Too many reviewers refuse to speak negatively about anything. Some of the most popular trending channels lately I've checked out and literally you'd think that any negative words were censored out, nothing is about stuff they dislike nor do any comments about critical flaws of a game get spoken. That's just not right in my book!
Dude! About half of your 1-4 rated games were some of the most popular games in the tts discord I frequent. But that's why I like ya, you're a wild rebel who plays by his own rules. (also, great topic and vid)
May be popular, but they won't be for everyone. I wonder if it's worth doing a mini-series on why I don't like certain games, but I'm concerned with potential backlash.
Like,loved the vid....some of my faves are in your 1-3 but also in your 9-10 ratings...perfectly shows the reason that boardgaming is such a great hobby....everybody sees a game differently... Great job mate....
Love it! Thanks for sharing. The way you explained it is pretty much how I interpreted it anyways, but great to hear your reasoning 😁... Thanks, as always for all that you do ♥️. PS, loving the new intro!
Awesome, thank you! The down side of the new review format is that it takes me even longer to edit, yet doesn't build any extra viewership to someone comparable who just switches on the camera :-( - but i feel better doing it this way!
Hey buddy, this was a great video! It just goes to show how widely tastes vary and that we consumers need to take our favorite reviewers’ personal tastes into consideration before making a decision based on their opinions alone. Case in point, a couple of the games you rate 4 or below are 9’s for me and some of your 10’s are 7 or 8’s for me. When it comes to thematic games and co-ops, our tastes are really close, but way different for Euros. Keep up the great work!
What a great video. Love your content and your reviews, whether I agree with your opinions or not. Very happy to see Abyss is a 10. If I had to rate it, I would also be scoring it a 10. I think your catchphrase sums it up nicely for me, and it's a phrase some people need to remember: it's just a game!
I'm shocked (Concordia, GWT, Brass, Lorenzo), but would be interested about your reasoning! Especially, because you have similar games in legendary section (Architects, Scythe, Pulsar). Well, you can argue about similarity, but there is a high correlation between the player base of these games. Would love to see a video about it!
I definitely would not put them as similar games but funny you asked about that. I have pondered whether a small mini series either on the podcast or main channel where I quickly explain why I dislike a specific game.
3 года назад
@@TheBrokenMeeple would listen to that! Sure, but the player base is very similar :)
@ Same. I love hearing why he dislikes a slew of games I love like Brass and Concordia. I value his opinion because it’s well reasoned from his subjective perspective.
Great to see a RUclipsr explaining in detail how the ratings are done. In theory, your explanations quite fit my way of rating games. However, in practice there are some differences. 1. Seems like your ratings are spread much more from 1-10. >90% of my games are 6.0-8.5. 2. You have rated a lot of modern board games which generally get good reviews below 5.0. Well, games I rate 1.0-4.0 are garbage like monopoly and all those old luck-based games in which you dont have a lot of decision but you are highly played by the game. What I really like is your method of sorting out all games below 8.0 except for some beginners/gateway games. I have just started something similar, while I also take the game length into account. E.g. if it's a filler game then 6.0-6.75 is also okay to keep.
We only classify games like Monopoly as bad because we have moved on in terms of tastes. But I still enjoyed playing games like hero quest, key to the kingdom and hotel as a child but i wouldn't play them now, but I can't rate those as bad for it. I'd sooner play one of those then Food Chain Magnate or Power Grid that's for sure! 😁
@@TheBrokenMeeple IMO, it's not the taste that changes, it's the whole offer of games that has changed drastically...to the "good". Still 20-30 years ago almost all board games had some random dice mechanism as THE MAIN part of the game. The only exception where the very old abstract classics, some bad-looking paper wargames etc. To me, el Grande started the revolution of board games and it's still my favorite board game of that decade....REAL tactics and strategy with no dice. If Catan never existed and somebody came out today with that game, I predict there would never be that hype because reviewers (and players) would heavily criticize the very random part of rolling two dice to determine ressource income. That doesnt have a lot to do with taste, it's the evolution of board game getting better...from objective perspective and on average. Of course, still subjectively some people still like or even prefer older games. Your example: I still rate hero quest 6.75 and space crusade even 7.75. While I like fantasy more than space (science fiction), still space crusade IMO is the better game from rules and mechanisms perspective. It just has more meat and a tense atmosphere with hidden enemy movement markers. Your shown examples per rating are all quite modern board games. I would rate almost none of them below 6 while your range is spread from 1-10. Hardly any modern board game deserves a 5 or less because 5.0 means 50%. That doenst mean the average that already means it's less than OK...so in school marks that's almost a fail.
