Arcania: Gothic 4
By Marc Saltzman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Average action role-playing game with some violence.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this game.
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Arcania: Gothic 4
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What’s It About?
The latest installment in this nine year-old fantasy role-playing game (RPG) series is set roughly 12 years after the events in 2006's Gothic 3. ARCANIA: GOTHIC 4 drops players into a war-torn world ruled by an oppressive king and overrun by goblins, trolls, and other nasty creatures. You play as an unassuming shepherd from the Isle of Feshyr who rises up against King Robar the Third. The game chronicles his journey to the palace to settle a score. Players will master skills of their choosing and grow stronger over time. You don't need to know anything about the previous Gothic games, but those who've played past titles might benefit from familiar locations, characters, and events.
Is It Any Good?
Those looking for a challenge won't find much of one here. The game's simple mechanics and formulaic RPG conventions are fun for a while, but missions grow repetitive, with many focusing on fetching items or eliminating some threat in the area. There is a skill system, plenty of inventory items, and numerous weapons and armor choices, but combat is simply a point-and-click exercise. It's worth noting, though, that there are some nice graphical touches such as varied locations, weather changes, and day/night transitions.
If you're looking forward to a straightforward action-heavy fantasy game you'll likely enjoy Arcania, but those looking for something deeper should adventure elsewhere. Note: the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game are the same.
Online interaction: This is a single-player game.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fantasy violence. Is it the same as violence set in contemporary times? Should all combat-heavy games that feature blood and realistic violence be rated "Mature" regardless of their settings or character types?
Families can also discuss the depiction of alcohol and tobacco in games. Do you think featuring controlled substances in games should be treated the same way it is in movies and films? Do you think they can be construed as glamorous within the confines of interactive entertainment?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Dreamcatcher
- Release date: October 19, 2010
- Genre: Role-Playing
- ESRB rating: T for Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Last updated: August 30, 2016
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Play
Our Editors Recommend
Harry Potter Games
Role-Playing Games (RPGs) for Kids
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.
See how we rate