Template:Video game reviews/sandbox

This is the template sandbox page for Template:Video game reviews (diff).
See also the companion subpage for test cases.

Template documentation[view] [edit] [history] [purge]

This template is used on approximately 15,000 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

Preview message: Transclusion count updated automatically (see documentation).

This template uses Lua:

Module:Video game reviews (sandbox)

{{Video game reviews}} is a template which presents review aggregator and individual publication review scores in a video game article. It supports a game's reception section, which for released titles is necessary for an article to be broad in its coverage.

Things to remember:

This template is not required.
This template supplements the reception section; it does not replace it.
Only include reviews if they are cited within the text.

Guidelines

General rules

{{Video game reviews}} is not required. Traditional reviews, or those that provide some type of score, may be few and far between for some games. If you only have a couple of such reviews which could be used to fill the table, consider foregoing the table and instead simply state these in the body of reception text.
All reviews must be referenced. Individual reviews should cite their original publication, not the truncated aggregator summary. See also Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Sources.
Every single-site review source should be used within the reception section. The reviews table supports the text. It is not to replicate the function of external review aggregators.
Stay with the "usual suspects".

Aggregator scores

Shortcut

WP:VGAGG

Aggregators present readers with a quick gauge of the critical consensus.

Metacritic − Industry standard
GameRankings − Useful for older games
Do not include GameRankings in articles about newer games. GameRankings is mainly useful for older games and it is mainly duplication in newer ones. Round aggregator scores to the nearest whole number (e.g., 83.46% → 83%).
OpenCritic − Useful for newer games.
Only use OpenCritic's Critics Recommend metric normally. Do not include OpenCritic's Top Critic Average metric in articles that have a Metacritic score.

Review scores

The following sources comprise the most popular and influential voices in the games industry. They provide a core selection of reviews to build a reception section:

IGN − Most popular English language games website
GameSpot − Second most popular English language games website
Game Informer − US magazine with the largest circulation
Edge − UK's longest running print magazine
Eurogamer − Most popular European English language games website

For older games, particularly fifth generation and earlier, web based publications lacked the reach and influence of print publications. Consider these sources:

Computer and Video Games − UK magazine first published in 1981
Computer Gaming World − US PC magazine first published in 1981
Electronic Gaming Monthly − US magazine first published in 1989 (See below)
GamePro − US magazine first published in 1989
These publications and others may be available from the WikiProject's reference library.

Single platform publications may offer specialist insight to platform-exclusive games, and allow readers to compare the reception across platforms of multiplatform games. Consider sources such as Nintendo Power, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer, PlayStation Official Magazine – UK, and others.

For niche genres, genre publications may offer specialist insight. Consider sources such as Adventure Gamers, RPGamer, PC Pilot, and others.

Games which have strong cultural ties to their country of origin should have reception from that same country. Japanese games and Japanese ports of American games, for example, are best served with a Famitsu review (See below).

Consider coverage from outside traditional video games media. High quality sources such as The New York Times, Wired, and the BBC do not cater to a "gamer" audience, but may on occasion cover video games. Wikipedia is both a generalist and specialist encyclopedia. Opinions from these sources may be more accessible to a non-gamer audience and place the subject in a greater cultural and societal context than is possible at a narrowly focused video gaming publication.

Consider the aggregate scoring breakdown. The review aggregators used in the table are considered reliable sources and are trusted to provide the critical consensus. However, some games may divide opinion and there may be no true consensus. This division of opinion may already have been captured following the guidelines above, but if not - consider including further reviews expressing these "outlier" opinions.

