How we test every game before writing

People sometimes ask how long we spend with a game before reviewing it. The honest answer is 'at least a few evenings', and usually more if it's a bigger title like an RPG or a sim.

Step one is always the offline check. We install the game, finish any first-time setup over wifi, then switch everything off and see what still works. If the game falls apart without a connection, that goes right at the top of the review.

Step two is just playing normally. We don't rush to the end for a screenshot. We want to know if it's still fun on day five, when the novelty is gone.

Only after that does someone sit down and write. Scores are a team conversation, not a formula. We argue about half-points more than we'd like to admit.