
In terms of review outlets, the 5 selected are outlets that have existed since at least the 1990s, have reviewed thousands (in some cases tens of thousands) of games, only give perfect scores on a rare basis (never more than a handful in a year), and are well-regarded across the industry: Edge magazine, Famitsu (which uses out of 40 instead of out of 10, but still the same principle), Game Informer, GameSpot, and IGN.
If you feel that the 5 outlets I selected aren't representative of video game culture, you're free to make your own list selecting other review outlets.
Details of ratings for each game, in chronological order of release:
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – 4 10s, Game Informer 9.25
Soulcalibur – 3 10s, Edge 9, Game Informer 9.25
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – 4 10s, Edge 8
Grand Theft Auto IV – 4 10s, Famitsu 39/40
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – 3 10s, Edge 9, Game Informer 9.25
Super Mario Galaxy 2 – 3 10s, Famitsu 37, Game Informer 9.25
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword – 4 10s, GameSpot 7.5
Grand Theft Auto V – 3 10s, Game Informer 9.75, GameSpot 9.0
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 5 10s
Super Mario Odyssey – 3 10s, Famitsu 39/40, Game Informer 9.75
Red Dead Redemption 2 – 3 10s, Famitsu 39/40, GameSpot 9
Elden Ring – 4 10s, Famitsu 39
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 4 10s, Game Informer 9.75
Baldur's Gate 3 – 3 10s, Famitsu 36, Game Informer 9.5
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – 2 10s, Edge 9, Game Informer 9.75, never rated by Famitsu (they don't rate DLC)
Hades II – 3 10s, not yet rated by Edge (a monthly magazine) or Famitsu (a weekly magazine)
