Parents' Guide to Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions

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Common Sense Media Review

By Neilie Johnson , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Fun action-adventure with streamlined touch controls.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's It About?

STAR WARS REBELS: RECON MISSIONS is a side-scrolling action game based on the animated series. Featuring the motley crew of the starship Ghost, the game starts players off as adolescent con artist Ezra Bridger and lets you build and customize a Rebel refugee camp while performing guerilla missions that undermine the Empire. Armed with your handy combination lightsaber/blaster, you turn your unique abilities to performing guerrilla strikes against Imperial forces by saving refugees, collecting resources, and disrupting communications. When not fighting, you can unlock and upgrade heroes, earn rewards, and construct a Rebel base.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This free-to-play action-adventure lets you join a young Rebel crew in the days before Luke Skywalker left Tatooine, and it's a ton of fun thanks to some great touchscreen controls. Clear virtual movement, jump, and attack buttons mostly eliminate the usual touchscreen squirrelliness, though jump attacks remain problematic. A good variety of maps and upgrades make things interesting, but as in most free-to-play games, progress is throttled fairly early on. That said, players willing to buy at least one premium pack aren't forced to spend again right away since five bucks buys new maps, new playable heroes, and a good chunk of credits to spruce up your Rebel camp. All told, this is a great, economical way for young Star Wars fans to join the Rebellion.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about in-app purchases. What are your rules about them and how much -- if anything -- is OK to buy?

  • Discuss the violence in the game. How would the game be different if there were no violence? Are players supposed to think of the Stormtroopers as human beings?

  • Think about the differences between the Empire and the Rebellion. What is each side's objective, and which one is right?

App Details

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