Parents' Guide to Surgeon Simulator

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Common Sense Media Review

Chris Morris By Chris Morris , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Gory, maddening surgery sim for would-be surgeons.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 12+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 9+

Based on 13 kid reviews

Kids say that the app is both hilarious and educational, despite being extremely gory and unrealistic in its portrayal of surgery. While some reviews appreciate the fun gameplay and learning aspect, others express disappointment over its controls and the heavy presence of blood and drug themes.

  • educational fun
  • extreme gore
  • difficult controls
  • unrealistic portrayal
  • hilarious gameplay
Summarized with AI

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
  • Unclear whether 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.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.

What's It About?

Players are asked to complete a variety of surgeries using clumsy and inappropriate tools that are difficult -- and sometimes virtually impossible -- to control. Players select a tool and point it at the area they want to cut, saw, spread, or whatnot. Technically, they can attempt to aim it better by touching the screen with their other hand, but that doesn't always work. The on-screen surgeon has only one arm with which to operate, which makes things even harder. (It is worth noting these control issues are all by design. The game is meant to be grossly humorous.)

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 4 ):
Kids say ( 13 ):

Whether you consider SURGEON SIMULATOR any good really depends on how you approach the game. If you come at it hoping to be a pretend surgeon, you're likely to hate it. It's clumsy, has downright terrible controls, and revels in the death of the patient. If you realize going in that you're playing a game that was initially designed in only two hours and is meant to be impossibly hard and more about creative and gross ways to kill the patient, you'll have a blast.

Even knowing that the game is meant as disgusting fun, the control issues eventually wear. At some point, it's nice to have the instruments do what you want them to do -- which never happens and (eventually) likely will be what drives players away from the game. But they can cause plenty of carnage before they leave.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can discuss the training real doctors must go through.

  • Families also can talk about how sometimes things are made deliberately hard for entertainment purposes.

App Details

  • Device : iPad
  • Pricing structure :
  • Release date : March 18, 2014
  • Genre : Simulation Games
  • Publisher : Bossa Studios Ltd.
  • Version : 1.0.2
  • Minimum software requirements : iOS 6.0 or later
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

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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