Best game review sites for reliable reviews
The best game review sites depend on what you need. For a quick verdict, aggregators like OpenCritic and Metacritic show the overall critical consensus at a glance. For full reviews, outlets such as IGN, GameSpot, Eurogamer, PC Gamer and Polygon are widely read, and Steam user reviews show how real players feel, including after patches.
Review aggregators
- OpenCritic: focuses only on games, shows a "Top Critic Average" and the percentage of critics who recommend a game, and links to every review.
- Metacritic: a weighted "Metascore" from critics plus a separate user score. User scores can be skewed by review-bombing.
Professional outlets
- IGN and GameSpot: big, fast, with both written and video reviews.
- Eurogamer, PC Gamer, Polygon, Game Informer: strong writing and genre specialists.
- Digital Foundry: not reviews in the usual sense, but the best source for performance and graphics comparisons across platforms.
Player reviews
- Steam reviews: "Recent" and "All" ratings help you see whether a game has improved or got worse after launch.
- YouTube and streams: watching unedited gameplay shows you how a game actually plays.
How to read reviews well
- Read two or three reviews, including a mixed one.
- Find reviewers whose tastes match yours.
- Check the date: live-service games can change a lot after launch.
- Watch gameplay before buying if performance matters to you.
FAQ
What is the most reliable game review site?
No single site is always right. An aggregator such as OpenCritic or Metacritic is the most reliable starting point because it averages many critics.
Is Metacritic reliable?
Its critic score is a decent snapshot of reception, but it hides nuance; user scores are easier to manipulate.
Is OpenCritic better than Metacritic?
OpenCritic is game-only and more transparent about which reviews it counts; Metacritic also covers movies, TV and music. Many players check both.
What game has the best reviews ever?
On Metacritic, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has long held the top critic score.
Where can I check a game's age rating?
In the US and Canada, age ratings come from the ESRB (esrb.org); in Europe, from PEGI. They rate content, not quality.