Streamline Game Reviews with the Video Game Review and Data API
12 Jun 2025
The Video Game Review and Data API provides developers with powerful tools to access and analyze video game reviews seamlessly. With its set of Cognitive Actions, this API simplifies the process of fetching and sorting reviews from various sources, enabling developers to enrich their applications with valuable user-generated content. By integrating this API, you can enhance user experiences, assist in decision-making, and provide insights into the gaming landscape—all at high speed and efficiency.
Prerequisites
To get started with the Video Game Review and Data API, you'll need an API key and a basic understanding of making API calls. This will allow you to authenticate your requests and access the full capabilities of the API.
Get Reviews for Outlet
The Get Reviews for Outlet action fetches reviews for a specific Outlet ID using the OpenCritic API. It allows developers to retrieve reviews sorted by various criteria such as newest, oldest, or score, making it easy to present the most relevant information to users.
Input Requirements:
- Identifier: A unique number representing the specific outlet (default is 56).
- Sort Order: Specifies how the results should be sorted (options include 'newest', 'oldest', 'score-high', 'score-low', 'score', 'popularity', and 'blend').
- Offset Value: Determines the starting point in the results collection (default is 20).
Expected Output: The output consists of a collection of reviews that includes details such as the game name, review score, title, outlet information, author details, and a brief snippet of the review. Each review is structured to provide a comprehensive view of user feedback.
Use Cases for this Action:
- Game Discovery Platforms: Use this action to enable users to find games based on recent reviews or overall scores, helping them make informed purchasing decisions.
- Review Aggregators: Integrate this action into your application to aggregate reviews from multiple outlets, providing a holistic view of a game's reception.
- Content Management Systems: Leverage this API to populate a website or app with the latest reviews, ensuring fresh content and engaging user experiences.
```python
import requests
import json
# Replace with your actual Cognitive Actions API key and endpoint
# Ensure your environment securely handles the API key
COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_API_KEY = "YOUR_COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_API_KEY"
# This endpoint URL is hypothetical and should be documented for users
COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_EXECUTE_URL = "https://api.cognitiveactions.com/actions/execute"
action_id = "894091c8-0c2e-424d-bca4-9599c9e9d117" # Action ID for: Get Reviews for Outlet
# Construct the exact input payload based on the action's requirements
# This example uses the predefined example_input for this action:
payload = {
"sort": "newest",
"offset": 20,
"identifier": 56
}
headers = {
"Authorization": f"Bearer {COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_API_KEY}",
"Content-Type": "application/json",
# Add any other required headers for the Cognitive Actions API
}
# Prepare the request body for the hypothetical execution endpoint
request_body = {
"action_id": action_id,
"inputs": payload
}
print(f"--- Calling Cognitive Action: {action.name or action_id} ---")
print(f"Endpoint: {COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_EXECUTE_URL}")
print(f"Action ID: {action_id}")
print("Payload being sent:")
print(json.dumps(request_body, indent=2))
print("------------------------------------------------")
try:
response = requests.post(
COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_EXECUTE_URL,
headers=headers,
json=request_body
)
response.raise_for_status() # Raise an exception for bad status codes (4xx or 5xx)
result = response.json()
print("Action executed successfully. Result:")
print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
print(f"Error executing action {action_id}: {e}")
if e.response is not None:
print(f"Response status: {e.response.status_code}")
try:
print(f"Response body: {e.response.json()}")
except json.JSONDecodeError:
print(f"Response body (non-JSON): {e.response.text}")
print("------------------------------------------------")
## Fetch Author Reviews
The **Fetch Author Reviews** action retrieves reviews written by a specific author, identified by their Author ID. This operation supports sorting by various criteria and pagination, allowing for a flexible and user-friendly experience.
**Input Requirements:**
- **Identifier:** A unique number for the author (default is 481).
- **Sorting Criteria:** Specifies the sorting method for results (options include 'newest', 'oldest', 'score-high', 'score-low', 'score', 'popularity', and 'blend').
- **Pagination Offset:** Determines the starting point for query results (default is 20).
**Expected Output:**
The output includes a list of reviews authored by the specified individual, detailing the game name, review score, title, outlet information, and a snippet of the review. This structured output enables applications to showcase an author's body of work effectively.
**Use Cases for this Action:**
- **Reviewer Profiles:** Create profiles for individual reviewers, displaying their past reviews and scores, which can help users find trusted voices in the gaming community.
- **Author-Focused Platforms:** Build platforms that highlight the impact of specific authors on gaming discussions, enhancing user engagement and trust.
- **Content Personalization:** Use this action to tailor content based on user preferences for specific authors, allowing for a more customized user experience.
import requests
import json
# Replace with your actual Cognitive Actions API key and endpoint
# Ensure your environment securely handles the API key
COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_API_KEY = "YOUR_COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_API_KEY"
# This endpoint URL is hypothetical and should be documented for users
COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_EXECUTE_URL = "https://api.cognitiveactions.com/actions/execute"
action_id = "ea265358-b0bc-4cda-95af-369f19228fc5" # Action ID for: Fetch Author Reviews
# Construct the exact input payload based on the action's requirements
# This example uses the predefined example_input for this action:
payload = {
"sort": "newest",
"offset": 20,
"identifier": 481
}
headers = {
"Authorization": f"Bearer {COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_API_KEY}",
"Content-Type": "application/json",
# Add any other required headers for the Cognitive Actions API
}
# Prepare the request body for the hypothetical execution endpoint
request_body = {
"action_id": action_id,
"inputs": payload
}
print(f"--- Calling Cognitive Action: {action.name or action_id} ---")
print(f"Endpoint: {COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_EXECUTE_URL}")
print(f"Action ID: {action_id}")
print("Payload being sent:")
print(json.dumps(request_body, indent=2))
print("------------------------------------------------")
try:
response = requests.post(
COGNITIVE_ACTIONS_EXECUTE_URL,
headers=headers,
json=request_body
)
response.raise_for_status() # Raise an exception for bad status codes (4xx or 5xx)
result = response.json()
print("Action executed successfully. Result:")
print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
print(f"Error executing action {action_id}: {e}")
if e.response is not None:
print(f"Response status: {e.response.status_code}")
try:
print(f"Response body: {e.response.json()}")
except json.JSONDecodeError:
print(f"Response body (non-JSON): {e.response.text}")
print("------------------------------------------------")
### Conclusion
The Video Game Review and Data API offers developers a comprehensive suite of tools to integrate game reviews into their applications. By utilizing the **Get Reviews for Outlet** and **Fetch Author Reviews** actions, you can provide users with valuable insights and enhance their gaming experience. Whether you're building a discovery platform, a review aggregator, or a personalized content service, this API can help you achieve your goals efficiently. Start exploring the possibilities today!