Game Reviews
For each level, you must write two full game reviews. Each review should focus on a different game that you have played, ideally from different genres or platforms.
What is a game review?
A game review is where you look closely at a game and share your thoughts. You’ll explain what the game is, what you liked or didn’t like, and give reasons for your opinions. As you move up the levels, you’ll be expected to say more, explain your thinking clearly, and back it up with examples from the game.
What does a review need at each level?
As you move up the levels, your game reviews should get more detailed and show deeper thinking. Below is a breakdown with examples to show what changes at each level.
Each game review should contain similar elements. Below is a breakdown of what is required at each level aswell as a downloadable example.
Level 4
At Level 4, your review only needs to cover the basics — a simple description and your opinion.
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Identifies the game (title)
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States the genre
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Describes one design element (e.g. graphics, controls)
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Gives a simple opinion (e.g. “It’s fun”, “I liked the characters”)
Level 5
At Level 5, your review should be more detailed — explaining who the game is for and giving clear opinions about its features.
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Identifies the game (title and genre)
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Describes the target audience
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Comments on at least two design elements (e.g. mechanics, narrative, UI)
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Gives justified opinions (explains why they like/dislike features)
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Begins using comparison (e.g. to similar games)
Level 6
At Level 6, your review should be detailed and well-structured, using clear examples and a custom rating system to back up your opinions.
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Identifies the game (title, genre, publisher, and target audience)
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Evaluates at least three design elements in detail
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Gives clear, well-justified opinions with specific examples
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Uses a custom rating system
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Includes screenshots to support the review
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May compare to other games or genres for context
Ready to write?
Now that you know what’s expected at each level, it’s time to start writing your own game reviews.
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Use the examples to see what a good review looks like
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Download the workbook to help plan and structure your ideas
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Try different styles — use your own voice, be honest, and back up your opinions!
Remember: The more detail you give, the better your review will be.