How we review games

The five steps

1. Discover

We track publisher announcements, reader suggestions and genre communities. A candidate must be genuinely free to start, playable from New Zealand without a workaround, and operated by an identifiable publisher.

2. Test

An editor plays for multiple sessions across at least two devices where the game supports them, keeping notes on onboarding, the core loop, the first shop prompt and where progress starts to slow.

3. Compare

The game is placed against similar titles already listed. A rating only makes sense relative to the alternatives, so we adjust it when a better option enters the catalogue.

4. Safety check

We confirm the official domain, review the account and privacy requirements, note whether two-factor authentication is available, and check that no listing links through a third-party download portal.

5. Keep updated

Reviews carry a last-reviewed date. We revisit titles when a major update lands, when readers report a change, and on a rolling schedule regardless.

Our seven criteria

• Gameplay — is the core loop worth repeating?
• Visual quality — art direction and clarity, not raw fidelity.
• Accessibility — text scaling, colour options, motion and input alternatives.
• Device compatibility — how it behaves on browser, desktop and mobile.
• Learning curve — how long before the game makes sense.
• Monetisation fairness — what is sold and how much it changes play.
• Community experience — moderation, co-operation and the tone of shared spaces.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, tell us. We re-test, update the page and change the last-reviewed date. Substantive corrections are noted in the What's New timeline.

Independence

Publishers cannot pay for a listing, a rating or a position in our collections. Where affiliate arrangements exist they are disclosed, and they never influence editorial judgement.