Author(s) :

Ujaan Sanyal.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Video game review platforms such as IGN (Imagine Games Network) play a significant role in shaping consumer purchasing decisions and influencing the commercial success of games within the multibillion-dollar gaming industry. Despite the prevalent reliance on numerical review scores, existing research has largely ignored how specific game features—such as genre, Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) age rating, or platform exclusivity— are statistically related to the scores these platforms assign. This paper examines how various features of video games are related to review scores on IGN, one of the most influential platforms in the gaming industry for developers and gamers seeking trusted reviews. Using a stratified random sample of 484 games weighted by inverse selection probability, oneway ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests with a Holm multiple-testing correction, and a weighted multivariable regression, this study evaluates which features of video games are associated with IGN scores. After employing these weighted methods along with omnibus tests, it was found that games developed in Japan scored higher than games developed in the United States, and M-rated games scored higher than E-rated games. Genre, platform of original release, platform exclusivity, and player mode showed no significant independent associations after adjustment, and the features together explained only a small proportion of score variance. Regarding release years, scores rose slightly across the interval. Understanding which game features are associated with higher IGN scores highlights patterns in review outcomes and helps developers and players identify which design characteristics are more likely to receive better feedback from IGN.