At IndieLoop, we are committed to providing honest, fair, and transparent reviews of indie games. Our goal is to help our readers discover high-quality games while maintaining integrity and trust with developers and our audience.
1. Purpose of Reviews
Our reviews aim to:
- Evaluate indie games on their merits
- Provide actionable insights for players and developers
- Highlight unique features, creativity, and gameplay experiences
- Offer an authentic, human perspective free from AI-generated content
2. Review Process
IndieLoop reviews follow a consistent process to ensure fairness:
- Playtime & Exploration
Reviewers play the game thoroughly, exploring core mechanics, story, and features to gain a full understanding of the experience. - Evaluation Criteria
Games are assessed based on multiple factors, including (but not limited to):- Gameplay Mechanics: Controls, responsiveness, and design quality
- Visuals & Art Style: Graphics, aesthetics, and creativity
- Audio & Music: Sound design, soundtrack, and immersion
- Story & Writing: Narrative quality and engagement
- Innovation & Creativity: Originality and unique design elements
- Replayability & Value: Longevity, enjoyment, and overall worth
- Scoring & Judgement
- Scores (if provided) are based on a holistic assessment of the above criteria.
- Written commentary accompanies scores to provide context and reasoning.
- Transparency & Disclosure
- We disclose if a game was provided to us for review by a developer or publisher.
- We do not accept payments in exchange for positive reviews. All opinions expressed are our own.
3. Review Standards
- Reviews are conducted by human writers, not AI.
- Reviews are based on gameplay experience and factual observation.
- IndieLoop maintains editorial independence and integrity.
4. Review Requests
Developers may submit their games for consideration, but submission does not guarantee a review. Games are selected based on editorial relevance, quality, and interest to our audience.
Submissions should include:
- Game title and platform(s)
- Download link or access to the game
- Any promotional materials (trailers, press kits)
Send submissions to: reviews@indieloop.net
5. Ethical Guidelines
- Honest and unbiased opinions are our top priority.
- Conflicts of interest, including financial or personal relationships, are disclosed when relevant.
- Games will not receive artificially inflated or deflated scores due to sponsorships, advertising, or external influence.
6. Updates & Changes
IndieLoop may update this Review Policy periodically to reflect editorial improvements or procedural changes. The “Last Updated” date will indicate the current version.