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Parents' Guide to

Bully: Anniversary Edition

By Chris Morris, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Classic console action game transitions smoothly to mobile.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Paid Adventure Games
Bully: Anniversary Edition Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Bully: Anniversary Edition App: Screenshot #1
  • Bully: Anniversary Edition App: Screenshot #2
  • Bully: Anniversary Edition App: Screenshot #2

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Hsjsn
Hsjsn Adult
September 17, 2021
age 10+

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Kaanprogamer9
Kaanprogamer9 Adult
May 7, 2020
age 11+

Don’t let the title trick you

Even though the game called bully you are the guy who stands up for bullying at first you are the bully after you get betrayed by your friend then you stands up for bullying also you can do classes if you want to it’s not necessary but some of them are accutally challenging and fun you even can play arcade go around the city what more you can want from a game? Violence level 3 a lot of punching kicking and weapon violence but the weapons are slingshot or a turret with potato’s education level 2 you can do classes and request you to answer questions like example which is faster a car or a plane sex level 2 you take photo of girl cheating or taking because of a plan and kisses happens too but that’s it a great game but I should like if the map was bigger tho still an another amazing game from rockstar oh I almost forget swearing level 3 b### has been said some times but that’s pretty much it for swearing totally recommended for everyone
See all 2 parent reviews

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
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What’s It About?

BULLY: ANNIVERSARY EDITION puts players in the shoes of a troubled teenager, Jimmy Hopkins, who has been plunked into the country's toughest boarding school. He quickly sees the culture of bullying, sometimes taking part in it, sometimes pulling pranks, and sometimes standing up for the little guy. Players choose which missions they'd like to take part in. The goal is to rule the school, but to do so, you'll need to defeat rivals who usually -- but not always -- start the fight as well as school officials, who turn a fairly blind eye to the chaos on campus. 

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Though there's violence, swearing, and sexual innuendo, this is also an engaging game in which the main character can make choices to help others. With its title and the reputation of its developer, this game got a lot of unwarranted negative attention in its 2006 debut. And while Bully: Anniversary Edition is still not a game for young kids, it's not nearly as bad as many people might have feared or been told.  Overall, the transition from console to mobile is done well. Game controls are very smooth, and the way classroom mini-games are played (often rhythm-based) makes them fun and a break from the fighting-centric main game mechanic. Of course, parents will know best if their kids can handle the content and understand that many of the behaviors in the game don't translate well to real life, but in terms of many games available to teens, this one is fairly mild.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in the media and how it's the same and/or different from real life. How is violence used in Bully: Anniversary Edition? 

  • Talk about bullying in the game and in real life. What is the main character's response? In what ways can you respond in real life? Which way is best?

App Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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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.

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