The Video Game Critic's Explanation of Icons

In order to spice up the reviews, I often assign icons to each game. Some icons are insightful and some are just silly, but I like to think they add a little spice to the reviews. Below are explanations of the 89 icons spread over 11 arbitrary categories. See Icon Statistics Page for statistical breakdown.

Seasonal icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Winter	Seasonal winter fun	Features snow, ice, and harsh winter conditions.
	Spring	Seasonal spring fun	Features scenic spring elements.
	Summer	Seasonal summer fun	Features summer elements such as beach, aquatic, and tropical locations.
	Autumn	Seasonal autumn fun	Features colorful autumn elements.
	Christmas	Christmas themes	Ideal to play around the holidays.
	Halloween	Halloween themes	Embodies the creepy sights and sounds of Halloween.

Positive icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Head To Head	Head-to-head action	Ideal for one-on-one competition.
	Cooperative	Cooperative Play	Team up with a friend to play this one.
	Multiplayer	Supports multiple players	Try this game when you have some friends over.
	Great Music	Great music	This game contains terrific music.
	Funny	Good humor	This game is likely to make you laugh.
	Comeback	Rising from the Ashes	Marks a long-awaited return for the series.
	Chicks Dig This	Chicks Dig This	Even girls like this game! That's sexist.
	Hidden Gem	Hidden gem	Not a well-known title, but worth checking out.
	Split Screen 2P	Two-player split-screen	Contains a local two-player split-screen mode
	Split Screen 4P	Four-player split-screen	Supports split-screen for up to four players

Negative icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Online	Requires constant connection	Requires constant online connection to play.
	Nausea	May Cause Nausea	May cause nausea due to motion sickness, ugly graphics, or poor gameplay.
	Long Loads	Long load times	Suffers from long, aggravating load screens.
	Pain	May cause pain	May cause pain to hand or wrist.
	Buggy	Bugs and glitches	This game is known to have glitches and bugs.
	Boring	May cause drowsiness	Do not play while operating heavy machinery. Might put you to sleep.
	ET	Extreme disappointment	This game didn't live up to expectations.

Genre icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	RPG	Role-playing Game	This is a role-playing style game (usually turn-based).
	Strategy	Strategy	This is a strategy game.
	Puzzle	Puzzle	This is a puzzle-oriented game (Tetris, Dr. Mario, etc).
	Musical	Musical	Game is musical in nature (Guitar Hero, Dance Central, etc).
	Compilation	Classic Compilation	A collection of older games in one package.

Content icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Construction	Construction elements	This game has build-it-yourself features.
	Full Motion Video	Full Motion Video	This game contains full-motion video.
	Educational	Educational	This game may contain educational subject matter.
	Kid Friendly	Suitable for children	This game is suitable for young children.
	Adult	Adult Subject Matter	This game contains adult themes and is unsuitable for kids.
	Violence	Violence and gore	May contain brutal violence, blood, and gore.
	Profanity	Bad language	This game contains profanity.
	Controversial	Controversial	This game has been a source of controversy.
	Scary	Scary	Caution: This is a scary game!
	Frightening	Frightening	Caution: This game is extremely frightening!
	Terrifying	Terrifying	Caution: This game is downright terrifying!

Media icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Download Only	Download Only	Only available via download from an on-line service like Xbox Live.
	Fine Literature	Fine Literature Award	Comes with high quality instruction manual.
	Floppy Disk	5.25" floppy disk	Comes on 5.25" floppy disk media.
	Game Card	Game card	Game is stored on card media.
	CD	CD Format	Comes on a CD. Notable for systems like Neo Geo which also support cartridges.
	Two CDs	Two CDs	This game comes on two CDs.
	Three CDs	Three CDs	This game comes on three CDs.
	Four CDs	Four CDs	This game comes on four CDs.

Controller icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Arcade Joystick	Joystick recommended	Best when played using an arcade-style joystick.
	Light Gun	Light gun support	Supports (or requires) light gun controller.
	Steering Wheel	Steering wheel support	This game works with an optional steering wheel controller.
	Trak-ball	Trak-ball support	This game supports optional trak-ball controller.
	Balance Board	Balance board support	Supports balance board controller (like the one for the Wii).
	Keyboard	Keyboard supported	Supports (or requires) keyboard controller.
	Paddle	Paddle controllers	Uses Atari 2600 paddle controllers.
	Motion	Motion controls	Supports motion controls like the Kinect or Move.

Effects icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Voice	Voice feature	Game supports voice synthesis (Intellivision) or voice recognition (microphone).
	3D Glasses	3D Glasses	Works with 3D glasses such as those available for the Sega Master System.

Special icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Difficult	Extreme Difficulty	Named after Arthur of Ghouls and Ghosts fame, this is hard as nails.
	Short	This game is short	You can finish this game in a short period of time.
	Hottie	Hottie Alert	This game may contain one or more hot-looking babes.
	Manly	Contains Testosterone	This game is extremely manly.
	Best at Night	Best at night	This game is best enjoyed at night.
	Drinking	Better when drinking	This game is more fun if you've been drinking.
	Brain	May require use of brain	This game is cerebral in nature.
	Expensive	Rare and Expensive	This game is rare and expensive.
	Budget	Budget title	This game was released as an inexpensive budget title.
	Fake Review	This review is totally fake	This review was posted on April Fools Day.

Origin icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Import	Imported	This game originated from outside of the USA.
	Homebrew	Homebrew	This is a home-made title developed for a classic system.
	Hack	Hack	This game is a modified version of an old title.
	Prototype	Prototype	This is an unfinished, previously unreleased prototype.
	Film-based	Based on a film	This game is based on a movie.
	TV-based	Based on TV show	This game is based on a television program.
	Pack-in	Was a pack-in game	This game was included with the system.
	Launch-title	Was a launch title	This game was available at launch in USA.

Specific icons

Icon	Name	Tool tip	Description
	Penguin	May contain penguins	This game may contain penguins.
	Skyline	Contains scenic skylines	Contains scenic city building skylines.
	Bunny	Caution: May contain rabbits	Caution: This game may contain bunny rabbits.
	Cheese	May contain cheese	This game may contain cheese. Yes, the dairy product.
	Eggplant	May contain eggplant	Caution: This game may contain eggplant.
	Chicken	May contain chickens	This game may contain chickens.
	Pig	May contain pigs	This game may contain pigs.
	Sharks	May contain sharks	This game may contain sharks.
	Monkeys	May contain monkeys	This game may contain monkeys.
	Dragons	May contain dragons	This game may contain dragons.
	Graveyards	Graveyards	This game contains a graveyard!
	Exploding Barrel	Exploding barrels	This shooter features obligatory exploding red barrels.
	Clown	May contain clowns	This game may contain frightening clowns.
	Pirate	May contain pirates	This game contains pirates (as in Pirates of the Caribbean).

Copyright 1999-2025 The Video Game Critic. The reviews presented on this site are intellectual property and are copyrighted. Any reproduction without the expressed written consent of the author is strictly prohibited. AI bots also prohibited.