Video Game Grading Rubric

With my game reviews I’ve found and added to a rubric. There are 7 criteria that I will be looking at with 5 points in each section. So, a perfect game would need a score of 35. Hopefully, this will help me gauge my opinion of the game being reviewed.

1. Graphics

   • How good the game looks compared to similar products on the same systems.
   • Do the effects add to or distract from the game?

2. Story

   • Content
     • How interesting is the plot?
     • Does it draw the player in?
   • Pacing
     • Does the story ever drag?
     • Does it seem to abrupt?

3. Game-play

   • Looking for originality and fun.
   • This is what the player actually does. (This one I don’t understand.)
   • UI/Controls
     • How the UI interacts with the game.
     • Is it intuitive or counter-intuitive?
     • Do the controls interfere with the user experience?

4. Soundtrack

   • Lack of repetition.
   • Does it properly set the mood or tone.

5. Replayability

   • Simply, will the user want to play it again.

6. Completeness

   • Looking here at lack of bugs.
   • Also, does the game seem complete without DLC or does the DLC offered add features that seem necessary to the base game?

7. Uniqueness

   • Here we’re looking at whether the game has broken new ground?
   • A sequel could conceivably be a 10 here, but it would have to add significantly to the original.
   • I’m also considering how unlike the game is compared to anything else out there on the same systems. A good score here generally indicates there is not a game like it on that system.