Reviewing games is a complicated process and we here at ZTGD take them very seriously. We have created what we feel is the most comprehensive and fair scoring system. We are all optimistic about games and believe the text means much more than the number score, but know how much you all love it. Here is the breakdown and description of each tier.

All of the games we review on ZTGD are provided to us by their respective publisher. Whatever system we use primarily for playing the game will be listed within the footer of each review. No one on staff is paid for their work. Everyone here does this simply for the love of games.

10 (Classic)

This honor only goes to games that we feel will be remembered for years to come. It is a prime example of superior game design. This is a title that everyone should play as it defines what it means to be a gamer.

9.0 & 9.5 (Excellent)

These games are definitely some of the best you will find in their available genre. A must-buy for anyone who even remotely likes that style and then some.

8.0 & 8.5 (Great)

This score represents a game that excels at doing what it set out to do very well. If you enjoy the genre this game is likely a must-own and we recommend dropping the cash.

7.0 & 7.5 (Good)

This is the famous middle ground where the game is definitely enjoyable, but that full price tag may scare you. Don’t let it, this game is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy the style.

6.0 & 6.5 (Decent)

These games are fun but still miss something that makes them stand out from the pack. These are the kinds of games you might want to either rent for the weekend or pickup on a sweet deal or trade-in.

5.0 & 5.5 (Mediocre)

The true middle of the road these games get by on the most basic of levels. There are some redeeming qualities but this game is certainly not going to knock your socks off; a price drop is recommended.

4.0 & 4.5 (Sub-par)

This is where things start to go downhill. These games generally contain plenty of faults and/or boring parts that make them a chore to play sometimes.

3.0 & 3.5 (Effortless)

Here we have games that are riddled with several problems. During our review of this game we likely screamed several profanities and perhaps even made fun of the game’s mother.

2.0 & 2.5 (Insulting)

While rarely used this score is certainly reserved for some true bottom-of-the-barrel titles that do little outside of actually being playable, and barely at that.

1.0 & 1.5 (Detestable)

Purchasing a game that scores in this tier is simply for comedic value. Very few games actually deserve this prestigious score, and are almost worth playing simply because of how bad they are.

0.0 & 0.5 (Shaq-Fu)

Amazingly this score is likely never going to be used, but it was fun creating it simply to remind people of how awesome a fighting game starring Shaq can be.