Editorial transparency
Knowing how coverage is made helps you judge it for yourself. Reviews express the reviewer’s experience with the version played, while developer trailers and community ratings serve different purposes.
Review copies
“Review copy provided by the publisher” means access to the game was supplied rather than purchased by the reviewer. The disclosure may instead identify a developer or another provider. A supplied copy does not guarantee coverage, a positive verdict or a particular score. Receiving access is different from being paid to produce coverage.
Review details identify the platform and reviewed version. Time played and progress are included when supplied by the reviewer. Updates can change the experience after publication.
Sponsorships and paid coverage
Any paid placement or sponsored coverage should be clearly labelled where it appears, identifying the relevant commercial relationship. A review-copy disclosure alone does not describe a sponsorship. Check the individual article or video for its specific disclosure; this page does not imply that a sponsorship exists.
Affiliate links
If a link can earn us a commission, it should be identified near the link or in the article’s disclosure. An ordinary store link is not automatically an affiliate link. Check the specific label before following a purchasing link. Any additional cost or conditions depend on the destination’s offer.
Our scores and community scores
The editorial score is the reviewer’s verdict on a 1–5 scale. Category scores and the final verdict belong to the written review. See How We Rate Games for the scale and decimals.
The community score is a separate average of published guest ratings, with each rating weighted equally. It does not alter the editorial score. Individual ratings and the number of contributions help show how that average was formed. Hidden or spam-marked ratings are excluded.
Guest ratings are opinions, not verified purchases or verified identities. Spam protection and moderation reduce abuse but cannot guarantee that every contribution is authentic.
Developer trailers and corrections
Developer trailers are promotional footage from their creators, not an independent review or endorsement. A preview concerns an unfinished game or a limited hands-on experience.
For factual corrections, questions about disclosures or concerns about community ratings, contact info@indie-games.eu. Review updates can be recorded alongside the article so readers can see what changed.