GameRankings: How the Legacy Review Aggregator Calculated Scores
Before the modern era of gaming journalism, GameRankings served as a primary hub for players seeking a consensus on a game's quality. Rather than hosting original content, the platform functioned as an aggregator, collecting and linking to reviews from a wide array of American and European websites and magazines.
The Mechanics of the Aggregate Score
To provide a clear snapshot of a game's reception, GameRankings calculated an average score. While the site might list hundreds of individual reviews, only those deemed notable by the platform were included in the final average calculation.
Because different publications used varying scoring systems—such as 5-star scales, 10-point scales, or letter grades—GameRankings converted all ratings into a percentage grade. This standardization allowed for a consistent mathematical approach. For example, an A+ was converted to 100% (or 10/10), while an A was valued at 95%, following a consistent five percent increment pattern.
Unlike other aggregators like Metacritic, which use weighted systems based on the perceived influence of a publication, GameRankings utilized a simple mean. This meant every accredited website's score carried equal weight in the final percentage.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Ranking Tiers and Database Logic
The platform did not assign a comparative rank immediately upon a game's release. A game had to accumulate at least six total reviews before it was eligible for ranking. Once this threshold was met, the system generated two distinct rankings:
- A global ranking compared to every other game in the entire database.
- A platform-specific ranking compared only to other games on the same console.
The Highest Rated Games
By the time GameRankings closed its doors in December 2019, only a handful of titles had achieved an elite aggregate score of 97% or higher. These titles represent some of the most critically acclaimed experiences in gaming history.
| Game Title | Minimum Aggregate Score |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Galaxy | 97% |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | 97% |
| Super Mario Odyssey | 97% |
| Super Mario Galaxy 2 | 97% |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 97% |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | 97% |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 97% |
Key Facts
- Aggregation Method: Collected reviews from American and European sources without hosting them.
- Scoring Standard: All reviews were converted to percentages using 5% increments (e.g., A = 95%).
- Calculation: Used a simple mean rather than a weighted average.
- Ranking Threshold: A minimum of six reviews was required for a game to be ranked.
- Closure Date: The site officially closed in December 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did GameRankings handle different scoring systems?
GameRankings converted all scores, including letter grades and various numerical scales, into a percentage. For instance, an A+ was treated as 100% and an A as 95%.
Did GameRankings weight certain reviews more than others?
No. Unlike Metacritic, GameRankings used a simple mean, meaning every accredited review contributed equally to the final average.
When was a game eligible to be ranked against others?
A game became eligible for both global and console-specific rankings once it had accumulated at least six total reviews.
Which games achieved the highest scores on the platform?
Seven games reached an aggregate score of 97% or higher, including titles from the Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Grand Theft Auto series.
When did GameRankings shut down?
The website closed in December 2019.