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A final note before we dive in: All reviews are someone’s opinion.
This will be displayed in a table, as seen below.
This forms our methodology, which can be seen below.
What is the ‘elevator pitch?’
If it’s a sequel or follow-up, what does it do differently?
Does it have a particular art style or theme, and do we think these are used effectively?
Component quality is also discussed at this stage.
Our reviewers start by reading the game’s rulebook from cover to cover.
Is it easy to follow, or to find the info you’re looking for?
This gives us a better sense of its longevity, and whether you’ll want to return or not.
Another focus for our tabletop reviewers is design quality and how a product compares to the competition.
For example, has a particular idea been implemented better elsewhere?
Does it offer a similar experience, but at a lower cost?
We aim to find out with each and every write-up.
That’s why you’ll often see ‘VS’ pieces on the site comparing similar items.
Finally, we put a lot of stock in the most important criteria of all good old-fashioned ‘fun.’
This is the time for real talk: Is the product worth what you’ll pay for it?
And is the price reasonable considering what you get?
If we think something else is better value on the whole, we’ll flag it here.
In essence, it’s top priority that the way we test board games is transparent.
We love board games just like you, and that’s whatwe’dwant from buying advice.
So, who are we writing for?
Simply put, our tabletop coverage is designed for everyone.
But we also strive to serve newcomers and more casual players of thebest family board gamesas well.
As with all GamesRadar+ content, the goal is to educate, entertain, and inform without judgment.
“Inform without judgment” doesn’t mean we avoid criticism, though.
As such, it’s only fair to double-check our critique reflects this.
By the same token, we won’t rigidly stick to tried and tested options.
We’ll look at both premium titles and budget games too.
What matters is getting the best products in front of you, no matter where they come from.
On much the same note, we prioritize games that are actively available in your area.
