Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inventive, interactive story puzzler has thrills and chills.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
DEVICE 6
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Through the text and interactive pictures of DEVICE 6, players follow Anna, who wakes up in an unknown castle, surrounded by antique objects. With memories of a creepy doll, Anna must drum up the courage to explore the castle and seek answers to why she's in a castle, has no memory of how she got there, and what the doll means. Players scroll the text left or right, up and down to move the story along as the words illustrate Anna's movements. For example, if the text breaks off to the right, Anna has turned right down a hallway. If the text spirals upwards, Anna has encountered a spiral staircase leading upward. Footsteps and distant castle creaks echo as players guide Anna through riddles and puzzles whose answers can be found in the text itself (often in plain sight), picture stills, sound and video recordings, and interactive objects. In between chapters, players answer seemingly random questions that earn them points, though it's not clear what they're really for. By the end, players discover the true nature of DEVICE 6.
Is It Any Good?
The way players navigate the story makes this game well worth playing. It successfully combines the act of reading with navigation, and the text becomes a literal map of the castle. The mystery is intriguing, and, while creepy, it's not so horrifying that tweens won't be able to handle it. The puzzles are challenging but fair, and there are plenty of written and video walkthroughs available online, with and without spoilers. Because there's a lot of scrolling and retracing steps to get clues, some kids who don't love puzzle games may get frustrated. While it's ideal for kids who love to read, its unique format might entice some more reluctant readers as well. Though the navigation won't appeal to everyone, it definitely is a fresh experience that sets itself apart from other puzzle games.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the type of violence in this game vs. a more visual game. Does the format make a difference? Why, or why not?
Talk about the unique gameplay and layout of the story. How does rotating the device add to or detract from the fun?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : letter or word recognition , reading comprehension , text analysis
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : deduction , problem solving , solving puzzles
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : October 17, 2013
- Genre : Puzzle Games
- Publisher : Simogo
- Version : 1.2
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 7.1 or later
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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
Suggest an Update
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.
See how we rate