Common Sense Media Review
By Dana Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cheesy stories require players to choose between options.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Choices: Stories You Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 58 parent reviews
Parents say that while some users find the app enjoyable and entertaining, particularly appreciating the stories and improved options for earning diamonds, many others emphasize that the game can be excessively expensive, making it potentially unsuitable for children. Concerns are raised regarding inappropriate content for younger audiences, coupled with reports of significant financial implications for families due to the high costs associated with purchasing diamonds and keys to progress in the game.
- fun stories
- expensive gameplay
- inapp purchases
- inappropriate content
- parental concern
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 34 kid reviews
Kids say that while the app is addictive and has a variety of storylines, it features mature content such as sex, violence, and swearing that make it unsuitable for younger children. Users appreciate the personalization options and LGBTQ+ inclusivity but express frustration over the high costs of diamonds required for certain choices, often feeling that the game prioritizes monetization over enjoyable gameplay.
- mature content
- addictive gameplay
- high costs
- personalization options
- LGBTQ+ inclusivity
Summarized with AI
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
To play CHOICES: STORIES YOU PLAY, first choose your genre and book. Read the information on the screen and tap one of the optional choices. Or, once you've completed reading text with no choices, tap anywhere on the screen to move to the next scene. All dialogue and choices appear on-screen.
Is It Any Good?
Teens looking for some interactive stories may find this fun, but the cheesy lines, sexual innuendo, consumerism, lack of positive messages, and inability to create content make it a lesser choice. Choices: Stories You Play includes different genres of books -- Romance, Fantasy, Mystery -- and some come in series of books updated weekly, which is nice for fans who get hooked on certain storylines. Because the visuals don't change much, a lot of what's happening in the stories has to be described in the written text ("Dom is attracted to you." "You knock the sword out of his hand.") without any corresponding visuals. This often feels stilted and weird. And getting from one piece of dialogue to the next can be slow. The points come slowly, and some choices are off-limits until the player earns enough points or purchases them via in-app purchase. If the messages were more positive or teens could contribute stories, there would be more to recommend. As it stands, though, there are better choices for this type of app.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the concept of making choices that change the outcome of a story in Choices: Stories You Play. Are choices in real life as clear cut as they are on this app?
Talk about earning points for making choices that cause other characters to like your character. When does it make sense to make a choice based on how others will feel about you, and when shouldn't that matter at all?
Discuss the ways dating and appearance are portrayed, since girls at the target age are especially susceptible to messages around body image and healthy/unhealthy relationships.
Encourage teens to create their own stories with apps like StoryCorps.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Subjects : Language & Reading : storytelling
- Pricing structure : Free (in-app purchases $1.99 to $99.99)
- Release date : July 11, 2017
- Genre : Simulation Games
- Publisher : Pixelberry Studios
- Version : 1.9.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 7.0 or later; Android 4.0.3 and up
- Last updated : February 7, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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