If no modern board game deserves less than five then what's the use on rating /reviewing? People will rate games based on how they felt playing it and these days you can argue that there is more reason to criticise because the standard is set so high now compared to 30 years ago. For example in 2021 there should be no excuse for poorly made components or bad art as they are much easier to get right now.
@@TheBrokenMeeple of course, if those standards arent fulfilled, then a downrating to below 5 is more than okay. Maybe I dont rate those games because I dont buy all kind of games....as soon as they are on the market. I check several reviews and how the BGG average rating develops. Thats why I mainly protect myself from playing bad games. ;-) I just realized that you have shown examples of your 1-5 games and I wondered if the scale needed to be expanded below 1 for the "real" garbage to find it's place. ;-)
You have a similar scale than mine which is this: 10: PERFECT GAME! (Perfection is impossible according to me) 9: EXCELLENT GAME (Will always keep this game into my collection and almost always enjoy playing it.) 8: VERY GOOD GAME (Glad to own this game and enjoy playing it.) 7: GOOD GAME (Doesn't need to own this game but might if it is different enough, and usually willing to play.) 6: AVERAGE GAME (Will not buy it or keep it in my collection, but might play if in the right mood) 5: OK GAME (Will not buy it or keep it in my collection, and will only play it again to please someone) 4: NOT SO GOOD GAME (Made a mistake if I bought this in the first place, and will prefer not to play it again) 3: BAD GAME (Made a huge mistake if I bought this in the first place, and likely won’t play this again) 2: VERY BAD GAME (Made a monumental mistake if I bought this in the first place, and won’t play ever again) 1: AWFUL GAME (Defies description of a game) But for me 10 is a perfect game, which as you said doesn't exist, but I have a somewhat complicated rating system with several criteria and different weighting to them, so my ratings have decimals, and my best game is currently a 9.59/10 I only keep game that are above 8/10 with a few exception into the 7/10 for special games that fill in a niche. I don't want to keep games that are just good, I want to keep only the best of the best.
I just get a giggle out of your ratings, as I know we are opposite on a lot of things. Spotted several of my greats in your low ranks, lol. I more get surprised whenever we do agree more than when we don't.
Loved the video and the thoughts behind the numbers. You probably could condense it down to 1-5. 5 superb, 4 excellent 3 good 2 so so 1 not much to like about it
@@TheBrokenMeeple Of course! Good point! And when people do the half star thing, its still a ten point system! You could also explain that you went Metric lol
And when Architects of the West Kingdom gets it's expansion this year Works of Wonder could we maybe get an 11? My amplifiers goes to 11. Obscure reference.
Actually I'm not so sure. Architects is in a perfect position right now - the expansion is easy to teach with the base game. Another expansion could mean too much bloat.
Long time listener, first time caller. Hi Luke! I've been listening to you since you began The Broken Meeple as a podcast, many years ago. All this time, I have had an issue with your language. You talk about how you "hate" things. Hate is such a sucky thing. Hate should be reserved for the absolute worst aspects to aggressively affect your life, that do not care about you, that are totally dispassionate to your hurt. A once-a-year-if-you-are-really-shat-upon thing. You use "hate" as such a throwaway line - I hear it every time I tune in to you - and it removes the weight from every time you make an assertive, critical, useful idea. I tune in to you because I want to know what is good by you! Tell me about the good stuff. I trust you and you are the unique expert on that. Hating the efforts of people who invest their efforts to entertain you isn't worth your time. Cheers mate x
I appreciate the thoughts but at some stage reviewers have to be honest with what annoys them or they dislike. Otherwise they end up like so many I know who just love everything and only sugar coat any thing they dislike, which isn't being honest.
@@TheBrokenMeeple There is some gap between annoyance/dislike and hate, don't you think? "Hate" in your case looks childish. If you want to grow as a serious reviewer please be more accurate with words. It's very simple to just say "I hate this, yada-yada-yada" and because of this simplicity words lose weight as a previous commenter said.
The only time I really disagree with any reviewers opinion is if it's technically or factually incorrect. Still games reviews are just guides and I've watched reviews where a reviewer says they hated this aspect and thought .. hmm I quite like that actually... so it's what they say not the score.. Generally if it's sponsored then you have to really pay attention and take the score and enthusiasm with a pinch of salt. Personally I can play a game and not like it but still objectively say.. hey that's a well designed game and I can see how others will like it etc would I then score it low knowing this?