Scoring systems

Reviews without scores: Some publications, such as Kotaku and Polygon, may not score their reviews. If, instead of a score, the publication presents the game with a badge or award in its review, this can be included in the table. This is not necessary.
Collective scoring: Publications such as Electronic Gaming Monthly and Famitsu review games among a group, with each reviewer offering their individual score. Using the average or cumulative score from these publications will result in the loss of that breakdown, so include the individual scores, either in the table itself or in a footnote.
Numerical scores: Make sure to include the maximum possible score for a review if the review uses a numerical value ("7/10", "86/100"). This is not required if the score is published as a percentage, as this presumes the maximum score of 100%.
Letter grades: Ratings that use a letter grade system should simply present the letter grade ("B-", "C+").
Stars: If a review uses a star rating, convert it to the numerical value ("3.5/5" but not ""). The {{rating}} using has been discarded.
Individual component ratings: If a review scores components of a game separately (but does not give an overall score) e.g Graphics 3/5, Sound 4/5, Gameplay 5/5 etc, add all the components together to reach a single score like 12/15, and add a footnote listing the individual scores.

General

Usage

All of the following fields are optional:

title*: Can be used to provide a custom title for the table; otherwise, it will default to "Reception".
subtitle*: Used to add additional text before the collapsible section. This is necessary to add if want a longer title, as long titles via the "title" parameter will not center correctly.
state* [autocollapse, collapsed, expanded]: autocollapse – The table will start out collapsed if there are two or more tables on the same page that use other collapsible tables. Otherwise, the table will be expanded. For technical details, see MediaWiki:Common.js.; collapsed – The table will be collapsed (hidden) by default. This is useful for very long tables.; expanded – The table will be expanded (shown) by default. This is useful if autocollapse is not showing the table in a section that it wouldn't matter.; If undefined or set to blank, the table will not be collapsible. The table will also not be collapsible if the title parameter is not set.
align*: right – Displays the table on the right. This is default.; left – Displays the table on the left.; inherit – Specifies that the value of the float property should be inherited from the parent element.; none – The table is not aligned, and will be displayed just where it occurs in the text on the page.
qid: Can be used to link to a different Wikidata QID than the current page. Specifying 'none' will disable Wikidata pull entirely.
df: Can be used to specify the date format for any generated citations from Wikidata.

Code

Aggregator	Code	Example
Metacritic	`MC`	83/100
GameRankings (See note above—only use when Metacritic data is unavailable)	`GR`	84%
OpenCritic (See note above—only use OpenCritic Top Critic Average if Metacritic data is unavailable)	`OC`	96% recommend

Use "wikidata" as the rating for the above fields to pull from aggregator reviews declared on the game's respective Wikidata page. This will automatically build references from Wikidata as well. The default date format is MDY. To change it, specify another format with "|df=<format>" such as DMY, YMD, etc. See WP:VG/WD for a quick guide on editing Wikidata.

