Did you know that 98% of users read online reviews as a major part of their decision-making process? And a staggering amount of 84% of them trust these reviews. Yep, reviews have become an integral part of our routine when thinking about purchasing a product or a service.
And for a good reason too! Reviews are, simply put, the views of other people who have already gone through the experience,ensuring you can make a better call for yourself.
But can the same be said when it comes to gaming? We say, absolutely. The question is not whether you should be reading online reviews, but which reviews to read. The rise of AI-generated and fake reviews is increasingly bringing out an authenticity issue. So, how can you avoid being pulled into buying something from a poor or fake review? Let’s find out.
Noticing the Obvious
As we already said, online reviews are vital for consumer decision-making, and the same goes for gamers. In these, they can assess quality, performance, and all the minutiae they’re interested in, even before they try the game out. But how can someone tell the difference between a poor and a good review?
Well, the devil is in the details, as the saying goes. And at first glance, you want to look for details. A good and well-presented review should be well-structured and include as many touch points as possible. It should feel like a one-stop shop for all the relevant information, after which you could say: Okay, now I feel secure about my decision.
- Game Mechanics: Does the review show the commands and controls with images or footage? This is quite important for anyone looking to assess the gameplay beforehand.
- Graphics and Performance: The second most important on the list is the appearance. Looks aren’t everything, sure, but in the world of gaming, they make the difference!
- Player modes and features: Is the setup straightforward, and does the dashboard cover all the settings that you’d need in one place? How accessible are these settings? Can it be played in the multiplayer mode? All of these are important questions you want to see covered.
- In-game monetization: Are there any possible microtransactions there? If so, you should look to see if they seem fair or if there is a pay-to-win imbalance at hand.
A well-written review should cover all of these and then some, and should only then be regarded as legit.
Concerns With Fake Reviews
A significant problem in the gaming industry, these reviews can be misleading and will present information in a very simple, often insufficient manner to what you’d expect.
This is the immediate red-flag players with a keen eye tend to notice. However, with AI-generated reviews tripling in the past few years, it’s become increasingly hard to tell the difference between genuine feedback and manipulated opinions.
How to Spot a Fake Review
We should point out that you need to review more than one review to be at least somewhat sure of a review being artificially written. In general, they will differ from others in that the games reviewed will often appear way worse or better than on other sources.
Also, the reviews shared by others will almost always be heavily inclined towards a positive or a negative side, while you’d expect them to be mixed to a certain degree.
In any case, these reviews also have the ability to become widespread really fast, in turn, diminishing a real user’s credibility and making your decision-making fuzzy. But, yet again, the real question here would be…
How do I Identify Credible Reviews?
As you make your way through multiple reviews you’ve clicked on, you should get a sense of what feels right and wrong. However, you can go through a routine, which we’ll outline here, to determine if the source you’re reading is credible.
First, check multiple sources and compare feedback to get a more balanced perspective. With social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, doing this kind of research is straightforward.
Look for Verified Purchases
Some platforms add only reviews from buyers who actually bought the game or have tried it.
This immediately makes them more trustworthy. However, this should only be in addition to the all-round information we already mentioned.
Are There Extremes?
A review that is overly promotional or negative (without obvious justification) is an immediate red flag.
Turn your focus on moderate reviews with detailed explanations.
Research the Reviewer
Someone who has a lot of history bringing detailed and consistent feedback should generally be considered an expert and someone you can trust.
Simply click on the author’s name in the bio, or in the info section of the review, and have a look-see if there is any previous work.
Try to assess if the already-published pieces match in tone and style. And you can always Google them to see if they have any credit from other sources.
Visit the Trusted Professional Platforms
Professional review platforms are your best bet. These will usually have a uniform practice and standards when giving a review, and they won’t skimp on any of the details when writing one.
Take a review of an online casino, for example, inside you’ll find a detailed overview and grades on characteristics like experience, games, bonuses, support, and others! Also, you will see detailed text about the games on offer and well-structured information on all the pros and cons of each game.
You can apply this attitude to anything you choose to try. If you were researching how a certain product would have an effect on your body, you’d want as much information as possible, and from the most credible source, to make the most informed decision that you can.
To Trust Completely or Not?
This seems to be the number one question and the key takeaway we’re leaving you with. While online reviews can be a great starting point, and a valuable tool to make an informed decision, they are, in the end, only that.
User reviews are awesome for real-world feedback, although they demand scrutiny and multiple checks due to the growing problem of fake reviews. Professional feedback, on the other hand, offers unbiased and in-depth analysis.
So, the key is to find a middle ground between the two. We always advise you to follow your heart and if the games feel right, it’ll likely feel right when you start playing too!