I would score it low if I personally don't like it but mention as you say, who else might like it. I personally detest everything about Food Chain Magnate, but I know exactly the sort of people who would enjoy it because I know them personally! :P
Mid-weight Euro's tend to nail the high depth / low complexity criteria nicely. Too heavy, it's too long, complex and punishing. Too light it won't leave enough impact.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Yeah I understand that. I just noticed that pattern, especially your 2019 best games review. Still enjoy the content and the changes you have done since the early days of your channel
That's what it's meant to be. People can see I use a numerical system and I explain what each number means including examples. The list is about the rating system not why some games I give a three vs a ten. I fail to see what possible other interpretation you could have expected and no one else has claimed similar.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I'm sorry Luke I didn't mean to upset you its just I have been looking for a long time an excellent and comprehensive way how to best rate games. So I thought from the heading this might have been it but I misinterpreted the title. So far the closest I have come across is Zee Garcia's TARGET method. I do enjoy your videos and any ones about boardgaming really so pleasekeep up the content. As for rating games I do understand that it is very subjective but i find often people get blinded by the experience versus how good the game is. I would love to hear what criteria you use to determine scores.
So refreshing to see someone admit that there are games he dislikes! Just love your straight shooter style.
Keep up the good work! 👍
Too many reviewers refuse to speak negatively about anything. Some of the most popular trending channels lately I've checked out and literally you'd think that any negative words were censored out, nothing is about stuff they dislike nor do any comments about critical flaws of a game get spoken. That's just not right in my book!
Right from the start I get chest pains seeing GWT, Concordia and FCM paired with Happy Salmon, Exploding Kittens and The Mind in the 1-3 category :D
*takes a spit-take seeing Brass: Birmingham at 4* :D
😁😁😁😁😁😁 Different reasons for different games. 😄
Nice video, made me rethink how to shred my collection. :(
Keep up the good work! :)
Thanks, will do!
Dude! About half of your 1-4 rated games were some of the most popular games in the tts discord I frequent. But that's why I like ya, you're a wild rebel who plays by his own rules. (also, great topic and vid)
May be popular, but they won't be for everyone. I wonder if it's worth doing a mini-series on why I don't like certain games, but I'm concerned with potential backlash.
Great video Luke! I was watching the 1-3 range and couldn't resist saying "Luke, it's just a game" :p
I say it all the time - both sides have to abide by it! :D
Like,loved the vid....some of my faves are in your 1-3 but also in your 9-10 ratings...perfectly shows the reason that boardgaming is such a great hobby....everybody sees a game differently...
Great job mate....
Diverse opinions as long as we respect them!
Love it! Thanks for sharing. The way you explained it is pretty much how I interpreted it anyways, but great to hear your reasoning 😁... Thanks, as always for all that you do ♥️.
PS, loving the new intro!
Awesome, thank you! The down side of the new review format is that it takes me even longer to edit, yet doesn't build any extra viewership to someone comparable who just switches on the camera :-( - but i feel better doing it this way!
@@TheBrokenMeeple yes, it's all about pride in work, right 😊
Hey buddy, this was a great video! It just goes to show how widely tastes vary and that we consumers need to take our favorite reviewers’ personal tastes into consideration before making a decision based on their opinions alone. Case in point, a couple of the games you rate 4 or below are 9’s for me and some of your 10’s are 7 or 8’s for me. When it comes to thematic games and co-ops, our tastes are really close, but way different for Euros. Keep up the great work!
Right on!
What a great video. Love your content and your reviews, whether I agree with your opinions or not. Very happy to see Abyss is a 10. If I had to rate it, I would also be scoring it a 10. I think your catchphrase sums it up nicely for me, and it's a phrase some people need to remember: it's just a game!
Well said! ;-)
I'm shocked (Concordia, GWT, Brass, Lorenzo), but would be interested about your reasoning! Especially, because you have similar games in legendary section (Architects, Scythe, Pulsar).
Well, you can argue about similarity, but there is a high correlation between the player base of these games.
Would love to see a video about it!
I definitely would not put them as similar games but funny you asked about that. I have pondered whether a small mini series either on the podcast or main channel where I quickly explain why I dislike a specific game.
@@TheBrokenMeeple would listen to that!
Sure, but the player base is very similar :)
@ Same. I love hearing why he dislikes a slew of games I love like Brass and Concordia. I value his opinion because it’s well reasoned from his subjective perspective.
Great to see a RUclipsr explaining in detail how the ratings are done.
In theory, your explanations quite fit my way of rating games.
However, in practice there are some differences.
