...and it's only gotten worse with time.
IGN has a serious 7/10 problem. It feels like the outlet hands out 7s as if they were free party favors, leaving me wondering if they're even playing the games they're reviewing.
Obviously, yeah, I'm sure they have the code and turn the games on... but what actually goes INTO the score, because if anything, it doesn't feel like its the game itself...
The (especially recent) trend over there with handing out 7/10's has become all too frequent, and it’s concerning to see universally praised 'quality' titles and... well, let's be honest - junk being lumped together with the same score. No real gamers take their reviews seriously anymore, and it’s time we explain to IGN why, if they care to change their brand around to regain the trust of gamers again (they won't - but hey, it's an interesting topic so I'm going to dive in anyways).
Let’s be clear: reviews are and always will be subjective. No two players will have the exact same experience with a game, and that’s okay. But I also feel like that statement is used all too frequently as a get-out-of jail card for missteps and pushing an agenda.
When IGN originally rated Lollipop Chainsaw a 5/10 back in 2012, and now - refuses to even re-review the remake today, it raises eyebrows. Why refuse to re-evaluate it in today’s context? The answer's staring us right in the face—they’d HAVE TO rate the remaster a 7, of course. It fits their pattern. If they didn't... well... There'd be even more backlash:
Just look at how IGN rated both Concord and Dustborn—two games plagued with issues and propaganda—a 7/10, back-to-back. Yet, we're supposed to believe they're reviewing games honestly, providing feedback to gamers to help them make informed decisions?
When a game is on the edge—teetering between good and bad—IGN seems to take the safest route every single time, landing at a 7. When a game is inherently bad, but pushes the right message? 7/10. When a game is great, but doesn't align ideologically or has a lack of DEI? 7/10. It's become so predictable that... it's laughable.
Just watch - the DEI slop mess of Tales of the Shire will absolutely get a 7/10 as well because... It's "Cozy" like a warm hug!
The latest example is The Plucky Squire, a game that received near-universal acclaim from almost every other outlet, with scores of 9/10 or even 10/10.
But IGN? Nope. They gave it a 7/10. And you have to wonder, are they even playing these games?
This pattern isn’t just annoying; it’s damaging. When you see a mix of truly great games and objectively flawed ones all receiving the same middling score, it erodes the trust of the very audience you'd think they wanted to garner. Are there incentives behind the scenes pushing the scores of games like Dustborn & Concord up? Or... is it that the reviewer agrees with the game's messaging, acting more like an activist than an unbiased critic? After all, we’ve seen more than a few examples where personal politics seep into reviews, and the objectivity of the reviewer is called into question.
IGN’s problem is bigger than just an over-reliance on the number 7...
It’s about credibility, or rather - the lack of it. If they genuinely care about their brand and their standing in the gaming community, the change must begin with earning the trust of players again. That means honest reviews, clear reasoning for their scores, and a step back from the all-too-safe 7 that has become their crutch. Imagine if they were forced to not use the number 7 moving forward. Just remove it from the scorecard. Seeing as 7 is the safest bet to dodge criticism, how about they remove it and score a game a 6 or an 8, forcing them to pick a side. They won't do that, of course... but again, this all circles back to how personal politics and political agendas have seeped so deep into the games industry that the very people meant to score the games care more about a political agenda.
Equally concerning is whenever they seem to stray from that 7 to go higher into the 9's or 10's, we see a convenient advertisement promoted on the very page calling IGN out for their glorious review. Now, I'm not saying there's a definitive connection here with shady dealing going on in the background... but it's certainly sus af, and at the very least, a huge conflict of interest... This kinda stuff harkens back to what was happening back with the original Gamergate, exchanging favors for high scores from journos. Retaining an unbiased approach is paramount, but ironically, how can you be unbiased if a review is supposed to be personal, and each person inherently has a bias? Catch 22...
See, for example: The image below, where Square Enix is paying to promote FFXVI prominently on the IGN homepage, and even features the score. It HAS to make you at least WONDER...
Gamers are more informed now than ever before. We notice patterns, we talk to each other, and we do our own research... When I see one outlet consistently handing out the same score over and over again without much justification, I begin to ask questions. Gamers have stopped taking these reviews seriously.
So, IGN, if you’re listening: Look - I'm not trying to be a dick (though I know that's how you're going to take this...) But whatever. I don't even care anymore. It’s time you listen and break free from that 'seven' safe zone. Ditch the 7s, and give reviews that genuinely reflect the games being played. Only then can you hope to regain any semblance of credibility in the eyes of real gamers...
If it's not already too late...
~Smash
