Ever bought a game or movie based on a Metacritic score, only to find out it felt nothing like what the critics said? Or maybe you loved a film that everyone else panned? You’re not alone. Metacritic’s dual rating system - the Metascore and the User Score - looks simple, but it’s full of traps, biases, and hidden logic. Most people don’t realize how different these two scores are, or why they exist at all. Let’s break down what each one actually measures, who’s behind it, and when to trust each one.
What Is the Metascore?
The Metascore is Metacritic’s weighted average of reviews from professional critics. It’s not just a simple average. Metacritic handpicks around 100 to 200 outlets per title - mostly major publications like The New York Times, Rolling Stone, IGN, GameSpot, and The Guardian. They assign each review a score, then convert it to a 0-100 scale. A 5-star review becomes 100, a 3-star becomes 60, and so on.
But here’s the catch: not all critics are treated equally. Metacritic gives more weight to certain outlets based on perceived prestige, reach, and consistency. A review from Entertainment Weekly might count more than a blog post with 500 readers, even if both gave the same score. The algorithm doesn’t tell you which outlets are weighted more. That’s intentional. Metacritic says it’s to avoid manipulation, but critics argue it’s opaque and arbitrary.
For example, the 2023 game Starfield has a Metascore of 79, based on 122 critic reviews. That sounds solid - until you realize that 68 of those reviews were from outlets with lower weight, and only 15 were from top-tier publications. The score reflects a mix of cautious praise and mild disappointment, not a consensus.
What Is the User Score?
The User Score is exactly what it sounds like: an average of ratings from regular people who bought or played the game or watched the movie. Anyone with a Metacritic account can vote. No verification. No proof of purchase. Just a slider from 1 to 10.
That openness is both its strength and its weakness. On one hand, it captures real fan reactions. On the other, it’s vulnerable to manipulation. In 2022, fans of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy flooded the User Score with 10s after the game was criticized for being too short. The score jumped from 6.8 to 8.4 in under 48 hours. The Metascore stayed at 79 - unchanged.
Some movies get bombed by users because of backlash, not quality. Take Justice League (2017). Critics gave it a 52 Metascore - middling, but not terrible. The User Score? 5.2. Why? Because fans were angry about the studio’s edits, the director’s removal, and the leaked Snyder Cut rumors. The score wasn’t about the movie. It was about frustration.
Why Do Metascore and User Score Often Diverge?
The gap between these two scores isn’t random. It’s predictable. Here’s when they usually split:
- Art house films - Critics love them, audiences don’t. Think The Lighthouse (2019). Metascore: 84. User Score: 6.8. Critics praised its style and acting. Most viewers found it confusing and slow.
- Blockbuster sequels - Audiences love nostalgia, critics hate repetition. Fast X (2023) has a Metascore of 56 but a User Score of 8.2. Fans wanted more explosions and family drama. Critics wanted more originality.
- Games with heavy DLC or monetization - Critics judge the base game. Users judge the whole experience. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) had a Metascore of 79 at launch (based on PC reviews from pre-launch builds). The User Score? 2.4. Why? Because the game was broken on consoles. Critics didn’t test that version.
The real issue? Metascore measures critical opinion. User Score measures emotional response. One is analytical. The other is visceral. They’re not competing - they’re answering different questions.
When to Trust the Metascore
Use the Metascore when you want to know if a film or game is well-made. It’s a good indicator of craftsmanship: writing, direction, cinematography, sound design, technical polish. If you’re a cinephile or a hardcore gamer who cares about narrative depth or mechanics, the Metascore is your friend.
It’s also useful for discovering hidden gems. Indie films like Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) had a Metascore of 89 - higher than most superhero movies - because critics recognized its ambition. Most audiences didn’t know it existed until it won Oscars.
But don’t treat it as a guarantee of enjoyment. A 90 Metascore doesn’t mean you’ll love it. It means experts think it’s well-executed. You might still hate it.