1Up.com (1UP) A+ to D-
4Players (4P)
ACE (ACE)
Adventure Gamers (AdvGamers)
AllGame (Allgame)
Aktueller Software Markt (ASM)
Amiga Action (AmAction)
Amiga Computing (AmComputing)
Amiga Force (AmForce)
Amiga Format (AmFormat)
Amiga Power (AmPower)
Amiga User International (AmUI)
Amstrad Action (AAction)
Amtix (Amtix)
The A.V. Club (AVC)
Beep! MegaDrive (BMD)
CNET Gamecenter (CNG)
Computer Game Review (CGR)
Computer Games Magazine (CGM)
Computer Games Strategy Plus (CGSP)
Computer Gaming World (CGW)
Consoles + (CP)
Crash (CRASH)
Computer and Video Games (CVG) 9.2 (0 to 10)
Destructoid (Destruct)
Digital Trends (DT)
Dragon (Dragon)
Easy Allies (EZA)
Edge (Edge) 6/10 (1 to 10)
Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) 9.5/10 (0 to 10)
EP Daily (EPD)
Eurogamer (EuroG) 1 to 10 (1999–2015), no scores (2015–2023), 1 to 5 (2023–present)
Famitsu (Fam) 0 to 40, based on four individual reviews
G4 (G4)
Game Informer (GI)
Game Players (GP)
GameDaily (GD)
GameFan (GameFan)
Gamekult (Gamekult)
GamePro (GamePro)
GameRevolution (GameRev) A to D- (1996–2012), 5-star rating (2012–2020), 10-star rating (2020–2022), 0 to 10 rating (2022–present); always use the rating system from the time of the review
GamesMaster (GMaster)
GameSpot (GSpot) 7/10 (1 to 10); used decimals prior to 2013 (7.3/10)
GameSpy (GSpy)
GamesRadar+ (GRadar)
GameStar (GStar)
GamesTM (GTM)
Games-X (GX)
GameTrailers (GT)
Gamezebo (Gamezebo)
GameZone (GameZone)
Gekkan PC Engine (GPCE)
Génération 4 (Gen4)
Giant Bomb (GB)
Hardcore Gamer (HCG)
HobbyConsolas (HC)
Hyper (Hyper)
IGN (IGN) 9/10 (1 to 10); used decimals prior to 2020 (9.3/10)
Impress Watch (IW)
Jeuxvideo.com (JXV) 16/20 (1 to 20)
Joypad (JP)
Joystick (JS)
Joystiq (Joystiq) Ceased scoring reviews in January 2015
Kill Screen (KS)
M! Games (MG)
MacLife (ML)
Macworld (MW)
Marukatsu PC Engine (MPCE)
Maximum PC (MaxPC)
Mean Machines Sega (MMS)
Mega Fun (MF)
MeriStation (MS)
Micromanía (MIC)
N64 Magazine (N64)
Next Generation (NGen) 5-star rating
NGamer (NG)
NGC Magazine (NGC)
Nintendo Life (NLife) 10-star rating
Nintendo Power (NP)
Nintendo World Report (NWR)
NME (NME)
Official Nintendo Magazine (ONM)
PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia (OPMAU)
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (OPMUK)
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (OPM)
Official Xbox Magazine (UK) (OXMUK)
Official Xbox Magazine (US) (OXM)
PALGN (PALGN)
PC Accelerator (PCA)
PC Engine Fan (PCEF)
PC Format (PCF)
PC Gamer (UK) (PCGUK)
PC Gamer (US) (PCGUS) 72/100; also use for reviews on the PC Gamer website
PC Games (DE) (PCG)
PC Games (US) (GPPCG)
PC PowerPlay (PCPP)
PC Zone (PCZone)
PCGamesN (PCGN)
PCMag (PCM)
Play (Play)
Pocket Gamer (PG) Published by Steel Media; not to be confused with single-issue magazine by Imagine Media
Polygon (Poly) Ceased scoring reviews in May 2018
Player One (PO)
PlayStation: The Official Magazine (PSM)
PSM3 (PSM3)
Push Square (PSQ)
Raze (Raze)
Retro Gamer (Retro)
RPGamer (RPG)
RPGFan (RPGFan)
Shacknews (SN)
Sinclair User (SUser)
ST Action (STAction)
ST Format (STFormat)
ST Review (STRev)
Superjuegos (SJ)
Super Game Power (SGP) Only non-GamePro reviews should be used
Super Play (SP)
TeamXbox (TX)
TechRadar (TR)
The Telegraph (TELE)
The Games Machine (UK) (TGM)
The Games Machine (Italy) (TGMIt)
The Guardian (TG) 5-star rating
Tilt (TILT)
Total! (TOT)
TouchArcade (TA)
USgamer (USG) 5-star rating
VentureBeat (VB)
Video Games Chronicle (VGC)
VG247 (VG247)
Video Games (DE) (VGS)
VideoGamer.com (VG)
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (VGCE)
X-Play (XPlay)
Your Sinclair (YSinclair)
Zero (Zero)
Zzap!64 (Z64)

Award layout

Usage

Shortcuts

{{VG Awards}}
{{Video game awards}}

award_n*: These are for the title of the awards that the game has won.
award_nPub*: These are the publishers that provided the award for the game.