1. Seems like your ratings are spread much more from 1-10. >90% of my games are 6.0-8.5.
2. You have rated a lot of modern board games which generally get good reviews below 5.0.
Well, games I rate 1.0-4.0 are garbage like monopoly and all those old luck-based games in which you dont have a lot of decision but you are highly played by the game.
What I really like is your method of sorting out all games below 8.0 except for some beginners/gateway games.
I have just started something similar, while I also take the game length into account. E.g. if it's a filler game then 6.0-6.75 is also okay to keep.
We only classify games like Monopoly as bad because we have moved on in terms of tastes. But I still enjoyed playing games like hero quest, key to the kingdom and hotel as a child but i wouldn't play them now, but I can't rate those as bad for it. I'd sooner play one of those then Food Chain Magnate or Power Grid that's for sure! 😁
@@TheBrokenMeeple
IMO, it's not the taste that changes, it's the whole offer of games that has changed drastically...to the "good".
Still 20-30 years ago almost all board games had some random dice mechanism as THE MAIN part of the game.
The only exception where the very old abstract classics, some bad-looking paper wargames etc.
To me, el Grande started the revolution of board games and it's still my favorite board game of that decade....REAL tactics and strategy with no dice.
If Catan never existed and somebody came out today with that game, I predict there would never be that hype because reviewers (and players) would heavily criticize the very random part of rolling two dice to determine ressource income.
That doesnt have a lot to do with taste, it's the evolution of board game getting better...from objective perspective and on average. Of course, still subjectively some people still like or even prefer older games.
Your example:
I still rate hero quest 6.75 and space crusade even 7.75. While I like fantasy more than space (science fiction), still space crusade IMO is the better game from rules and mechanisms perspective. It just has more meat and a tense atmosphere with hidden enemy movement markers.
Your shown examples per rating are all quite modern board games. I would rate almost none of them below 6 while your range is spread from 1-10. Hardly any modern board game deserves a 5 or less because 5.0 means 50%. That doenst mean the average that already means it's less than OK...so in school marks that's almost a fail.
If no modern board game deserves less than five then what's the use on rating /reviewing? People will rate games based on how they felt playing it and these days you can argue that there is more reason to criticise because the standard is set so high now compared to 30 years ago. For example in 2021 there should be no excuse for poorly made components or bad art as they are much easier to get right now.
@@TheBrokenMeeple of course, if those standards arent fulfilled, then a downrating to below 5 is more than okay.
Maybe I dont rate those games because I dont buy all kind of games....as soon as they are on the market. I check several reviews and how the BGG average rating develops.
Thats why I mainly protect myself from playing bad games. ;-)
I just realized that you have shown examples of your 1-5 games and I wondered if the scale needed to be expanded below 1 for the "real" garbage to find it's place. ;-)
You have a similar scale than mine which is this:
10: PERFECT GAME! (Perfection is impossible according to me)
9: EXCELLENT GAME (Will always keep this game into my collection and almost always enjoy playing it.)
8: VERY GOOD GAME (Glad to own this game and enjoy playing it.)
7: GOOD GAME (Doesn't need to own this game but might if it is different enough, and usually willing to play.)
6: AVERAGE GAME (Will not buy it or keep it in my collection, but might play if in the right mood)
5: OK GAME (Will not buy it or keep it in my collection, and will only play it again to please someone)
4: NOT SO GOOD GAME (Made a mistake if I bought this in the first place, and will prefer not to play it again)
3: BAD GAME (Made a huge mistake if I bought this in the first place, and likely won’t play this again)
2: VERY BAD GAME (Made a monumental mistake if I bought this in the first place, and won’t play ever again)
1: AWFUL GAME (Defies description of a game)
But for me 10 is a perfect game, which as you said doesn't exist, but I have a somewhat complicated rating system with several criteria and different weighting to them, so my ratings have decimals, and my best game is currently a 9.59/10
I only keep game that are above 8/10 with a few exception into the 7/10 for special games that fill in a niche. I don't want to keep games that are just good, I want to keep only the best of the best.
I just get a giggle out of your ratings, as I know we are opposite on a lot of things. Spotted several of my greats in your low ranks, lol. I more get surprised whenever we do agree more than when we don't.
Everybody loves them, but not all! :D
The maps expansion will bring carcassonne from your 7 up to an 8 ;)
It would add some variety but I'm not sure it would bump it!
