Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Brian David Gilbert’s Unraveled episode “Scientifically calculating the game of the year” turns a statistical formula into a joke about the limits of pretending that a personal, culturally loaded judgment can be made objective. A 2024 retrospective reports that the calculation points toward the game with the most Google hits, making Fortnite an unsatisfying possible Game of the Year—not a proven winner.
What is the Unraveled episode about?
The episode is Unraveled Season 1, Episode 6, listed as airing December 30, 2018. TheTVDB describes its premise as Brian David Gilbert developing a statistical formula to calculate the best game of 2018: TheTVDB episode listing.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
That setup borrows the tone of quantitative analysis to address a question that does not have a single measurable answer. “Best” depends on what a person values in a game; the comedy comes from treating the task as though a formula could settle it.
Recommended Free Tools
What game does the formula pick?
A 2024 retrospective by Cube Drone says the calculation effectively selects the game with the most Google hits and identifies Fortnite as an unsatisfying possible winner: Cube Drone’s retrospective. This is the retrospective’s description of the outcome, not an independently reproduced result or evidence that Fortnite was objectively the best game of 2018.
#1 Best Overall
- Introducing Multi-faction cards! For the first time, cards can belong to more than one faction, unlocking myriad combinations of powers and abilities
- The new Multi-Unite keyword allows players to earn huge rewards for playing many Heroes of the same faction in a single turn
- Expands upon the Transform mechanic from Ascension: Darkness Unleashed, allowing players to permanently upgrade their Heroes to even more powerful versions
- Combines with any other Ascension sets for unlimited replayability and support for up to 6 players
- 1-4 players out of the box, 30-45 minutes
The same retrospective describes the episode’s ending as a turn back toward personal preference: if Fortnite does not feel like a satisfying choice, a viewer can name their own favorite as their Game of the Year. The contrast is the point: a numerical-sounding result cannot make an individual’s taste disappear.
Is the calculation actually scientific?
It is best understood as a comic premise, not a validated ranking method. The episode listing establishes that the show presents a statistical formula, while the account of what it computes comes from Cube Drone’s retrospective. That reviewer characterizes the methodology as flawed and the disappointing result as part of the comic twist.
Rank #2
- Build your deck and shape your strategy as you acquire powerful Heroes and Constructs that can strengthen your abilities and help you generate the resources needed to advance your position
- Defeat dangerous Monsters for rewards and turn combat into an important part of your overall strategy while competing against other players for valuable opportunities
- Make strategic decisions every turn as you evaluate the cards available, determine which additions will benefit your deck, and balance immediate advantages with your longer-term strategy
- Experience dynamic deck-building gameplay where the available cards continually create new combinations and strategic possibilities, encouraging players to adapt rather than follow a fixed path
- Compete to earn Honor and claim victory in a board game that combines deck construction, resource management, card acquisition, and tactical decision-making into a replayable strategic experience
The available sources do not establish the formula’s exact variables, equations, data sources, or calculation steps. It would therefore be misleading to present a reconstructed equation or claim that the method reliably measures game quality. The joke draws on the authority associated with numbers while exposing the gap between measurable popularity and what someone personally considers the year’s best game.
What the episode’s Game of the Year joke means
The reported Google-hits outcome is useful as a punchline precisely because popularity is not the same as quality or personal fit. A game can dominate attention and still fail to satisfy a viewer looking for a meaningful answer to “What was the best game?” The retrospective’s closing interpretation restores that subjective choice: your own favorite can be your Game of the Year, even when a mock-objective calculation points elsewhere.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- VIBRANT COLOR GAME: Challenge friends and family to connect words with colors in the engaging Hues and Cues, featuring 480 colorful hues for limitless fun!
- FUN FOR ALL AGES: Perfect for family game nights, parties, or casual play, this game brings players of all ages together with simple rules and exciting gameplay.
- UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: No two rounds are the same! Hues and Cues provides a new and unique experience with each playthrough, keeping the fun fresh and engaging.
- CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE: Use just one or two word clues to guide others to the right hue, sparking creative thinking and fostering fun team interaction.
- QUICK TO LEARN: Hues and Cues offers fast-paced action with easy rules, making it enjoyable for both casual players, and gaming enthusiasts.
Rank #3
- Cryptid-Themed Strategy Card Game: Experience a light strategy game for 2-4 players featuring cryptid characters, action cards, and skill-based play that adapts to your group's pace and style.
- Take-That Mechanics: Outwit opponents in just 60 minutes using hidden trait cards, Cryptid meeples, and take-that mechanics. A great addition to your collection of strategy board games with dynamic, competitive gameplay.
- High-Quality Components: Includes Cryptid meeples, tarot-sized cards, and durable action cards designed for immersive mind games. The box art features spooky lenticular packaging that looks great on your gaming shelf.
- Board Game for Adults, Teens, and Families: A fun card play for family game night, Halloween, or casual gatherings. Its light strategy mechanics fit well alongside party board games and family games for kids and adults.
- Expand Your Game Collection: Grow your lineup of card games with expansion packs like Cryptid Culture, Ness is More, and Yeti or Not. Explore cryptid-themed collectibles including vinyl blind boxes, reversible plushies, and card sleeves.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
