Style Savvy (Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi)

common sense media says

In-depth fashion game is also a good business simulation.

parents & educators say

100% say there are positive messages
67% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Style Savvy is a fashion game that focuses on putting together pretty outfits and having virtual models try them on, but that it is also a business simulation, and as such can impart many lessons about responsibility and money management. There is nothing offensive in the game (unless you find the whole concept of the fashion world offensive, which some people do). Parents should also be aware, though, that the in-game markets, from which players buy new fashions for their shops, change their stock daily, and occasionally have one-day-only specials. This factor can entice kids to play the game every day, in order not to miss something.

Educational value: When running their own virtual boutique, kids will have a limited amount of funds with which they can purchase new stock for their store. A lot of planning and strategizing goes into managing a successful shop, and as a result there is a surprising lesson in fiscal responsibility to be found here. Players will also learn about different kinds of apparel, fabrics, styles, and what goes with what. It does appear to be a goal of the developers to teach players about fashion and style.

Positive messages: Almost every character in the game talks about the importance of appearance. Customers talk about brand loyalty a lot, and although they're speaking of imaginary labels made up for the game, the message still gets across that name brands mean better products. On the positive side, there's a lot to take away about planning, responsibility, and budgeting money.

Positive role models: The main character (an avatar of the player) is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of role modeling. She (it's always a girl) is smart, responsible, ambitious, and industrious. Yet she's also fashion and make-up obsessed, though decidedly less so than the supporting characters in the game. In the end, she comes out on the positive side.

Ease of play: A player with bad fashion sense will do poorly at first. Clash your colors and you're only going to elicit negative responses from characters. But the game is designed to help you easily see what you've done wrong and provides understandable tips on fixing your mistakes.

Violence: Not applicable.

Sex: Bikinis, miniskirts, and bare-midriff shirts are among the fashions you can choose. Girl characters talk about the dreaminess of a handsome millionaire characters.

Language: Not applicable.

Consumerism: The game is all about buying, but there are no real-world brands represented within the retail copy of the game. However, designer clothing lines will be available via download. The 2009 fall line of Charlotte Ronson is the first line available.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about fashion and personal style. How important is the way someone looks or dresses? Are people treated differently dependent upon how they're dressed?
Parents can also discuss budgets and financial responsibility with their kids. In the game, you're encouraged to work within a budget, and each customer who comes into the shop also has a budget they must stay within while shopping. Why are budgets important? Kids who play the game can try to work out a budget for their own lives outside the game.
The way the in-game shopping is set up, children may want to spend time with the game daily. Is that a good idea? Why is setting time limits on game play important?

What's the story?

You start off STYLE SAVVY as an employee in a ritzy fashion boutique, but after successfully helping customers put together fabulous ensembles, you make a enough of a name for yourself that a store-owning billionaire asks you to manage a shop of your own. Once the business is in your hands, you'll have to not only design the look of your store, but also design outfits to display on store mannequins, visit clothing markets to buy new fashions for your store, occasionally enter some of your designs into fashion shows, and help customers.

Is it any good?

Style Savvy is a surprisingly in-depth game that goes far beyond just playing dress-up. The player is a business owner and must juggle the work and responsibilities that comes with managing a business. The game is also neatly set up to impart tips on how to play better by mixing and matching the right clothing elements and keeping up with the latest trends in the game's own fake fashion magazine. When you manage to put together an outfit that your virtual customer really likes, it's a strangely rewarding experience. A lot of effort went into the design of the game to make it as realistic a fashion-industry experience as possible (what other game has you scouring the booths of trade shows to find new products for your store?), and it shows. Fashion games may only appeal to players with very specific tastes, but if your child is one of those people, she or he will get a lot out of Style Savvy.

Online interaction: Through a WiFi connection, players can access Style Cities, which host the virtual boutiques of other players (Players can, of course, also post their own boutique to a Style City). There, they can see the decor of different shops and see, on mannequins, styles that have been designed by other players. There is no ability to communicate with someone you don't know.

Game themes & details

Game Details

Available on: Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi
Available online
Genre: Girl
Developer: Nintendo
Released on: November 9, 2009
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E for (No Desrcriptors)

Screenshots

This review was written by Christopher Healy

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:

100% say there are positive messages
67% say there are positive role models
67% say it's educational

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

keontra
teen, 14 years old

what i think

i hink that you an ply but u got be 13 and older

What other families should know

Game Details

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Genre

Style Savvy (Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Style Savvy

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Game themes & details

Game Details

Screenshots

Review It

Review Style Savvy

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

what i think

Great but no conclusion

Perfect for any age

PERFECT!!!!!!

Perfect for anyone as long as you can read!!!

awesome game for people who love style! ^.^

BEST GAME EVER!!!!!!!!

the best game ever

Fun game, misses mark on inclusion.

IT'S THE BEST GAME IN THE WORLD!

Perfect for all ages and people who love fashion!!

it perfect for kids

Style Savvy Rocks!

Boring

perfect for any kids ages 9 or older

Fun game for girls

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