When it comes to rating systems, understanding what each rung of the ladder means is important to understand how we make our decisions as critics. Through our editorial process, we make sure that scores are assigned after thoughtful review. Our goal is to be critical, not mean, and always put the reader first. Our goal is to use the full range of the scales for all of our reviews.

Below, you’ll find But Why Tho?’s review score guide. We use both x/10 and x/5 scoring metrics for the different media we cover. Continue below for a deeper understanding.

X/10 Review Score

We rate video games, film, and television on a scale of x/10 to accommodate the nuances of discussing such large pieces of media.

For film/television, we consider narrative, cinematography, animation (if applicable), and performances.

Similarly, with video games, we consider mechanics, tutorialization, art style, technical issues, and narrative. We also release co-op reviews, using the same guide but from the perspective of completing a game with a partner, if it is designed that way.

Our writers often adhere to the review score guide and discuss it with our editors during the editing process.

10 – PERFECTION

This is our highest recommendation. These are the titles that redefine or can become genre-defining. The best way to think about this is that our critic thought of their favorite in the genre, and this surpassed it.

9 – AMAZING

This is used for media that our critics would add to everyone’s must-watch or must-play lists. This means that the media has genuinely impressed our critic and brought forward new genre, narrative, or gameplay ideas. This is true x-of-the-year material.

8 – GREAT

Media we give an 8/10 all have something outstanding to remember them by. It can be niche or gimmick executed extremely well, with only small bumps in the road.

7 – GOOD

A 7/10 piece of media is something that you’re happy you spent time on but could definitely be better. These titles may lack ambition, be repetitive, lose steam, or take too long to get ramped up. A 7/10 is good, but it has room for improvement.

6 – OK

A 6/10 in games, film, or television means that they have potential. These titles “could be good if.” Here, it’s okay because you can see what could have been, but it won’t go above a 6 due to the negative critiques involved.

5 – MEH

Neither here nor there. Just right in the middle. It’s not something to hate but not something to love either. Usually, a 5/10 title is one that entertains as much as it doesn’t – true middle of the road.

4 – BAD

“Bad” is something we reserve for a piece of media that may have a good idea but does not execute it well, leaving the audience in “I want my time back” territory. There is more to dislike than there is to like about the title.

3 – AWFUL

This is something you may be able to say a positive thing about, but, by and large, it can’t be salvaged due to any combination of issues.

2 – OH NO

Media that lands at 2/10 is something we deem as not worth the audience’s time, usually lacking any saving graces. 

1 – DON’T EVEN TRY

A title of this caliber just has absolutely nothing to offer to its audience, no redeeming qualities, and shouldn’t be watched/played. 

X/5 Review Score

We rate comics on an x/5 scale, given the length of individual issues and the media.

5 – PERFECTION

Writing, colors, lettering, layout, everything about this issue is perfect. Give to comics that there is absolutely nothing you will change. Think of the comic you love the most and compare the one you’re reading to that.

4 – GREAT

This is for titles that are damn good, but have something off about them – even if it’s just that they don’t amaze you.

3 – Just Fine

Neither here nor there. Just forgettable. Not something to hate but not something to love either.

2 – Bad

There is nothing to save here – but maybe something you wanted to be saved. The critic thinks the writing and art are excellent, but the colors and lettering are off, or at least along those lines. Some things work but the ones that don’t outweigh the good.

1 – OH NO

Don’t buy this, and there is nothing you can save.

You can find our reviews listed on Rotten Tomatoes, Open Critic, Metacritic, and CriticDB.