How We Test — RigLoot

Every RigLoot review follows the same principle: we only score what we have actually used, and we explain the reasoning behind the number. This page describes how we test so you can judge our verdicts for yourself.

The RigLoot score

Scores run from 0 to 10, in decimals. The number is a summary of the full review, not a substitute for reading it. As a rough guide:

9.0–10 — exceptional; a category leader we recommend without hesitation.
8.0–8.9 — excellent; a confident recommendation with minor caveats.
6.5–7.9 — good; worth it for the right buyer or player.
5.0–6.4 — average; real compromises, buy on discount or with eyes open.
Below 5.0 — flawed; we would steer most people elsewhere.

A "RigLoot Recommended" badge is reserved for products that stand out in their class and price bracket.

Testing hardware

For GPUs, monitors, SSDs and peripherals, we assess the things that change day-to-day use rather than headline specs alone:

Real performance — frame rates and frame-time consistency at the resolutions the product is actually aimed at (typically 1080p and 1440p), across a mix of demanding and popular titles.
Value — performance and features measured against the current street price, not the launch MSRP.
Everyday quality — thermals and noise, build quality, panel or sensor behaviour, software, and how the product feels over extended sessions.
Longevity — VRAM, capacity, connectivity and headroom that affect how well the product ages.

Testing games

For game reviews we spend meaningful time in the game — through the early hours where most players decide whether to stay, and far enough in to judge how the systems hold up:

Moment-to-moment play — how it feels to actually play, on PC, with a keyboard and mouse or controller.
Content and progression — how much there is to do, and whether progression respects your time.
Monetisation — for free-to-play and live-service games, whether the business model is fair or gets in the way of the fun.
Who it's for — the type of player who will get the most out of it, called out plainly.

Independence and corrections

We buy or borrow review units and pay for or are granted access to games; a manufacturer or publisher relationship never buys a score. Advertising and affiliate revenue is kept separate from editorial — see our Affiliate Disclosure. If we get something wrong, we fix it and note the change; email hello@rigloot.com to flag an error.

Images and sources

Where we use official product or game artwork and press screenshots, they are credited on the article for editorial and identification purposes. Product names and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.