Apps and games, reviewed the same way every time.
Rankeno is an independent review publication. Every product gets the same rubric, the same scale out of 10 and the same rules. Scores and rankings are never influenced by payment: paid submissions buy review consideration, and sponsored placements are clearly labelled separately from rankings.
Who we are
Rankeno is owned and run by an independent publisher. We are not owned by, funded by, or affiliated with any app store, platform holder, publisher or developer. The site covers apps and games on iOS, Android, Steam and PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox — currently more than 2,400 published reviews across productivity, utilities, creativity, entertainment and every major game genre.
We started Rankeno because the stores are flooded, store ratings are easy to game, and the question people actually have — is this worth my time or money, compared with the alternatives? — is rarely answered in one place with a consistent standard. That consistency is the whole point: a 7.8 in one category means the same thing as a 7.8 in another.
We also make a small set of free browser games, Rankeno Play. They are ours, so we never review or score them.
Our desks
Every review is signed by one of six Rankeno desks. Each desk covers one part of the catalogue; all six use the same rubric, the same scale and the same standards.
Rankeno Strategy & Sim Desk
Strategy, tactics, city builders, management and simulation games.
Rankeno RPG & Adventure Desk
Role-playing games, open worlds, story games and adventures.
Rankeno Action Desk
Action games, platformers, shooters, fighting, racing and sports.
Rankeno Puzzle & Casual Desk
Puzzle, card, board, word and casual games, plus indie curiosities.
Rankeno Productivity Desk
Productivity apps, utilities, business, design and everyday tools.
Rankeno Learning & Lifestyle Desk
Education, reading, social, health, music and lifestyle apps.
How we review
Every review follows the same five steps. The rubric, the rules and the decision to publish are ours, and they are the same for every product we cover.
Research
We gather the product's store listing on every platform it ships on, its documentation and release history, pricing and in-app purchase structure, permissions and privacy disclosures, and public user feedback over time — not just the launch reviews.
One rubric, one scale
Each product is scored out of 10 against a fixed set of criteria for its category: how well it does the job it claims, design and usability, performance and reliability, value for money, and privacy and safety. The criteria are identical for every product in a category, so scores are comparable.
Written to one editorial standard
Every review is written from the evidence above in a strict editorial style: verdict first, specifics over adjectives, pros and cons stated plainly, and no claim without a source in the research.
Editorial checks before publishing
A review is published only when its score breakdown is complete, its facts match the current store listing, and it passes our checks for balance and specificity. Reviews that fail are held and re-researched, not published thin.
Re-verification
Products change. Reviews are re-checked when a product ships a major update, changes its pricing model or is removed from a store, and we are working through the catalogue on a rolling schedule. Each review shows when it was published; corrections are noted on the page.
Every score carries its band word: Outstanding (9.0–10), Great (8.0–8.9), Good (7.0–7.9) and Mixed (below 7). A score is an editorial judgement, not an average of store ratings, and it is never adjusted for anyone. The full standards — selection, the rubric band by band, score consistency and recalibration, corrections, and the store-link disclosure — are on How we review.
Independence and how we make money
Scores are never influenced by payment
Developers can pay for review consideration: a place in the review queue and a published review under the same rubric, the same scale and the same editorial standards as every other review — never a particular rating, verdict or ranking position. Where we sell featured placements, they are sponsored placements that are clearly labelled as sponsored and never appear inside, or reorder, our score-ranked lists.
Advertising and affiliate links
Store links on Rankeno go through our own /out redirect so we can count the click; no affiliate tag is configured for any store today, so we earn no commission on a purchase.
What compensation never buys: scores, verdicts, chart position, or placement inside a score-ranked list. Scores are not for sale.
Details are in our privacy policy.
Corrections
If a review is wrong about a fact — a price, a platform, a feature — tell us at contact@rankeno.com. We check it, fix it, and note the correction on the page. Developers get the same treatment as readers.
Want to get in touch?
Whether you are a developer who wants your work reviewed, or a reader who spotted a mistake, we would like to hear from you.