When to Trust the User Score
Use the User Score when you want to know if people actually enjoyed it. Are people rewatching it? Talking about it? Buying the merch? That’s the User Score’s job.
For example, Stranger Things Season 4 has a Metascore of 78 - good, but not amazing. The User Score? 9.1. Why? Because fans were obsessed. The show didn’t win awards for originality, but it created a cultural moment. That’s what the User Score captures.
Also, if you’re buying a game, the User Score tells you if it’s worth the $70. A game with a 6.0 User Score might have great graphics and a strong story, but if players are quitting after 2 hours because of bugs or grind, the Metascore won’t tell you that.
How to Read Both Scores Together
The smartest way to use Metacritic isn’t to pick one. It’s to compare them. Here’s how:
| Metascore | User Score | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| High (80+) | High (8+) | Widely loved. Rare. Usually award contenders or breakout hits. |
| High (80+) | Low (4-5) | Artistic success, audience disconnect. Often niche or challenging. |
| Low (40-59) | High (8+) | Flawed but fun. Often guilty pleasures or fan favorites. |
| Low (40-59) | Low (3-4) | Widely disliked. Avoid unless you’re a completist. |
Look for patterns. If a game has a 75 Metascore and a 9 User Score, it’s likely a polished, fun experience that critics underappreciated. If it’s a 60 Metascore and a 3 User Score, it’s probably broken or boring - even if the writing is good.
What Metacritic Doesn’t Tell You
Metacritic doesn’t show you how many reviews are from each group. A User Score of 8.5 with 1,200 votes is more reliable than one with 200. You have to click through and check.
It also doesn’t show you the distribution. A User Score of 7.0 could mean 50% gave 7s, or it could mean half gave 1s and half gave 10s. The average hides the truth. Always look at the histogram if you can.
And remember: Metacritic doesn’t include reviews from Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, or independent bloggers. That’s where real conversations happen. A film might have a 60 Metascore but be trending on TikTok because of memes or deep analysis.
Final Advice: Use Both, But Don’t Rely on Either
Metacritic is a useful tool - but only if you understand its limits. Treat the Metascore as a measure of quality. Treat the User Score as a measure of enjoyment. Neither tells you whether you’ll like it.
Instead, read one or two critic reviews you trust. Then read a handful of user reviews that sound like you. If you’re a fan of slow, atmospheric stories, and the critic loved the film’s pacing, you’ll probably like it. If you’re someone who hates long cutscenes, and users are complaining about them, skip it.
Don’t let a single number decide your $70 game or $20 movie. Let your taste, your mood, and your context decide. Metacritic is a map. Not a compass.
Why do critics and users often disagree on the same game or movie?
Critics judge based on craft - writing, direction, innovation, technical execution. Users judge based on experience - fun, emotion, replay value, personal connection. A game can be brilliantly designed but boring to play. A movie can be messy but deeply moving. The two aren’t measuring the same thing.
Can User Scores be manipulated?
Yes. Fans or opponents can organize campaigns to flood scores. This happened with Starfield, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and even Avatar: The Way of Water. Metacritic doesn’t verify purchases or block duplicate votes. Always check the number of votes and look for sudden spikes.
Is a high Metascore a guarantee of quality?
No. A high Metascore means critics agree it’s well-made, not that it’s enjoyable for you. You might hate a 90-rated film because it’s too slow, too dark, or too pretentious. Critics don’t always know what you like.
Why do some games have low User Scores but high Metascores?
Often, it’s because the game is technically excellent but has poor monetization, long grind, or broken launch. Critics review the base game. Users experience the full product - including DLC, bugs, and microtransactions. Cyberpunk 2077 is the classic example.
Should I ignore Metacritic altogether?
No. But treat it like a weather report, not a forecast. It tells you the conditions - not whether you’ll enjoy the day. Use it to filter options, then read real reviews from people like you. Your taste matters more than any algorithm.