Does Not Commute
By Paul Semel,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Play against own mistakes in charming, frustrating driver.

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Does Not Commute
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What’s It About?
DOES NOT COMMUTE is a simple arcade game in which you help people drive to work and other places. It's set in the suburbs during the 1970s and played from an aerial viewpoint, with a jazzy soundtrack that plays as you get humorous facts about each driver. Using your thumbs to steer, you begin by trying to get one car to its destination, which is shown with an arrow. On the next play you steer a second driver while your first car follows the exact course you just took. After you've taken a few turns, the road is clogged with obstacles, making driving more difficult. You must get 13 cars to the destination before time runs out. Once it does, you must start over from the beginning or pay to enable saved checkpoints.
Is It Any Good?
Though some will love the challenge of playing against themselves, others may find Does Not Commute frustrating; its setting, music, graphics, and facts about each driver are charming and funny, but its controls are finicky -- perhaps by design. It takes a while to get the hang of it, as it's very easy to overcorrect and forget that oncoming cars use opposite directions to steer. Also, the cars have no brakes, so you'll hit houses, trees, and other cars frequently. Without checkpoints, it's almost certain you'll run out of time and have to start over, which will be no problem for some and infuriating for others -- as in a real morning commute.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about road safety. What should drivers be aware of when driving? What are some of the things that can distract a driver? What are the real consequences of a car accident?
Discuss what is fun (or not fun) about this game: What makes you want to play it? What are the challenges? Is anything frustrating?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Pricing structure: Free (1.99 for premium edition)
- Release date: April 22, 2015
- Category: Arcade Games
- Topics: Cars and Trucks
- Publisher: Mediocre Games
- Version: 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 6.0 or later; Android 2.3 and up
- Last updated: June 1, 2022
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