Broken Age

Modern twist on old-school game type; some violent themes.
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Broken Age
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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 Broken Age is a point-and-click adventure game, much like the kind that was popular in the 1990s. It includes a few mature themes, such as kids being sacrificed (violence is cartoonish) and kids rebelling against overly protective parental figures. Young players might not be familiar with these sorts of games, and figuring out how to solve the puzzles in the right order could frustrate them.
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What’s It About?
The story centers on two different tweens in entirely different situations -- one in an overly protective spaceship, the other facing a possible sacrifice to a monster. And for virtually all of the game, they're separate, with players flipping back and forth between the two using a toggle at the bottom right of the screen. Users will touch the screen to get players to move to certain locations and use items from their inventory by dragging them onto people or objects.
Is It Any Good?
The nostalgia emanating from BROKEN AGE is almost overwhelming. It's a love song to the classic days of computer games from one of the best developers of the point-and-click adventure. And it does a good job of intriguing players, who want to know how the two very different stories eventually combine. But whether you'll like it really depends on your gaming history.
Those who have played the older games might feel at home, figuring out the right order in which to do things and the slow pace. Younger gamers, though, may get frustrated or bored. There's plenty of whimsy in the games, a trademark of developer Double Fine, but there aren't a whole lot of laugh-out-loud moments, which is kind of disappointing. And the cliffhanger ending (the game is Part 1 of two) makes the whole thing feel a bit incomplete.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the common theme of overprotective parents is presented in this game. What do you think about the actions of the parents and the kids?
Families can also talk about the importance of thinking ahead before acting.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: June 3, 2014
- Category: Adventure Games
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Space and Aliens
- Publisher: Double Fine Productions
- Version: 1.2.3
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 5.0 or later
- Last updated: August 16, 2016
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love adventure games and puzzles
Themes & Topics
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