How NerdSnack Scores Reviews
Every NerdSnack review with a score is something we tested ourselves, hands-on. This page explains what the numbers mean and the rules we follow, so you can trust them.
Table of Contents
What the scores mean
We score out of 10, in half points.
| Score | Label | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Masterpiece | One of the best things in its category. Rare on purpose. |
| 9 to 9.5 | Outstanding | Easy to recommend to almost anyone it is made for. |
| 8 to 8.5 | Great | Excellent, with a small catch or two. |
| 7 to 7.5 | Good | Worth it for the right person; read the catches first. |
| 6 to 6.5 | Decent | Fine, but there are better options for most people. |
| 5 to 5.5 | Mixed | Real problems that cancel out what it does well. |
| 1 to 4.5 | Skip it | We would not recommend it. |
How we test
We use things the way you would. Dice get rolled, playmats get played on, books get read, board games get played with a full table, and video games get played through. Every review says who tested it and for how long.
Some reviews also show part scores, such as build quality, design and value for products, or gameplay, replay value and components for games. The overall score is our verdict on the whole thing, not an average of the parts.
Free samples and sponsors
- Many items are sent to us free by the maker. When that happens, the review says so.
- Makers do not pay for reviews, do not see them before they are published, and have no say in the score.
- Scores are never for sale. Paid placements, such as a sponsored spot in a gift guide, are labeled Sponsored and never carry a score.
- Some links in our reviews are affiliate links. Buying through them never changes the price you pay or the score we give.
When scores change
If a product changes, a game gets a major update, or we find a problem after publishing, we update the review, note the date, and change the score if it no longer fits.
More about how we work: Editorial policy · Affiliate disclosure
