Parents' Guide to Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Mark Raby By Mark Raby , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 7+

Dueling mascot game franchise scores a gold with this entry.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 7+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 6+

Based on 8 kid reviews

What's It About?

MARIO & SONIC AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS is presented as a collection of sports activities and mini-games rather than a game with any sort of cohesive storyline, but there is a single-player mode that tracks players on their quest to be the top athlete at the international games. There are competitions involving actual Summer Olympics sports -- swimming, track & field, equestrian, etc. -- as well as off-the-wall mini-games that are more fitting for the expansive group of whimsical cartoon characters.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 8 ):

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics continues what has become a great sports game series and one of the most heralded licensed Olympic game franchises ever. The analogy of Mario and Sonic, once bitter rivals, duking it out in the most celebrated of global competitions is fitting. There are sports in this game that were not seen in the previous Mario & Sonic Olympics game, including soccer, badminton, and table tennis. The total number of competitions is exhaustive and will not leave players yearning for more. The game is best played with multiple people going against each other for the gold, but there is also a full single-player Story Mode that will keep solo players engaged as well. This cross-mascot game franchise has steadily improved since the first title was released in 2008, and this one is the best one yet.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the rivalry that has existed between Mario and Sonic. Why is it important to get along with people you may dislike?

  • Does playing sports games on a console make you want to try the sport in real life?

Game Details

  • Platforms : Nintendo 3DS , Nintendo Wii
  • Pricing structure :
  • Available online? : Not available online
  • Publisher : Sega of America
  • Release date : November 15, 2011
  • Genre : Sports
  • ESRB rating : E for Mild Cartoon Violence (Wii) and Cartoon Violence (3DS)
  • Last updated : June 24, 2023

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Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics Poster Image

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