Code

Example Blank Template

{{Video game reviews
| title = 
| subtitle = 
<!-- Formatting -->
| state = <!-- blank/collapsed/collapsed/expanded -->
| align = <!-- left/right/none/inherit -->
<!-- Awards; no limit -->
| award1Pub = 
| award1 = 
| award2Pub = 
| award2 = 
}}

Single-platform/column layout

Documentation Template

For testing

Aggregate score
Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	3DS: 61/100 PS3: 68/100 PS4: 70/100 VITA: 70/100 NS: 70/100 XONE: 73/100

Review scores
Publication	Score
1Up.com	PS4/XONE: C PSP: C-
Electronic Gaming Monthly	PS4/XONE: C, C, B-
Game Informer	PS4/XONE: 8.75/10
GameSpot	3DS: 5.5/10 PS3: 6.0/10 PS4/XONE: 7.5/10 VITA: 7.0/10 NS: 6.0/10
GameTrailers	PS4/X360: 6.9/10
IGN	PS3: 7.2/10 VITA: 7.5/10 PS4/XONE: 7.3/10 NS: 7.8/10
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	7.5/10
X-Play	PS4/XONE: 2/5
Custom Reviewer	With score
Other Custom Reviewer	Can skip numbers

Awards
Publication	Award
BAFTA	PC Game of the Year (2000)
PC Zone	Best PC Game of All Time

Usage

award_n*: These are for the title of the awards that the game has won.
award_nPub*: These are the publishers that provided the award for the game.
rev_n*: These are for custom reviewers. Use with rev_nScore.
rev_nScore*: These are for custom reviewers scores for each Platform. Use with rev_n.
agg_n*: These are for custom aggregate. Use with agg_nScore.
agg_nScore*: These are for custom aggregate scores for each Platform. Use with agg_n.

Code

Example Blank Template

{{Video game reviews
| title = 
| subtitle = 
<!-- Formatting -->
| state = <!-- blank/collapsed/collapsed/expanded -->
| align = <!-- left/right/none/inherit -->
<!-- Aggregators -->
| MC = 
<!-- Reviewers -->
| XPlay = 
| IGN = 
<!-- Custom aggregators; limit is set to 10 -->
| agg1 = 
| agg1Score = 
| agg2 = 
| agg2Score = 
<!-- Custom Reviewers; limit is set to 10 -->
| rev1 = 
| rev1Score = 
| rev2 = 
| rev2Score = 
<!-- Awards; no limit -->
| award1Pub = 
| award1 = 
| award2Pub = 
| award2 = 
}}

Multi-platform/column layout

Usage

Documentation Template

For testing

Aggregate score
Aggregator	Score
Aggregator	3DS	NS	PC	PS4
Metacritic	71/100	N/A	N/A	91/100

Review scores
Publication	Score
Publication	3DS	NS	PC	PS4
1Up.com	B	N/A	N/A	N/A
GameSpot	7.9/10	7.3/10	7.2/10	8.2/10
GameSpy		N/A	N/A	N/A
IGN	7.0/10	N/A	N/A	8.7/10
Custom Reviewer	With score	N/A	N/A	N/A
Other Custom Reviewer.	N/A	N/A	Can skip numbers.	N/A

Awards
Publication	Award
BAFTA	PC Game of the Year (2000)
PC Zone	Best PC Game of All Time

na*: This will set a fill of N/A grayed out.
award_n*: These are for the title of the awards that the game has won.
award_nPub*: These are the publishers that provided the award for the game.
rev_n*: These are for custom reviewers. Use with rev_nPlatform.
rev_nPlatform*: These are for custom reviewers scores for each Platform. Use with rev_n.

Code

You first need to put any platforms that are being used. The code to use is as follows:
Enter "true" into any platform used.
If not used, set to non-true value, leave blank, or delete the parameter.

Example Blank Template

{{Video game reviews
| title = 
| subtitle = 
<!-- Formatting -->
| state = <!-- blank/collapsed/collapsed/expanded -->
| align = <!-- left/right/none/inherit -->
| na = true/false; default is false and can be omitted
<!-- Turn on platform etc. -->
| DS = true
| iOS = false
<!-- Aggregators etc. -->
| MC_DS = 
| MC_iOS = 
<!-- Reviewers etc. -->
| XPlay_iOS = 
| IGN_X360 = 
<!-- Custom reviewers; limit is set to 10 -->
| rev1 = 
| rev1_PC = 
| rev1_X360 = 
| rev2 = 
| rev2_PC = 
<!-- Awards; no limit -->
| award1Pub = 
| award1 = 
| award2Pub = 
| award2 = 
}}

