Want personalized picks that fit your family?
Set preferences to see our top age-appropriate picks for your kids.
THE GAME OF LIFE: 2016 Edition
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- $2.99
- Board Games
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that THE GAME OF LIFE: 2016 Edition is a digital version of the board game they might have grown up with. There are three multiplayer options: pass-and-play with up to four people, playing against the computer, playing against another person by playing a stranger online, or inviting your Facebook friend to play if you enter your age as 13 or above when the game opens. There's an in-game chat feature, but the only options are emojis, so there's no real contact with other people. You can read the developer's privacy policy here.
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Classic board game makes a priceless port to iPhone
What's it about?
In THE GAME OF LIFE: 2016 EDITION, a much-loved board game comes alive as kids motor through lush 3D landscapes of palm trees, buildings, and shimmering lagoons as they collect jobs, spouses, and babies. When the game opens, you enter your age, and if you choose 13 or older, you can link the game with Facebook. Players choose to play solo against a computer opponent, people online, a Facebook friend, or with face-to-face friends in pass-and-play mode. Gameplay is nearly identical to that of the modern board game. Players attempt to amass more money and assets than their opponents as they move their game pieces around the board. They choose the college or career path to begin, then spin the wheel to land on game tiles with a range of life choices or circumstances such as pay raises, losing jobs, paying taxes, having children, and more. There also is an in-game chat feature that only allows a small group of emojis.
Is it any good?
If the game seems to move too quickly at times, skipping some steps, that's because it is: You get to spin the wheel, but the "CPU" deals the cards and really moves the game along. Built-in mini-games in The Game of Life: 2016 Edition mostly involve mindless tapping and don't add much interest. Some tactile pleasures of a board game just can't be duplicated. Still, it's nice to have lots of options for multiplayer gameplay, and "fast mode" may be a great pick for families who like board games but hesitate at those with extra-long gameplay. Though kids can play with strangers online, there are no opportunities to share personal information, but be aware that kids can access Facebook if the player's age is entered as 13 or older.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about competition in THE GAME OF LIFE: 2016 Edition. What lessons can you learn from competing with others? How does it feel when you win? When you lose?
Talk about the online multiplayer option and in-game chat. Though you can't share any personal information through this app, what kinds of information should you never share online? What does it mean to be a good digital citizen?
Though the game has evolved quite a lot since its original release in 1860, it still presents a fairly traditional family structure and set of life choices. Depending on your own family structure and values, this may be something you want to discuss.
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: strategy
Responsibility & Ethics: fiscal responsibility, making wise decisions - Price: $2.99
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: August 9, 2016
- Category: Board Games
- Size: 94.70 MB
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Version: 1.2
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later; Android 4.4 and up
For kids who love board games
Our editors recommend
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.