Should Price Predetermine Expected Review Scores?

That game was pretty good for $30.

This game was ok but not worth $70.

Chances are if you are on social media you hear something similar to one of those statements almost daily. It's a growing topic of conversation, especially after games became $70. As games have become more expensive the consumers have at times become more wary to spend their hard earned cash. But should the price tag really determine everyone's expectations?

Video games are an art form, and as with any art you may see it entirely differently than I do. I might play a game and say it's a 9, you might play it and say it's a 6. And as such how we spend our money is different as well. Some need a game to be a certain length to be worth $70, and I can certainly understand that position. You might tolerate a 7/10 game if it's 50 hours of entertainment more so than the 10/10 that's 5 hours and priced the same.

But let's address the topic of this article. If a game is $70 does it need to hit a certain level of polish and critical reception?

Let's use Rise Of The Ronin as an example. Currently it's getting a lot of commentary that it should only be a $50 game rather than $70 because it has some issues. Critics have it rated in the high 70s which is a good, bordering on great score. And if you don't wanna spend $70 on anything that's totally your right. But when did a games price suddenly mean a game had to be a 9 or it's not worth the price even if you were excited for it before release?

I see it over and over again "I was so hyped for this game but it's only an 8 and for $70 I expect more". Expectations should be based on what you see and hear, not a price tag in my opinion, and a game being an 8/10 shouldn't disqualify it from being worth a certain price. We as gamers for some reason have it in our minds that unless a game is a 9 it's not worth full price.

I get it if a $70 game is a broken mess and objectively bad, but a 7 or 8 rated game is certainly anything but bad, yet too many people treat it as such.

So if the next game you are hyped for releases and the critics don't give it the exact score you are looking for, maybe give it a chance anyway. Who knows, their 7 just might be your 9 and worth your $70.

Dan Jackson

Founder of Gamer Social Club. Have had a passion for gaming since Pokemon Red and been gaming ever since. Over 1 million gamerscore on Xbox. Very passionate about physical media in gaming with over 700 physical Xbox games. Follow @danno_omen on X

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Should Price Predetermine Expected Review Scores?

Dan Jackson

Founder of Gamer Social Club. Have had a passion for gaming since Pokemon Red and been gaming ever since. Over 1 million gamerscore on Xbox. Very passionate about physical media in gaming with over 700 physical Xbox games. Follow @danno_omen on X

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