Loved the video and the thoughts behind the numbers. You probably could condense it down to 1-5. 5 superb, 4 excellent 3 good 2 so so 1 not much to like about it
Glad you enjoyed it! Changing the number system would only mess up a ton of years worth of rankings and confuse people! :P
@@TheBrokenMeeple Of course! Good point! And when people do the half star thing, its still a ten point system! You could also explain that you went Metric lol
And when Architects of the West Kingdom gets it's expansion this year Works of Wonder could we maybe get an 11? My amplifiers goes to 11. Obscure reference.
Actually I'm not so sure. Architects is in a perfect position right now - the expansion is easy to teach with the base game. Another expansion could mean too much bloat.
Some of the games I rate highly are in yours 1-3 but that is ok. I like hearing different opinions.
They may be popular but by no means good for me!
Long time listener, first time caller. Hi Luke! I've been listening to you since you began The Broken Meeple as a podcast, many years ago.
All this time, I have had an issue with your language. You talk about how you "hate" things. Hate is such a sucky thing. Hate should be reserved for the absolute worst aspects to aggressively affect your life, that do not care about you, that are totally dispassionate to your hurt. A once-a-year-if-you-are-really-shat-upon thing. You use "hate" as such a throwaway line - I hear it every time I tune in to you - and it removes the weight from every time you make an assertive, critical, useful idea. I tune in to you because I want to know what is good by you!
Tell me about the good stuff. I trust you and you are the unique expert on that. Hating the efforts of people who invest their efforts to entertain you isn't worth your time.
Cheers mate x
I appreciate the thoughts but at some stage reviewers have to be honest with what annoys them or they dislike. Otherwise they end up like so many I know who just love everything and only sugar coat any thing they dislike, which isn't being honest.
@@TheBrokenMeeple There is some gap between annoyance/dislike and hate, don't you think? "Hate" in your case looks childish. If you want to grow as a serious reviewer please be more accurate with words. It's very simple to just say "I hate this, yada-yada-yada" and because of this simplicity words lose weight as a previous commenter said.
Funny stuff. Seems i play and love your 4s, 5s, 9s, and 10s....
Excellent, we got some things in common! :D
Is there an easy to see list of all your ratings? Curious now after seeing some of the snippets at 1 to 5?
I came here to write this! Fun video, Luke. Keep up the great work!
I have a BGG profile so I guess technically yes!
The Broken Meeple's BGG username is 'farmergiles' so you can check out his ratings over there.
Yeah I could do with giving it a once over update soon.
@@SolviKaaber ah, thanks!
The only time I really disagree with any reviewers opinion is if it's technically or factually incorrect.
Still games reviews are just guides and I've watched reviews where a reviewer says they hated this aspect and thought .. hmm I quite like that actually... so it's what they say not the score..
Generally if it's sponsored then you have to really pay attention and take the score and enthusiasm with a pinch of salt.
Personally I can play a game and not like it but still objectively say.. hey that's a well designed game and I can see how others will like it etc would I then score it low knowing this?
I would score it low if I personally don't like it but mention as you say, who else might like it. I personally detest everything about Food Chain Magnate, but I know exactly the sort of people who would enjoy it because I know them personally! :P
👍
Great mid weight euro = 10
Mid-weight Euro's tend to nail the high depth / low complexity criteria nicely. Too heavy, it's too long, complex and punishing. Too light it won't leave enough impact.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Yeah I understand that. I just noticed that pattern, especially your 2019 best games review. Still enjoy the content and the changes you have done since the early days of your channel
@@TheBrokenMeeple You certainly convinced me of buying games that I truly did enjoy, like empires of the north, teotihuacan, and architects.
Title should be smth like How I Rate Your Board Games. Or maybe just dont know the games you designed...:]
Easier to remove the "my".
rating is simple. if the board has no wheels or fins... it is most likely shite and not worth anyone's time. over the hill and stand on the comment.
I watched this expecting to see how you rated games? But it's just your rating levels without specific reasons they are there.
That's what it's meant to be. People can see I use a numerical system and I explain what each number means including examples. The list is about the rating system not why some games I give a three vs a ten.
I fail to see what possible other interpretation you could have expected and no one else has claimed similar.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I'm sorry Luke I didn't mean to upset you its just I have been looking for a long time an excellent and comprehensive way how to best rate games. So I thought from the heading this might have been it but I misinterpreted the title. So far the closest I have come across is Zee Garcia's TARGET method.
I do enjoy your videos and any ones about boardgaming really so pleasekeep up the content.
As for rating games I do understand that it is very subjective but i find often people get blinded by the experience versus how good the game is. I would love to hear what criteria you use to determine scores.
@@procrastinatingperfectioni278 in other words you're more interested in the review methodology DETAILS that I use. I get ya.