My game ratings explained

General rating, 1-10 scale

General rating is a purely subjective relative score which I believe best suits the overall quality of the game. Main points of reference are other previously rated games. When it comes to rating a new game, I can look back at what scores I assigned to other games from similar genre and how my overall feeling about those games compare to the one which I am rating right now. In it's essence, each rating will be always biased by the reviewer's point of view and in my case it is no different. The average general rating of games I rate is fairly high as it gravitates to around 8/10 rather than 5/10. It happens because the scale represents an entire range of games from atrociously bad to amazingly good. There are games out there that would deserve to be rated with 1/10. But since I value my time, I try to play games which I believe are at least decent. Which means I will not be playing and rating games which could potentially score very low. Which in turn boosts the average rating in my database.

Partial ratings (gameplay, story, technical), 1-5 scale

Ratings for gameplay, story and technical aspects are completely independent from the general rating. General rating is not an average from those partial scores or vice-versa. A game which scores low on partial rating can still attain high general score (example: Minecraft with 1/5 for story). Gameplay rating relates how well designed and addictive the pure gaming element is in any given game. Story rating represents the quality of writing and it's pacing. It can also be boosted and get bonus points for lore quality. For example a game with 4/5 quality script can end up as 5/5 if it's lore is also exceptionally well prepared and implemented. Technical rating grades mostly how good the game looks (comparing to effective standards at the time of it's release) and how well coded it is. It can also attain bonus points for an exceptionally good music. All three partial ratings follow the simple scoring guideline:

5 - Outstanding, 4 - Good, 3 - Average / Acceptable, 2 - Bad, 1 - Appalling / Nonexistent.