Session length
How long a complete chunk of the game takes — a round, a quest, a chapter. The shorter that chunk, the easier it is to fit the game into a weekday.
Reviews
Reviews
A typical review answers the question of whether a game is good. We are interested in something else: whether it suits someone whose evenings are booked up, who has children around and who wants to play without frustration. Below are the signs that let you work this out for yourself before you buy.
The same game can be relaxation for one person and a burden for another. The question is not quality, but whether it matches your rhythm.
About this section: there are no scores, stars or best-of lists here, and we do not compare individual games with one another. Instead of a verdict, you get questions — answer them and draw your own conclusion.
What to look for in a game for everyday life
Six signs that tell you whether a game is easy to live with.
Saves
Whether you can quit at any minute without losing progress. For parents and anyone who might be interrupted, this is perhaps the single most important sign.
Accessibility
Whether there are subtitles, text-size settings, control remapping and easier modes. These make a game comfortable for a wider range of people.
Online requirement
Whether a constant internet connection is needed and whether you can play without other people. If your connection is unstable or time is short, this is worth knowing in advance.
Purchases
Whether anything is sold inside the game and how insistently it is promoted. This affects both your budget and your peace of mind while playing.
Age rating
Which age label the game carries and why. The content description next to the label tells you more than the number itself.
Playing alone or together
| Criterion | Alone | Together |
|---|---|---|
| When to play | In any free moment | When everyone is free |
| Pace | Your own, you can slow down | Shared, you have to adapt |
| Stopping | Only you decide | Best agreed in advance |
| Mood | Focus and immersion | Laughter, conversation, teamwork |
| Preparation | Hardly any needed | Controllers, time, explaining the rules |
| Suitable for children | By age rating and with supervision | A good reason to spend time as a family |
How to read other people's reviews
A reviewer often plays differently from you: they have more time, different tastes and are used to challenging games. If they write "finished it over the weekend", for someone with a job and children that might mean a month of unhurried evenings.
Separate facts from impressions. Facts are whether there are saves, modes, purchases and an internet requirement. Impressions are "boring", "addictive", "too easy". Facts can be checked, while impressions are worth comparing with your own expectations.
Look in the text for answers to your own questions, not a final score. A good review describes in detail how a game behaves in everyday life, and then you make the decision yourself.
Read next
- Games
A catalogue of formats and genres: half-hour games, episodic stories, co-op, cosy games and games for the whole family.
- Mechanics
Saves, difficulty, in-game purchases, loot boxes, daily quests and online chat, explained in plain words.
- Guides
Guides for life alongside games: an evening with friends, playing with a child, coming back after a break. Plus our article catalogue.
- Questions
Answers to questions about the magazine, gaming time, habits, children and family settings.
What we rely on
- PEGI — about the system
- ESRB — about the system
- Manufacturers' family-settings guides
We write about general principles and habits. Menus, modes and family settings work differently in each game and service and change with updates, so check the details in the official help pages.