How we choose what to review at Pocket Atlas

People sometimes ask how a game ends up on Pocket Atlas, usually assuming there's some system. There sort of is, but it's less exciting than you'd think. Mostly it's three people arguing in a chat about what we've been playing.

We start with what catches our eye — a weird screenshot, a friend's recommendation, a game buried on page four of the store. Then someone installs it and plays for real, not just the first level. If it holds up past the honeymoon phase, it's a candidate.

We deliberately spread our coverage across genres so the site doesn't turn into an all-puzzle blog. If we've reviewed three RPGs in a row, the next slot goes to a racer or a sim. Variety keeps us honest and keeps you from getting bored.

The last filter is simple: would we tell a friend to play this? Not every game we cover gets a glowing score, but every one is worth an opinion. If we can't muster a reason to write about it, it doesn't make the cut.