How We Test a Game Before Reviewing

People sometimes ask how long we play before writing. The honest answer is at least a week, often more if a game has a long campaign or seasonal content.

We test on two phones, one recent and one a few years old, because performance is part of the review. A strategy game that stutters during a busy wave is a different experience than the trailer promises.

Each editor keeps rough notes as they play: what confused them, what felt great, where they nearly quit. Those messy notes become the review, which is why our write-ups mention specific moments instead of vague praise.

We also try the same game on both touch and any alternative control schemes. If one method clearly beats the other, we tell you which to use from day one.