Common predefined system types, see #How to add a new platform for all
System	Code
3DO Interactive Multiplayer	3DO
Nintendo 3DS	3DS
Amiga	AMI
Arcade game	ARC
Atari 2600	A2600
Atari Jaguar	JAG
Atari Lynx	LYNX
Atari ST	AST
Commodore 64	C64
Amiga CD32	CD32
ColecoVision	CV
MS-DOS	DOS
Dreamcast	SDC
Nintendo DS	DS
Game Boy	GB
Game Boy Advance	GBA
Game Boy Color	GBC
GameCube	NGC
General ~~ If review is broad.	GEN
Intellivision	INT
iOS	iOS
Macintosh	MAC
Master System	SMS
Mobile phones	MOB
N-Gage	N-G
Nintendo 64	N64
Nintendo Entertainment System	NES
Nintendo Switch	NS
Personal computer	PC
PlayStation Vita	VITA
PlayStation	PS
PlayStation 2	PS2
PlayStation 3	PS3
PlayStation 4	PS4
PlayStation 5	PS5
PlayStation Portable	PSP
Sega Saturn	SSAT
Sega Genesis	SMD
Sega Game Gear	SGG
Nvidia Shield	NSHI
Super Nintendo Entertainment System	SNES
TurboGrafx-16	TG16
Wii	WII
Wii U	WIIU
Xbox	XBOX
Xbox 360	X360
Xbox One	XONE
Xbox Series X and Series S	XSXS
ZX Spectrum	ZX

How to add a new platform

Go to Module:Video game reviews/data and add {'wiki url/title', 'short code for the system'} within the system array.

Define a code for the new platform, such as "PS2" for PlayStation 2.
Determine its alphabetical order, and the platform code preceding and succeeding it. For example, for PS2, the PS precedes, and the PS3 succeeds.

How to add a new reviewer

Go to Module: Video game reviews/data and add {'wikilink/title', 'short code for the reviewer'} within the reviewer array.

Define a code into the appropriate place (alphabetically) of the existing code.
Provide an appropriate wikilink if available.

Template Data

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Video game reviews in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Video game reviews

A template to show the review scores, aggregator scores, and awards given to a title.

