I usually choose projects that have relatively high enough ratings in websites such as icobench or icorating.com... then again, I heard that admins or publishers of these sites can be bribed in exchange for good ratings. I even saw firsthand a post here in BCT selling reviews. disgusting...

Anyway, once Menlo One will launch, it will be much easier and we won't need to do as much research since it's going to be "an all in one" decentralized platform.. this means there no more bribes in exchange for ratings.. link to their site &Whitepaper:
https://www.menlo.one/