The Story Behind PlayOrSkip

March 11, 2026

PlayOrSkip began as a simple system between friends to decide whether games were worth buying and has now evolved into a platform focused on helping players decide what to play.

Where It All Began

Hello everyone. Today I want to do something slightly different and introduce myself while sharing the story behind PlayOrSkip. My name is Birki, I’m a 28-year-old gamer living in the Netherlands, and gaming has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

My first real gaming memory dates back to when I was four years old. A relative gave me a copy of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. It might sound unusual compared to the classic “first games” many people mention, like Mario or Pokémon, but that was my introduction to the world of games. Strategy games, base building, and chaotic battles became part of my childhood long before I understood what made them so compelling.

A Passion That Never Left

That early introduction turned into a long-term passion. Over the years I played across different genres and platforms, constantly discovering new experiences that games could offer. Gaming became more than just a hobby; it became something that connected me with friends and shaped how we spent our time together.

The idea behind PlayOrSkip actually grew out of those shared experiences. It was not something designed overnight or planned as a project. Instead, it slowly evolved through years of conversations about games.

High School and the First Gaming Circle

The real foundation for PlayOrSkip started about fifteen years ago during high school. A group of friends and I began playing League of Legends together around Season 3. At the time it was simply something we did after school: log in, queue up, and spend the evening playing matches together.

This was also around the time we discovered Steam. Suddenly there was a massive library of games available, far beyond what we had been used to before.

Our First Steam Purchase

One of the first games we bought together was Infestation: Survivor Stories, a PvPvE survival game inspired by the early DayZ formula. For many of us it was our first digital purchase through Steam. At the time we were still students, which meant buying games required careful decisions.

Most of us had to save money for weeks before buying something new. Because of that, every purchase mattered. Spending money on the wrong game meant waiting a long time before trying something else.

Creating Our Own Rating System

To solve that problem, we started approaching games more methodically. Instead of everyone buying the same game, we would each pick different titles. After playing them, we would meet up after school and discuss what we experienced.

These conversations became surprisingly detailed.

Rating Games on Paper

We began writing down our thoughts about each game on paper and rating different aspects out of five. At the time we focused on categories like story, graphics, gameplay, and music. Everyone had slightly different priorities, which made the discussions interesting.

Once we compared notes, we averaged the scores and decided whether a game was worth trying. Some of us only wanted to play games that scored extremely high in certain categories, while others were more forgiving if a game excelled in just one area.

When the Idea Started to Evolve

Eventually high school ended and our group slowly spread across different cities and countries. Despite the distance, the conversations about games continued. Our notes were digitized and eventually moved into Discord once we discovered it during our university years.

As we met new people through university and gaming communities, they joined our discussions as well. What had once been a small group activity slowly grew into something more structured.

Changing the Way We Reviewed Games

Over time our rating system also evolved. Instead of focusing on traditional review elements like graphics or story, we started looking at different aspects of games. Complexity, solo or co-op friendliness, grind quality, and monetization became our primary focus.

The reasoning was simple. Professional reviewers already covered gameplay, visuals, and storytelling in depth. What we cared about more as players was whether a game respected our time, how demanding the grind was, and whether monetization felt fair.

The Idea That Never Really Disappeared

Years passed and life continued to move forward. Many of the people who originally participated in those discussions graduated, moved away, and eventually became busy with careers and other responsibilities. But one simple question remained part of our conversations.

Whenever someone discovered a new game, the question would still appear: “Play or Skip?”

Bringing the Idea Back

That phrase eventually replaced the original “buy or not?” question we used during high school. It captured something simple and practical. Instead of debating endlessly about a game’s qualities, we could quickly decide whether it was worth our time.

Now, in 2026, I’m still just as passionate about gaming as I was back then. That’s why I decided to revive the idea once again and share it publicly. In a time where gaming discussions can become noisy and sometimes divisive, I believe there is value in a simple system focused on player time and value.

What Comes Next

PlayOrSkip is built on the same principle that guided those early discussions: helping players decide whether a game deserves their time. Instead of chasing hype cycles or reacting to marketing trends, the goal is to evaluate games through a consistent framework.

The project will continue to evolve as more reviews and articles are published.

Transparency and Feedback

One of the next things I plan to share is the full scoring framework behind PlayOrSkip. I want the system to remain transparent so readers understand exactly how verdicts are reached.

Feedback will also be important. Just like the original discussions with friends years ago, this platform should grow through conversation. The goal is to build a place where players can quickly understand whether a game is worth their time and money.