How Video Game Reviews Have Changed

Whether you’re looking for info on the latest indie hit to be released, the newest AAA title, or even more niche options with the likes of the best live dealer roulette options for example, chances are you’ll turn to one of the many platforms that represent different content creators with the likes of Twitch or YouTube.

Back in the day it may have been much different, individuals may have instead turned to gaming magazines or online sites that provide in-depth reviews, so what has changed and why is there a preference that often leans away from these more traditional approaches?

(Image from metro.co.uk)

The most common reason is simply within the fact that checking out videos on YouTube or Twitch can often show a more representative look at what these newer titles have to offer. A few pictures and a summary in a write up often doesn’t do the same justice.

Whether it’s just exploring all features in a more robust way or showing something that can only realistically be shown in live gameplay footage.

Another reason why reviews have changed in recent years has been for the growing distrust for many of the bigger publications in particular. Many games come with a difficulty mode set specifically for reviewers which allow them to play through a large portion of the game without many big roadblocks but also often gives a very skewed vision of what the game will be leading to reviews that often miss key points of the game or give an impression that the experience had is vastly different to what other players may experience.

Finally comes those that are paid to review titles, and often give a positive review in favour of the developer or publisher and lead to further mistrust as many scores that are given these days are much harder to place reliance in – through sites and magazines of the past, it was much easier to trust what was written or printed as an unbiased and often more enthusiastic view, but that has since changed in favour of receiving the opportunity to continue reviewing and options for the biggest publications, although the opposite is often true for fan made options as these still look to deliver a more unbiased view.

The benefits found by content creators in the reviewing space often means that whilst they may be sponsored, still have a large enough audience that complying with leaving a good review may not be necessary, and the audience have become fonder of an approach that is much more honest and can change over the course of a video or stream.

They’re certainly looking to be the future option for reviewing, and are slowly pushing the biggest publications behind and given many of the biggest content creators can often be streaming to tens of thousands of viewers for a review too, it’s going to be hard to beat out the huge audience that these platforms attract, and how quickly clips and VODs spread afterwards too.