How To Write A Video Game Review

While gaming journalism and print media has certainly been on the backfoot in the last ten years, owing to multiple website closures and the rise of streaming and video entertainment providing similar things, video game reviews still have a place. Millions of people still try to read what PC Gamer, IGN, Gamespot and more say about the latest tentpole release, or even visit niche sites to learn about indies and beyond.

Perhaps you want to add your own voice to the fray. That’s great, the more passion out there the better. However, you may not know where to begin. Moreover, you may not be confident in your abilities. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be literary to write a good game review, as the priority should be focusing on informative insight for the reader.

Now, the title of this post is something of a misnomer, because there’s no true perfect way to write a game review. You can attempt to give an “objective” score, but not everyone will agree with you. You may have entirely different reasons for liking a title compared to someone else. But in this post, we hope to provide a few measures for you to persuasively argue your opinion and stay consistent in those the more you write:

Know Your Audience

Writing a review is never just about the game in front of you, it’s also about the people who will read it and who may be interested in the game. Now, this will depend on who you’re writing for and what game you’re writing about, as sme are long-time players who follow a series closely. But many will just be curious newcomers thinking of giving it a try.

It’s okay if you have a highly technical understanding of grand strategy games and are talking from that perspective, but make sure that’s clear. It’ll help you decide how much context to provide, which is generally appropraite. A short history of the developer or mention of how the new title compares with earlier releases can make the piece richer without becoming bloated in that way.

Clarity Over Cleverness

It can be so easy to lean on sharp wordplay or elaborate comparisons when writing reviews, but too much flair often hides the substance. If you’re not writing for a high strung literary game analysis outfit, it’s fine to be clear and to be subtle with your adverbs or strong metaphors. We’d suggest keeping to clear sentences that describe what you experienced, as it’ll connect more than paragraphs of stretched simile.

For instance, if the combat feels sluggish, say so plainly. If the story surprised you, explain what made it compelling without spoiling it. The best approach is to put the reader in your shoes so they can imagine playing it themselves, not to impress them with ornate writing.

Balance Praise & Criticism

Few games are flawless, and few are total failures. The most useful reviews understand both strengths and weaknesses without slipping into exaggeration. Even the worst story you’ve ever seen in a game might have taken place in utterly jaw-dropping environments, and it’s helpful to point out moments that stand out positively in that way, like inspired level design or a memorable soundtrack, while also not ignoring frustrations such as technical bugs or poorly thought-out pacing.

Readers want to see a fair overview, so try not to write as if one aspect defines the entire experience, and definitely avoid the “rant” style, as it’s way overplayed by now, and better left to YouTubers..

Structure Your Thoughts

A common challenge is finding where to start. It’s fine to keep it simple, starting with the overall impression, then exploring gameplay systems, story, presentation, and technical performance. This gives readers stepping stones so they don’t feel lost in a wall of text. You don’t need to follow a rigid format every time, but providing a loose structure helps you stay consistent and will help someone skimming through it.

Moreover, readers will quickly appreciate reviews that feel organized but not mechanical, and it will make your own writing process smoother since you know where each point belongs.

Consider The Player’s Perspective

While you might have your own preferences, a good review also thinks about how different players could approach the game. Someone who loves online competition may not care much for a single-player story if it feels tacked in, and someone who values atmosphere may overlook rough edges in the combat.

Silent Hill 2 Remake, for example, was considered to have somewhat repetitive and tiresome combat, but with world-class atmosphere. Which of these do you think most horror fans want more? It’s fine to mention issues of course, but understand the context of the player.

Be Honest About Value

Games aren’t cheap these days and it’s no doubt going to get worse if publishers have anything to say about it, so people want to know if they’re worth the time and money. However, really try to avoid a cost-per-hour calculation, but remember it does help to share whether the game feels satisfying for what it offers.

For example, did the campaign feel full and engaging, or did it end just as it was starting to build momentum? Does the online community feel alive, or is it already thinning out? A few comments about longevity, replayability, and overall polish is always going to be helpful.

Be Honest

Ultimately, you have to say what you think. If you get into the mindset that your review has to be the most objective analysis ever, as if you were weighing a new element, then you’re going to have a bad time. Never try to hide criticism because a game series has a particularly rabid fanbase, or try to pretend something you like is better than it is, even if you mention you liked it.

Honesty is how you build readership and people who trust what you have to say. Let them decide if your tastes align or if they think your reviews are well-structured. You’ll get better at it as you go. Also be sure to read the work of others, such as those from the major outlets or parallel industries such as with this Bc game review.

With this advice, we hope you can write a video game review with confidence.