to 3.4 stars: Decent. A satisfactory game that's enjoyable enough, but doesn't offer anything special to set it apart from others of its kind. I may not suggest it, but I'd happily play it.
- 3.5 to 4.4 stars: Recommended. An engaging game that's greater than the sum of its parts. I would gladly suggest this over other games of its kind, and I consider it worth buying.
- 4.5 to 5 stars: Masterpiece. An impressive, best-in-class game that delivers a uniquely unbeatable experience. The kind of game I consider special and likely won't leave my collection.
How the Stars Are Scored
I consider four key factors when scoring for a review. These factors are then weighted and combined to arrive at a final score:
- Fun (40%): The subjective enjoyment I have when playing a game. Enjoyment can come from a lot of things. In a strategy game, it's how engaging and satisfying it is to strategize towards a win. In a party game, it's how laugh-out-loud funny or exciting it is. The more I like it and the more I want to come back to it, the higher this score.
- Design (25%): The architecture of a game and how well it was executed. Is it convoluted and hard to understand? Or is it refined and streamlined? Is it unique and fresh? Or is it a rehash of ideas? Does it have an identity of its own? Does it blaze new trails? The conceptual package.
- Production (10%): The attention and thoughtfulness that went into the game's creation, including its artwork, graphic design, components, rulebook, and player aids. More expensive isn't always better. An overproduced game can be as detrimental as an underproduced one.
- Value (25%): The amount of gameplay and content you get for how much it costs, assuming you pay retail price. Replayability, component quality, modular content, and extra game modes all play into this. Also, the lower the retail price, the higher this score.