Tomb of the Mask
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPad, Android
- free with microtransactions
- Arcade Games
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Tomb of the Mask is a puzzling action game for iOS and Android devices. There's no inappropriate content to be found in the game, and while the player's avatar can be killed by running into hazards or traps, the game's pixelated visuals mean there's no blood or gore. Players can spend real-world money or watch ads to earn in-game currency, shields, and other boosts, or watch ads to be revived after death. There's also an ad-free version, as well as a rather expensive weekly ad-free version that also gives you in-game currency. There are also banner ads across the bottom of the screen, as well as random ads between levels. Read the app's privacy policy on the game's website to find out about the information collected and shared.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
The game isn't the issue
Playgendary.
Just put your device in Airplane Mode
What's it about?
In TOMB OF THE MASK, players have to explore a dangerous dungeon, picking up dots and stars as they go. The trick to the gameplay is that, due to circumstances beyond your control, you can only move in one direction at a time, and continue in that direction until you can't go any further. Move to the left, for instance, and you'll keep walking until you hit a wall ... which may or may not be adorned with spikes. Combined with the game's old-school graphics, this arcade game is like a cross between Pac-Man and Indiana Jones, without the complicated 40-year backstory.
Is it any good?
While this relatively simple arcade game is clever and puzzling, it's also overly greedy to the point of being annoying. In Tomb of the Mask, you play an explorer of dungeons who must grab as many of the dots and stars as you can, while avoiding such pitfalls as spiked walls and rising waters. What gives this a bit of a challenge is that your character can move in only one horizontal or vertical direction at a time, and do so until it isn't possible to go any further. Which makes this like if Pac-Man went on an Indiana Jones-style adventure, but he forgot how to stop and had to wait until he bumped into a wall before changing direction.
But while this is engaging and clever, it's also somewhat undermined by an oppressive amount of greed. Not only are there on-screen ads and occasional ads between levels, but you can also watch ads to keep going when you die or to have a shield to protect you. And sure, there are a couple of ad-free versions available, but one of them -- which also comes with in-game currency and other fun stuff -- costs $7.99 each week. Still, if you can look past this greedy behavior, or if you have money to burn, you'll find Tomb of the Mask to be a fun test of both your intellect and your fingers' response time.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Do you feel differently about the fate of your character in Tomb of the Mask given that the character's death isn't shown in graphic detail? Does the violence even matter since the visuals aren't realistic?
Tomb of the Mask has a lot of ads, and paying to play the ad-free version is rather expensive, so does this make you feel any differently about this game? What if it was less greedy for cash?
While Tomb of the Mask could've had more advanced visuals, it works with simple pixel art, so what does this say about simplicity and fun?
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android
- Price: free with microtransactions
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: June 25, 2018
- Category: Arcade Games
- Topics: Adventures
- Size: 105.90 MB
- Publisher: Playgendary
- Version: 1.3.1
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 8.0 or later; Android 5.0 and up
- Last updated: June 19, 2019
For kids who love action
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.