Animation Throwdown
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPad, Android
- free with microtransactions
- Card Games
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Animation Throwdown is a battle card game that's clearly targeted at fans of the cartoons Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad, Bob's Burgers, and King of the Hill. Like the shows that inspired it, this game has rude humor, references to drinking, and occasional profanity, with "ass" being the strongest word used. Players can get better loot by watching ads, or can use real money to buy such items as a VIP Pass (30 days of more gems and other fun stuff). The game may also prompt players to watch these cartoons, most of which are inappropriate for younger kids. The app also has links to social media, Reddit, and dedicated forums on the developer's website. Read the app's privacy policy on the game's website to find out about the information collected and shared.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Excellent card battle, but not designed for young children
Great game
What's it about?
In ANIMATION THROWDOWN, an industrial accident that you caused forces the fictional universes of Family Guy, Futurama, Bob's Burgers, King of the Hill, and American Dad to cross over and fight each other. Except that instead of putting up their dukes, characters such as Leela, Brian, and Hank Hill use cards of their fellow characters to battle it out. In other words, it's like the card game War, but with a mutant space pilot, a talking dog, and the assistant manager of a rural Texas propane company.
Is it any good?
Though there are deeper and more complicated card battle games, few are as weird and funny as this cartoon-inspired one. In Animation Throwdown, you basically play the card game War, but with characters from the adult cartoons Family Guy, King of the Hill, Futurama, American Dad, and Bob's Burgers. You even get to combine some cards into better ones. Put Hermes from Futurama with "Sports," for instance, and he becomes "Limbo Champion," and his attacks are raised from a 4 to a 6. But while this can be engaging if you enjoy card battle games and these animated sitcoms, you need to be fans of both to really find this fun ... and funny. While the gameplay is hardly shallow, it doesn't have the depth or complexity of similar games. It also has the same weird and often rude humor as these shows, especially where Family Guy and American Dad are concerned, so only older fans need apply. But the biggest problem with a game that focuses on animated TV shows is: Where the heck are The Simpsons? Despite these issues, though, fans of similar card battle games and these 'toons will have fun duking it out with Animation Throwdown.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about marketing to kids. Obviously, the people who made Animation Throwdown want to make money, but they also want to promote these shows. Does playing this game make you want to watch Family Guy or Bob's Burgers?
Talk about money management. Does it make any sense to spend money on Animation Throwdown, given that you can earn in-game currency just by playing?
Families can also talk about rude humor. Do you find the naughty humor in Animation Throwdown to be funny? Can you understand why it might not appeal to everyone?
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android
- Price: free with microtransactions
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: April 25, 2018
- Category: Card Games
- Size: 345.90 MB
- Publisher: Kongregate, Inc.
- Version: 1.0.79
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 7.1 or later; Android 4.0 and up
- Last updated: February 24, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love cartoons
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.