Aquaria

App review by Chris Morris, Common Sense Media
Aquaria Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Stunning undersea adventure is about character development.

iPad Adventure Games
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Parents say

age 8+

Based on 1 review

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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 Aquaria is an adventure/role-playing game set in an underwater world. The game is more of a quest for discovery than it is an action title, though there are some mild combat scenes. Through music, Naija (the lead character) can transform and defend herself. The action sequences in the game are tame, but the opening cut scene is a bit more direct, with people screaming and a character seemingly drowning. Users can share high scores via the Game Center social network, but participation is optional.

Community Reviews

Samerina
Samerina Adult
December 7, 2011
age 8+

Experience a New World

This game is a lovely combination of beautiful music, graphics, and themes such as loneliness, meaning of life, and adventure. Naija has lost her memories and must search to rediscover who she is an how she fits in her underwater world. As each "boss" is defeated, Naija aquires a new ability, and in addition transforms what the character looks like. Music is a large part of how Naija changes her form and communicates with sea life. Every "boss" requires a unique strategy to be defeated. Another great part of the game is collecting items that can be cooked to form new items that help Naija in different ways. As you search every corner and depth of the world, you discover something new about the character, hear new music, and see more and more visually stunning scenes.
See all 1 parent review

Is It Any Good?

AQUARIA has appeared on other gaming platforms, but it feels at home on the iPad, offering an experience that is both intriguing and serene. As Naija, you'll explore a stunning underwater world trying to fill holes in your memory. While there's some combat, this is a game about character development. The most interesting element to the game is the use of music. Learning new abilities (such as transformation or shields) is essentially a game of Simon (i.e. parroting back notes), but the songs of Naija, blended with the background music, make this an incredibly soothing game that makes time fade away. The app suggests playing with headphones -- and it really does improve the experience.

App Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love adventure games

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