How we test a game before writing a word

People sometimes assume reviews are dashed off after ten minutes with a game. Ours aren't, and I wanted to explain the process so you know what our scores mean.

First we just play, on default settings, for a few sessions across a couple of days. We want the honeymoon feeling and the moment it wears off, because both tell you something.

Then we get technical. We check every settings toggle, note battery drain over a measured session, and pay attention to heat and load times. We try one-handed play and, where we can, a second device with a different screen size.

Only after that does anyone start writing. The score comes last, once we've argued about it, and it reflects the whole experience — not just the flashy first impression.

It's slower than pumping out quick takes, but it's the only way I'd want to do it. If a game earns a high mark from us, it's because we lived with it and it held up.