What is criticism? And how to critique a game?

Nothing more, nothing less than examining and evaluating something, criticism is loaded with a value judgment, either in a comparative way or in a way to evaluate on its own merits.

It is often interpreted or even used in a personal way, where one's own opinion is placed on something, which is a wrong way to use and interpret criticism. Criticism is a formulation of elements of an established standard and experience on the subject.

Importance of criticism

Game critics are important because they help players decide whether a game is worth buying or not. They can also provide feedback to developers, which can lead to improvements in the game and future releases. In addition, critics can play an important role in promoting and recognizing indie games, which may not have the same marketing reach as big titles from established studios.

This standard is related to various points within the game that will be examined and taken into consideration.

Just like in cinema, there are several critics who will formulate criticism taking into account acting, direction, photography, and soundtrack, among others, and in games there are also several points to be considered.

How to critique a game:

As I mentioned above, with a formulation of the main points of a game and the genre of the game, there is an evaluation of various points in the game, and it can also be compared with other games or genres, and some of these points should answer certain questions:

Gameplay: Is the game mechanics enjoyable? Is it easy to understand and play? Is it challenging enough to keep the player engaged?

Graphics and Sound: Are the graphics and sound effects of good quality? Do they contribute to the player's immersion in the story?

Story and Plot: Is the story interesting and engaging? Is it well developed? Does the plot make sense?

Characters: Are the characters well-developed and captivating? Does the player care about what happens to them?

Replay value: Does the game have elements that encourage replayability? Are there additional game modes that justify a second playthrough?

Price: Is the game price fair in relation to the quality offered?

These are some points that are taken into consideration, the evaluation may vary from critic to critic, but this type of approach is usually taken.

Cover artist: https://www.artstation.com/marcsimonetti