Metacritic
Review aggregation for films, TV, music, and video games.
Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books.
- parent_company
- Fandom (formerly CNET)
Lore & Background
Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc Doyle, and Julie Doyle Roberts in 1999 and launched in January 2001. It was acquired by CNET in 2005, then by CBS Corporation in 2008, later by Red Ventures in 2020, and finally by Fandom, Inc. in 2022. The site turns each critic and user review into a percentage score, adjusts scores based on critic popularity and reputation, and uses colors like green, yellow, or red to indicate overall sentiment. Metacritic won two Webby Awards for excellence as an aggregation website and is regarded as the foremost online review aggregation site for the video game industry.
In Their Own Story
In the quiet hum of a digital archive, thousands of reviews converge like streams into a single river. A developer watches as individual critiques from diverse outlets—some glowing, some harsh—are stripped of their unique voices and distilled into one glowing number: 94. It is not just a score; it is a verdict that will determine the game's place in history, a digital monument built entirely from the aggregated opinions of strangers.
Reader's Guide
Metacritic aggregates reviews by converting each critic and user review into a percentage score, either from the rating given or by subjective decision. Scores are weighted averages, with certain publications given more significance, though the relative weight is not revealed. The site includes a summary from each review and links to the original source. For video games, a 'Must-Play' certification is given to games with a score of 90% or more and at least 15 reviews. For movies, a 'Must-See' label is given to films with a Metascore of 81 or higher and at least 15 professional reviews.
Did You Know?
- Metacritic was launched in January 2001 after two years of development.
- The site was sold to CNET in 2005, later acquired by CBS Corporation in 2008, then Red Ventures in 2020, and finally Fandom, Inc. in 2022.
- Metacritic has been used by game publishers to determine whether developers receive additional royalties, as seen with Fallout: New Vegas.
- In July 2020, Metacritic added a 36-hour waiting period for user reviews at launch to reduce review-bombing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Metacritic?
Metacritic is not a character in Braid but an external website that aggregates professional reviews for video games and other media. It compiles scores from various critics to provide a single consensus number known as the Metascore.
What are Metacritic's powers or role in Braid?
Metacritic has no powers, abilities, or presence within the actual gameplay or narrative of Braid. Its only role is to exist outside the game as a service that helps players gauge critical reception before purchasing.
How does Metacritic's story end?
Since Metacritic is not part of the game's universe, it has no storyline, plot points, or ending within the context of Braid. It simply continues to function as a review database for countless other titles alongside Braid.
Why is Metacritic important to Braid fans?
Fans often check Metacritic to see how highly critics rated Braid upon its release and over time. The high score there serves as historical proof of the game's critical acclaim and lasting impact on the industry.
Does Metacritic influence the development or legacy of Braid?
While the website did not influence Tim Rogers' creative process, a high Metascore significantly boosted the game's visibility and commercial success. This widespread recognition helped cement Braid as a landmark title in video game history.
More in Development & Legacy
Elsewhere in the Braid universe
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