Virtual Villagers: The Lost Children

 Review

Common Sense Media says

This sequel's deeper gameplay makes it better.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that you don't need to have played the original to enjoy this sequel. This is a "persistent" game, which keeps playing even when you're not: If kids want a break, they will need to pause it. Kids probably will want to let the game continue so they can accumulate points and upgrade technologies. Villagers age and die, so parents need to gauge their kid's ability to handle the death of a character they have "nurtured."


What's it about?

VIRTUAL VILLAGERS: THE LOST CHILDREN starts where Virtual Villagers: A New Home left off, with two villagers exploring a passage on the island where they're stranded. The villagers discover a group of five children struggling to survive. You guide this group as they learn how to survive and multiply. You also help them solve 16 puzzles including how to make fire, build a dam, fashion tools, and discover a new species of fish.

You need to find each villager work they will enjoy -- to farm, build, heal, parent, or research -- and you can change assignments as needs arise. As your tribe accumulates tech points through research, they can purchase upgrades in farming, engineering, medicine, science, exploration, and culture. This is a "persistent game," which means that your little villagers keep living even after you have turned off their game. While you can pause it, this game is played for several weeks; you will only need to tinker with it for about 10 minutes at a time, a few times a day.


Is it any good?

 

This life simulation game is streamlined and easy to play. By experimenting, kids learn about the interdependencies of food, shelter, and population. If you grow your population too quickly, you create a famine and have to hunt for new food sources. Likewise, your population won't grow if you don't assign enough villagers to build new shelters.

This sequel offers all-new puzzles, new life events, and new gameplay, including making stews from spices found on the island and collecting found objects. Another new feature is the ability to play multiple games at once. While you are waiting for one tribe to accumulate enough tech points to upgrade, you can begin another tribe and start to shepherd them through another unique game experience. This game teaches patience and rewards creativity by encouraging players to experiment to solve the puzzles; it also provides a Strategy and Puzzle Guide online at VirtualVillagers.com.


This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Teen, 15 years old
September 4, 2010
 
yes
fun game

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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Kid, 12 years old
May 14, 2011
 
Love it!
This is one of my Favorite games! It rocks!!!!!!

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Kid, 9 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Villagers
this is a good site, people can have kids and maybe not right for too young of age 5-10

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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Adult
January 1, 2010
 
Great Game!
It is good for most ages but two villagers can kiss and hug and then visit a hut to... you know!

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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 
an fun game
It is very creative. you have to think carefully and work hard to keep your tribe alive. you also can choose your own level. including easy,normal, or difficult.I think any one of any age would LOVE this game! I know I LOVE IT for a FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Platforms:Windows
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Simulation
Developer:Last Day of Work
Release date:February 20, 2007
Price:$20
ESRB rating:E

This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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