Game Review Format

This posting is to highlight the criteria I use to rate games in my reviews. Most of my game reviews will be on games that I own since I have more familiarity with them and also enough plays to comfortably offer my opinions on them.

Each review will start with a graph showing 5 different criteria (this format the same as Kulkmann's G@mebox) and is used with permission from Frank Kulkmann.

Evaluation System used with permission www.boardgame.de

For my review purposes I will use the following rankings for each of the five Criteria. The rankings are subjective (and only my opinions) but I will try to give a guideline as to what each ranking means for each Criteria.

Complexity -- This is a criteria to measure both the process of learning a game and the clarity of the rules provided.

1) Understood by intuition, obvious rules that a 2 year old can easily follow

2) Simple, easily understood rules

3) Appropriate for pre-school to elementary school children to easily grasp

4) More advanced concepts for many young kids, but easily grasped by adults

5) Top end for most non-gamer games and ideal for many family level games

6) Gateway games and many family games with moderate rules

7) Majority of Gamer games fall into this category of complexity

8) Advanced complexity, gamers need learning curve

9) The top end of reasonable complexity

10) Overly complex rules that challenge even very experienced gamers

Design -- This criteria ranks a games components as well as the overall impression and presentation of the game. Both it's visual and tactile appeal.

1) No components or garbage components
2) Terrible components and design, drastically impacts gameplay
3) Serious concerns about design, may impact gameplay
4) Some problems with the components but still functional
5) Standard game components, no big issues
6) Above average components, but could have some small issues
7) Excellent components, general level for many Euros
8) Very well done components and design, above the norm for Euros
9) Exceptionally well done components, visually appealing
10) Top notch components that place this game above the field

Fun - This Criteria is just how enjoyable the game is for me and how frequently I would be willing to play it.

1) Complete waste of time, will NEVER play again
2) Boring, not worth the effort to play
3) Will play if forced by others, will not recommend
4) Okay game, would play again but wouldn't suggest
5) Average gameplay experience
6) Above average, enjoyable experience
7) Excellent game, engaging and very fun
8) Great gameplay, will always play and often suggest
9) Highly entertaining, very thematic or involved game, will always suggest/play
10) Great experience, would play again and again

Strategy - I try to rank the impact of strategy and tactics involved in the game and usually the key dividing point is how many strategic choices are viable over multiple plays of the game.

1) Complete luck or game plays by itself
2) Very limited options, roll and move
3) One obvious strategy and it is always the best choice
4) Some strategy but one strategy tends to dominate
5) At least two viable choices at varying points in the game
6) More than one route to victory or multiple tactical decisions
7) Multple paths to victory with tactical decisions along the way
8) Subtle strategies emerge through multiple plays
9) Abstract levels of strategy with great depth and replay value
10) Multiple layers of strategy and room for innovative tactics to succeed

Overall Evaluation - This is my overall ranking of the game relative to others in my collection and how willing I am to bring it out to the gaming table.

1) Only useful in the fireplace
2) Feeble game, will not play
3) Weak game, will only play when coerced into it
4) Below average, might play but won't suggest
5) Average game, will play sometimes
6) Good game, will play if suggested but not all the time
7) Strong game, will play more often than not
8) Excellent game, will always play and often suggest
9) Great game, will always play and always suggest
10) Will always recommend/play and this will not change

After the Ratings Graph, I will describe the game components. This will cover most (or all) of the game components and help explain my design rating. Then I will explain the Object and detail the Flow of Play for the game under review. Finally, I will wrap up with Overall Evaluation. Then in some cases I'll add details and explanation for any House Rules that I use for playing the game (sometimes to alter game balance and sometimes just for variety).