Template parameters[Edit template data]
This template prefers block formatting of parameters.
Parameter		Description	Type	Status
title	`title`	Title of the template. Default Reception	String	optional
subtitle	`subtitle`	Subtitle of the template.	String	optional
state	`state`	The tables collapsable settings. Suggested values `autocollapse` `collapsed` `expanded` Default expanded	String	optional
align	`align`	The tables horizontal alignment settings. Suggested values `left` `right` `inherit` `none` Default right	String	optional
na	`na`	This will set a fill of N/A grayed out. Default true	String	optional
GameRankings	`GR`	Only use for older games when Metacritic data is unavailable	String	optional
OpenCritic	`OC`	Only use the Critics Recommend metric. The Top Critic Average should be omitted when Metacritic data is available	String	optional
Metacritic	`MC`	no description	String	optional
1Up.com	`1UP`	A+ to D-	String	optional
ACE	`ACE`	no description	String	optional
Adventure Gamers	`AdvGamers`	no description	String	optional
AllGame	`Allgame`	no description	String	optional
Amstrad Action	`AAction`	no description	String	optional
Amtix	`Amtix`	no description	String	optional
Computer and Video Games	`CVG`	9.2/10 (0 to 10)	String	optional
Computer Games Magazine	`CGM` `CGSP` `cdmag`	no description	String	optional
Computer Gaming World	`CGW`	no description	String	optional
Consoles +	`CP`	no description	String	optional
Crash	`CRASH`	no description	String	optional
Destructoid	`Destruct`	no description	String	optional
Digital Trends	`DT`	no description	String	optional
Dragon	`Dragon`	no description	String	optional
Edge	`Edge`	6/10 (1 to 10)	String	optional
Electronic Gaming Monthly	`EGM`	9.5/10 (0 to 10)	String	optional
Eurogamer	`EuroG`	1 to 10 (1999–2015), no scores (2015–2023), 1 to 5 (2023–present)	String	optional
Famitsu	`Fam`	0 to 40	String	optional
G4	`G4`	no description	String	optional
Game Informer	`GI`	no description	String	optional
GameFan	`GameFan`	no description	String	optional
Gamekult	`Gamekult`	no description	String	optional
GamePro	`GamePro`	no description	String	optional
GameRevolution	`GameRev`	A to D- (1996–2012)	String	optional
GamesMaster	`GMaster`	no description	String	optional
GameSpot	`GSpot`	7/10 (1 to 10)	String	optional
GameSpy	`GSpy`	no description	String	optional
GamesRadar+	`GRadar`	no description	String	optional
GStar	`GStar`	no description	String	optional
GamesTM	`GTM`	no description	String	optional
GameTrailers	`GT`	no description	String	optional
GameZone	`GameZone`	no description	String	optional
Giant Bomb	`GB`	no description	String	optional
Hyper	`Hyper`	no description	String	optional
IGN	`IGN`	9.5/10 (1 to 10)	String	optional
Impress Watch	`IW`	no description	String	optional
Jeuxvideo.com	`JXV`	16/20 (1 to 20)	String	optional
Joystiq	`Joystiq`	Ceased scoring reviews in January 2015	String	optional
Joypad	`JP`	no description	String	optional
M! Games	`MG`	no description	String	optional
Mega Fun	`MF`	no description	String	optional
Maximum PC	`MaxPC`	no description	String	optional
N64 Magazine	`N64`	no description	String	optional
Next Generation	`NGen`	5-star rating	String	optional
NGamer	`NG`	no description	String	optional
NGC Magazine	`NGC`	no description	String	optional
Nintendo Life	`NLife`	10-star rating	String	optional
NME	`NME`	no description	String	optional
Nintendo Power	`NP`	no description	String	optional
Nintendo World Report	`NWR`	no description	String	optional
Official Nintendo Magazine	`ONM`	no description	String	optional
PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia	`OPMAU`	no description	String	optional
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK	`OPMUK`	no description	String	optional
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine	`OPM`	no description	String	optional
Official Xbox Magazine(UK)	`OXMUK`	no description	String	optional
Official Xbox Magazine(US)	`OXM`	no description	String	optional
PALGN	`PALGN`	no description	String	optional
PC Format	`PCF`	no description	String	optional
PC Gamer(UK)	`PCGUK`	no description	String	optional
PC Gamer(US)	`PCGUS`	72/100	String	optional
PC PowerPlay	`PCPP`	no description	String	optional
PC Zone	`PCZone`	no description	String	optional
PC Games (DE)	`PCG`	no description	String	optional
PCGamesN	`PCGN`	no description	String	optional
Play	`Play`	no description	String	optional
Pocket Gamer	`PG`	no description	String	optional
Polygon	`Poly`	Ceased scoring reviews in May 2018	String	optional
PlayStation: The Official Magazine	`PSM`	no description	String	optional
PSM3	`PSM3`	no description	String	optional
RPGamer	`RPG`	no description	String	optional
RPGFan	`RPGFan`	no description	String	optional
Shacknews	`SN`	no description	String	optional
Sinclair User	`SUser`	no description	String	optional
TeamXbox	`TX`	no description	String	optional
TechRadar	`TR`	no description	String	optional
Total!	`TOT`	no description	String	optional
TouchArcade	`TA`	no description	String	optional
USgamer	`USG`	5-star rating	String	optional
VentureBeat	`VB`	no description	String	optional
VideoGamer.com	`VG`	no description	String	optional
Video Games Chronicle	`VGC`	no description	String	optional
Video Games (DE)	`VGS`	no description	String	optional
X-Play	`XPlay`	no description	String	optional
Your Sinclair	`YSinclair`	no description	String	optional
Zzap!64	`Z64`	no description	String	optional