As games evolve, should their review system follow? A 2025 investigation

The first in a series of articles looking at how professional game reviews shape the $180 billion global industry.

Metacritic: The crucible of all major games.

As a flurry of February releases hits gaming devices, a new report is set to perhaps rekindle an age-old gaming industry debate.

Published this month in the Journal of Business Research, new research has drawn a line between critical reviews and game sales. To significantly summarise: it found that, in general, there is a correlation between the pair. And conversely, there's less of a link between general player reviews and commercial returns. That's unlike a lot of other industries where user reviews are as influential — and are perhaps more trusted — than pieces from professional critics.