| 1. Aesthetics & Components |
Visual design, artwork, tactile quality, and overall presentation. |
1–10 |
1–3: Poor quality or inconsistent artwork. 4–6: Decent but unremarkable. 7–8: Attractive and functional. 9–10: Gorgeous, premium feel. |
| 2. Rules Clarity & Accessibility |
Ease of learning, clarity of rulebook, setup time, and iconography. |
1–10 |
1–3: Confusing or incomplete. 4–6: Understandable but clunky. 7–8: Smooth to teach. 9–10: Elegant, intuitive. |
| 3. Strategic Depth |
Amount of meaningful decision-making and long-term planning. |
1–10 |
1–3: Little control or planning. 4–6: Some strategy, moderate luck. 7–8: Strong decision space. 9–10: Deep, rewarding strategy. |
| 4. Luck vs. Skill Balance |
How fairly chance and skill coexist. |
1–10 |
1–3: Feels random or unfair. 4–6: Luck dominates; slight skill element. 7–8: Acceptable balance of skill and luck. 9–10: Skill dominates but luck enhances fun. |
| 5. Player Interaction |
Engagement and social dynamics between players. |
1–10 |
1–3: Feels isolated. 4–6: Moderate interaction. 7–8: Constant awareness of others. 9–10: Highly interactive and dynamic. |
| 6. Pacing & Downtime |
Flow, engagement, and smoothness of play. |
1–10 |
1–3: Long waits between turns. 4–6: Decent pacing. 7–8: Steady momentum. 9–10: Excellent rhythm, minimal downtime. |
| 7. Replayability |
Longevity, variability, and continued appeal. |
1–10 |
1–3: Gets repetitive quickly. 4–6: Fun occasionally. 7–8: Regularly engaging. 9–10: Feels new every time. |
| 8. Theme Integration |
How well the mechanics and story fit the theme. |
1–10 |
1–3: Theme feels pasted on. 4–6: Some connection. 7–8: Theme reinforces play. 9–10: Fully immersive and cohesive. |
| 9. Enjoyment & Emotional Impact |
Pure fun factor-excitement, tension, satisfaction. |
1–10 |
1–3: Boring or frustrating. 4–6: Occasionally fun. 7–8: Consistently engaging. 9–10: Peak enjoyment. |
| 10. Innovation & Uniqueness |
Creativity, originality, and distinctiveness from other games. |
1–10 |
1–3: Derivative or dated. 4–6: Competent but familiar. 7–8: Clever twist or mechanic. 9–10: Groundbreaking or genre-defining. |
