How GNL Magazine Reviews Games

GNL Magazine covers games the way we'd want them covered as players first: honestly, with real playtime behind every score, and without a review scale that hides more than it explains. This page lays out how we approach reviews and what our star rating actually means, so developers, publishers, and PR contacts know what to expect before sending a key.

Our Review Policy

Every review published on GNL comes from Kiesha Richardson's own gameplay. We don't base scores on trailers, press kits, or secondhand impressions, and we don't accept review copies with the expectation of a guaranteed positive outcome. If a game has issues, the review will say so.

Reviews are written after enough playtime to speak to the core loop, the systems that define the game, and whatever a player would actually experience in the opening hours through mid-game content. For longer titles, we're upfront in the review itself about how much of the game was covered and what that scope did or didn't include.

The Rating Scale

GNL uses a five-star scale with half-point increments, giving ten possible scores rather than five. We publish a single overall score per review rather than a breakdown by category like graphics, sound, or gameplay. A game is more than the sum of its parts, and a single number forces us to weigh those parts the way a player actually would, rather than padding a review with numbers that don't add up to a coherent verdict.

★★★★★ (5.0) : Exceptional. A genre standout with little to no meaningful criticism.

★★★★½ (4.5) : Excellent. Strong across the board with minor, specific shortcomings.

★★★★ (4.0) : Great. A confident, well-built game with a few rough edges.

★★★½ (3.5) : Good. Solid and worth playing, particularly for fans of the genre.

★★★ (3.0) : Average. Competent but unremarkable, with real trade-offs to weigh.

★★½ (2.5) : Below Average. Noticeable flaws that affect the experience.

★★ (2.0) : Weak. Significant issues outweigh what works.

★½ (1.5) : Poor. Struggles to deliver a functional or enjoyable experience.

★ (1.0) : Avoid. Fundamentally broken or not worth a player's time.

What Developers and Studios Should Know

We're happy to accept Steam keys, review codes, and early access builds. Sending a key does not guarantee a review, a specific score, or a specific publish date; it guarantees an honest one, published on our own timeline. We'll always disclose that a copy was provided, and we don't run sponsored reviews dressed up as editorial coverage.

If your game features Black protagonists, culturally significant representation, or ties into the communities GNL covers most closely (open-world RPGs, wuxia and xianxia-influenced titles, culturally rooted storytelling), say so when you reach out. It won't change the score, but it may shape which angle the review leads with.

You can review our media kit here. Review requests and press inquiries can be sent to press.gnlmagazine@gmail.com.